1st Independent Parachute Brigade (Poland) - History

History

The brigade was based in Lincolnshire, close to RAF Spitalgate (Grantham) where it trained and from which it would eventually depart for Europe after D-Day.

It was formed by the Polish High Command in exile with the intent of being used to support Polish resistance during the nationwide uprising, a plan that encountered opposition from the British, who argued they would not be able to properly support it. The pressure of the British government eventually caused the Poles to cave in and agree to let the Brigade be used on the Western Front. On 6 June 1944 the unit, originally the only Polish unit directly subordinate to the Polish government in exile and thus independent of the British command, was transferred into the same command structure as all other Polish Forces in the West. It was slotted to take part in several operations after the invasion of Normandy, but all of them were canceled. On 27 July, aware of the imminent Warsaw Uprising, the Polish government in exile asked the British government for air support, including the drop of the Brigade in the vicinity of Warsaw. This request was denied. Eventually, the Brigade entered combat dropped during the Operation Market Garden.

During Operation Market Garden, the brigade's anti-tank battery went into Arnhem during the third day of the battle (19 September), supporting the British paratroopers at Oosterbeek. This left Sosabowski without any anti-tank capability. The light artillery battery was left behind in England due to a shortage of gliders. Owing to bad weather and a shortage of transport planes, the drop into Driel, was delayed 2 days, to the 21 September. The British units which were supposed to cover the landing zone were in bad situation, and out of radio contact with the main Allied forces. Finally the 2nd Battalion, and elements of the 3rd Battalion with also the support troops from the brigades Medical Company, Engineer Company, and HQ Company were dropped under German fire East of Driel. They overran Driel, after it was realised that the Heveadorp ferry had been destroyed. In Driel, the Polish Paratroopers set up a defensive "Hedgehog" position, from which over the next two nights further attempts to cross the Rhine were made.

The following day, the Poles were able to produce some makeshift boats and attempted the crossing. With great difficulty and under German fire from the heights of Westerbouwing at the northern bank of the river, the 8th Parachute Company and later additional troops from 3rd Battalion, managed to cross the Rhine in two attempts. In total about 200 Polish Paratroopers made it across in two days, and were able to cover the subsequent withdrawal of the remnants of the British 1st Airborne Division.

On the 26th of September 1944, the brigade (now including the 1st Battalion and elements of the 3rd Battalion, who were parachuted near to Grave on September 23) was ordered to march in the direction of Nijmegen. The brigade had lost 25% of its fighting strength, amounting to 590 casualties.

In 1945 it was attached to the Polish 1st Armoured Division and undertook occupation duties in Northern Germany until 30 June 1947, when it was disbanded. The majority of its soldiers stayed in exile.