Figure 1.--Here a soldier of the 1st Polish Armoured Division feeds a little Dutch girl in the Tilburg area (October30, 1944). The Allies as part of Operation Market Garden failed yo seize the bridge ar Arnem and get across the Rhine, but librated most of the Netherlamsd south of the Rhine. Source: The Imperial War Museum.

Poland was the only country to combat NAZI Germany from the first day of World War II when the Germans invaded (September 1939). The Poles were quickly defeated, but never surrendered. The NAZIs and Soviers interned most of the Polish Army in horenous conditioms in which many died. Some Poles escaped to fight in the West. After the NAZI invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941), the Soviets released the Polish POWs they had not killed. Some fought with the Red Army. Others commanded by Gen. Władysław Anders joined the British in the Middle East. The Poles who had fought in North Africa and Italy were joind by the 1st Armord Divion. The 1st Polish Armored Division was formed Britain (February 1942). It was initially deployed in Scotland under the command of Gen. Stanisław Maczek. It wasa named the Black Divisiin after a famed medieval unit that saved Vienna from the Ottomans. Polish airmen and several Polish ships participated in the D-Day landing. The 1st Polish Armored Division landed after the bridgehead had been established. The Division equipped with Sherman tanks and other Amrican equioment played a key role in the battle of the Argentan-Falaise Pocket, opening the way for the Allies to liberate Paris. They helped break through the German defence in the Caen-Falaise sector (August 8). Within 10 days they encircled and destroyed the German 5th Panzer Corps positioned around Chambois. Field Marshall Mongomery commented, "“Under Falaise, we locked the Germans like they were in a bottle, and the Polish Armoured Division was the cork in this bottle.” The 1st Armoured Division pursued the withdrawing German troops, liberating towns in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Some new recruits were found among prisoners liberated in France. The 1st Independent Parachute Brigade under the command of General Stanislaw Sosabowski participated in Operation Market Garden (October 1944). The 1st Armored Division finally reached Wilhelmshaven, a German naval base. They accepted the surrender of the German base (May 5, 1945).

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Created: 2:20 AM 10/3/2019
Last updated: 2:20 AM 10/3/2019