This article discusses the Polish order of battle during the invasion of Poland. In the late 1930s Polish headquarters prepared "Plan Zachód" (Plan "West"), a plan of mobilization of Polish Army in case of war with Germany. Earlier, the Poles did not regard the Germans as their main threat, priority was given to threat from the Soviets (see: Plan East).
The overall operational plan assumed the creation of thirty infantry divisions, nine reserve divisions, eleven cavalry brigades, two motorized brigades, three mountain brigades and a number of smaller units. Most Polish forces were grouped into six armies and a number of corps-sized "Operational Groups". Later in the course of the war other operational units were created.
Armies
Karpaty Army
Created on July 11, 1939, under Major General Kazimierz Fabrycy. Armia Karpaty was created after Germany annexed Czechoslovakia and created a puppet state of Slovakia. The main aim of the army was to secure mountain passes in the Carpathians. Initially the army consisted of 2 improvised mountain brigades and a number of smaller units, but later in the course of war was joined by forces of the withdrawing Armia Kraków.
2nd Mountain Brigade (2 Brygada Górska), made of National Defence units from Limanowa, Gorlice and Nowy Sącz, as well as Border Defence Corps units from Volhynia, 3rd Mountain Brigade (3 Brygada Górska), made of National Defence units from Krosno, Sanok, Przemyśl and Rzeszów Carpathian Half-Brigade of National Defence (Karpacka Półbrygada ON) 1st Motorized Artillery Regiment 9th Heavy Artillery Regiment
Additionally, mobilisation plans called for creation of the Tarnów Group consisting of:
22nd Mountain Infantry Division from Przemyśl, 38th Infantry Division (reserve), created in August 1939 out of Border Defence Corps units from Polesie Voivodeship and Volhynian Voivodeship.
Kraków Army
Created on March 23, 1939, as the main pivot of Polish defence. Its main task was to delay advancing German troops and withdraw eastwards along the northern line of the Carpathians. It consisted of 5 infantry divisions, 1 mountain infantry division, 1 motorized cavalry brigade, 1 mountain brigade and 1 cavalry brigade under gen. Antoni Szylling.
Kraków Army Unit Polish name Commander Remarks Army units – gen. Antoni Szylling 6th Infantry Division from Kraków 6 Dywizja Piechoty Bernard Mond 7th Infantry Division from Częstochowa 7 Dywizja Piechoty gen. bryg. Janusz Gąsiorowski 11th Infantry Division from Stanisławów 11 Dywizja Piechoty gen. bryg. Bronisław Prugar-Ketling Kraków Cavalry Brigade from Kraków Krakowska Brygada Kawalerii gen.bryg. Zygmunt Piasecki 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade from Rzeszów 10 Brygada Kawalerii Zmotoryzowanej płk. Stanisław Maczek Śląsk Operational Group – gen. Jan Jagmin-Sadowski 23rd Infantry Division from Katowice 23 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Władysław Powierza Upper Silesian 55th Infantry Division, reserve division made of several units from the area of Upper Silesia and Jaworzno 55 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Stanisław Kalabiński reserve Bielsko Operational Group – gen. Mieczysław Boruta-Spiechowicz 21st Mountain Infantry Division from Nowy Sącz and Bielsko-Biała 21 Dywizja Piechoty Górskiej gen. Józef Kustroń 1st Mountain Brigade, made of several National Defence units from Żywiec, Zakopane and Jasło. 1 Brygada Górska płk. Janusz Gaładyk mostly elite KOP troops
Lublin Army
An improvised army created on September 4 from a motorized brigade and various smaller units concentrated around Lublin, Sandomierz and upper Vistula. Commanded by mj. gen. Tadeusz Piskor.
Warsaw Armoured Motorized Brigade (Warszawska Brygada Pancerno-Motorowa) Smaller units
Łódź Army
Created on March 23, 1939, under gen. Juliusz Rómmel. Armia Łódź was to become a bolt between Armies "Kraków" and "Poznań". However, because of mistakes committed by Gen. Rómmel, the army was located too close to the German border and joined fighting from the very beginning of the campaign, which deprived it of any possibilities of cooperation with the surrounding units. It consisted of 4 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades.
2nd Legions Infantry Division (2 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów) from Kielce, 10th Infantry Division (10 Dywizja Piechoty) from Łódź, 28th Infantry Division (28 Dywizja Piechoty) from Łomża, 30th Infantry Division (30 Dywizja Piechoty, reserve division) from Kobryn, Kresowa Cavalry Brigade (Kresowa Brygada Kawalerii) from Brody, Wołyńska Cavalry Brigade (Wołyńska Brygada Kawalerii) from Rowne, Sieradz National Defence Brigade (Sieradzka Brygada Obrony Narodowej)
Modlin Army
Created on March 23, 1939, for defence of Warsaw from the north. The army was to defend fortified lines along the border with East Prussia near Mława, and then retreat towards Narew river. Led by brig. gen. Emil Krukowicz-Przedrzymirski. Consisted of 2 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades.
8th Infantry Division (8 Dywizja Piechoty) from Modlin, 20th Infantry Division (20 Dywizja Piechoty) from Baranowicze, Nowogródzka Cavalry Brigade (Nowogródzka Brygada Kawalerii) from Baranowicze, Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade (Mazowiecka Brygada Kawalerii) from Warsaw, Warsaw National Defence Brigade (Warszawska Brygada Obrony Narodowej)
Pomorze Army
The Army was created on March 23, 1939, to defend Toruń and Bydgoszcz and to carry out delaying actions in the so-called "Polish Corridor". It was led by Lt.-Gen. Władysław Bortnowski and consisted of five infantry divisions, two National Defence brigades and one cavalry brigade.
Pomorze Army Unit Polish name Commander Remarks Army units – gen. Władysław Bortnowski 9th Infantry Division from Siedlce 9 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Józef Werobej 15th Infantry Division from Bydgoszcz 15 Dywizja Piechoty gen. Wacław Przyjałkowski Greater Polish 27th Infantry Division from Kowel 27 Dywizja Piechoty gen.bryg. Juliusz Drapella Pomeranian National Defence Brigade Pomorska Brygada Obrony Narodowej Chełmno National Defence Brigade Chełmska Brygada Obrony Narodowej Operational Group "East" – gen. Mikołaj Bołtuć 4th Infantry Division from Toruń 4 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Rawicz-Mysłowski, płk. Józef Werobej 16th Infantry Division from Grudziądz 16 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Zygmunt Szyszko-Bohusz Pomeranian Czersk Operational Group – gen.bryg. Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki Pomeranian Cavalry Brigade from Bydgoszcz Pomorska Brygada Kawalerii gen.bryg. Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki Independent Units Chojnice and Kościerzyna Oddziały Wydzielone "Chojnice" i "Kościerzyna"
Poznań Army
The Armia Poznań led by mj. gen. Tadeusz Kutrzeba was to provide flanking operations in the Grand Poland and withdraw towards lines of defence along the Warta river. It consisted of 4 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades.
14th Infantry Division (14 Dywizja Piechoty) from Poznań 17th Infantry Division (17 Dywizja Piechoty) from Gniezno 25th Infantry Division (25 Dywizja Piechoty) from Kalisz 26th Infantry Division (26 Dywizja Piechoty) from Skierniewice Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade (Wielkopolska Brygada Kawalerii) from Poznań, Podolska Cavalry Brigade (Podolska Brygada Kawalerii) from Stanisławów.
Prusy Army
Under gen. Stefan Dąb-Biernacki. Created in the summer of 1939 as the main reserve of the Commander in Chief. According to the "Plan West" (Plan Zachód, code name for the Polish mobilization plan) it was to be composed of units mobilized as the second and third waves and its main purpose was to cooperate with the nearby armies "Poznań" and "Kraków".
Mobilized in two groups. Because of fast German advance both groups entered combat separately and most units did not reach full mobilization. It consisted of 6 infantry divisions, 1 cavalry brigade and a battalion of tanks.
Prusy Army Unit Polish name Commander Remarks Army units – gen. Stefan Dąb-Biernacki 39th Infantry Division, made of several regiments of the Border Defence Corps 39 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Bruno Olbrycht reserve 44th Infantry Division, made of several regiments of the Border Defence Corps 44 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Eugeniusz Żongołłowicz reserve Northern group – gen. Stefan Dąb-Biernacki 13th Infantry Division from Rowne 13 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Władysław Zubosz-Kaliński Kresowa 19th Infantry Division from Wilno 19 Dywizja Piechoty gen. Józef Kwaciszewski 29th Infantry Division from Grodno 29 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Ignacy Oziewicz Wileńska Cavalry Brigade from Wilno Wileńska Brygada Kawalerii płk. Konstanty Drucki-Lubecki 1st tank battalion 1 battalion czołgów Southern group – gen. Stanisław Skwarczyński 3rd Legions Infantry Division from Zamość 3 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów płk. Marian Turowski 12th Infantry Division from Tarnopol 12 Dywizja Piechoty gen. Gustaw Paszkiewicz 36th Infantry Division, made from troops of Border Defence Corps of the Podole area. 36 Dywizja Piechoty płk Michał Ostrowski reserve
Warsaw Army
Created on September 10, 1939, from various units in Warsaw and Modlin Fortress area. Initially it consisted of approximately 25 infantry battalions and 40 tanks. Later it was reinforced by forces of Łódź Army and elements of Modlin Army. It was commanded by col. Walerian Czuma, although the nominal commander was gen. Juliusz Rómmel.
Warsaw Army Unit Polish name Commander Remarks Modlin Fortress – gen. Wiktor Thommée 2nd Legions Infantry Division from Kielce 2 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów płk Antoni Staich elements 8th Infantry Division from Modlin 8 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Tadeusz Wyrwa-Furgalski elements 28th Infantry Division from Warsaw 28 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Broniewski elements 30th Infantry Division from Kobryn 30 Dywizja Piechoty gen. Leopold Cehak elements Western Approach – płk Marian Porwit 13th Infantry Division from Rowne 13 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Władysław Zubosz-Kalinski reinforced 15th Infantry Division from Bydgoszcz 15 Dywizja Piechoty gen. Zdzisław Przyjałkowski reinforced 25th Infantry Division from Kalisz 25 Dywizja Piechoty gen. Franciszek Alter elements Combined Cavalry Brigade Zbiorcza Brygada Kawalerii gen. Roman Abraham combined Eastern Approach – gen. Juliusz Zulauff 5th Infantry Division from Lwów 5 Dywizja Piechoty gen. Juliusz Zulauff elements, 1 regiment 8th Infantry Division from Modlin 8 Dywizja Piechoty płk Tadeusz Wyrwa-Furgalski routed, 1 regiment under Sosabowski 20th Infantry Division from Baranowicze 20 Dywizja Piechoty płk Wilhelm Liszka-Lawicz 44th Infantry Division 44 Dywizja Piechoty płk. Eugeniusz Żongołłowicz reserve, routed 1st "Defenders of Praga" Infantry Regiment 1 pułk piechoty Obrońców Pragi płk. Stanisław Milian improvised 2nd "Defenders of Praga" Infantry Regiment 2 pułk piechoty Obrońców Pragi płk. Stefan Kotowski improvised
Operational Groups
Operational Group Wyszków Was one of the reserves of the northern front of Polish defences, created on September 1, 1939. According to Plan West, it was supposed to defend the line of the Narew river from Wehrmacht units advancing from East Prussia. Due to rapid German advance, the group withdrew towards the Bug river, and on September 11, Polish Commander in Chief Edward Rydz-Śmigły ordered General Wincenty Kowalski, commandant of Operational Group Wyszków, to merge his unit with Northern Front under General Stefan Dąb-Biernacki.
It consisted of the following units:
1st Legions Infantry Division (Poland) (1 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów) from Wilno, 35th Infantry Division (35 Dywizja Piechoty – reserve), formed on September 7, 1939, out of units of the Border Defence Corps from northern parts of the Wilno Voivodeship, 41st Infantry Division (41 Dywizja Piechoty – reserve), formed in September 1939, out of units of the Border Defence Corps, Bartosz Glowacki (armoured train), elements of 2nd Regiment of Heavy Artillery.
Independent Operational Group Narew
Consisted of 2 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades:
18th Infantry Division () from Łomża,