From Italy to Poland 1944-1945

	"From Italy to Poland" 1944-1945

After initial successes, the offensive of the allied forces in 1943 began losing its impetus. Difficult autumn weather, a poor road network, as well the hardening resistance of the Germans were responsible for stabilization the front along fortified positions. The Germans blocked the route to Rome, and the key element of these positions was the hill of Monte Cassino, where three successive allied attacks failed to break the defence. An attempt to bypass Monte Cassino also turned out to be doomed to fail. The sea landing operation near Anzio (bypass) did not change the situation. The only way of achieving a breakthrough was by a frontal attack. In the next attack, already the fourth one, which commenced at night (11 to 12 May) the 2nd Polish Corps was given the task of breaking through the German defences, alongside the British 13th Corps.

The Poles confronted elite German airborne troops from the 1st Paratroopers' Division and formations of mountain infantry. Enemy positions were perfectly fortified, equipped with large number of automatic weapons and artillery. Mines of various kinds were used on a massive scale.

The first two days of the attack brought collossal losses amongst the Polish troops, in the first echelon batallions up to 40-70%. Although the attack was unsuccessful in itself, the engagement of a significant part of the German troops did allow the British to cross the rivers Gari and Rapido. After the reorganization and reinforcement of the Polish Corps, on 17 May its troops repeated the attack. In a difficult combat lasting two days and, after seizing neighbouring hills surrounding the Monte Cassino monastery, as well as in consequence of the successes of the British and French troops, the Germans were forced to leave their positions. At 9.40 on 18 May, a patrol from the 12th Cavalry Regiment hoisted a Polish flag on the Monte Cassino summit. On 24 May, after the seizure by the Poles of the fortified town of Piedimonte and the Monte Cairo hill on the next day, "Hitler's line" was broken through, leaving the road to Rome wide open.
 

General Alexander, the commander of the 15th Army Group issued an order, addressed to the 2nd Corps, which says:

"Soldiers of the 2nd Polish Corps! If I were given the right to choose among any soldiers, the ones I would like to have under my command, I would choose You - the Poles".

These actions resulted in heavy losses of the 2nd Corps, amounting to 400 killed, wounded and missing soldiers.

After the allies entered Rome (4 June 1944), the troops moving northwards were stopped by the next line of German fortifications - the "Gothic Line". The troops belonging to the 2nd Corps, attacking along the Adriatic coast, on 17 July reached Ancona - in the course of constant fighting. The city was seized after two days of clashes. The 278th Infantry Division which was defending it was disbanded. In August 1944 the soldiers of the 2nd Corps initiated actions aimed at breaking down of the "Gothic Line", which happened on 31 August, after seizure of the town of Pesaro. These actions cost the Poles over 1350 soldiers killed. The 2nd Corps, shifted in September to the second echelon of the British 8th Army, received the first reinforcements since the beginning of the campaign.
 

After rejoining the combat at the end of 1944, Polish troops reached the front line at the river Senio, where the front had stabilized by March 1945. In the attack, commenced on 8 April 1945, the 2nd Corps broke through the German defences along the river Senio. On 21 April Polish soldiers entered Bologna, enthusiastically welcomed by the Italian population. 17 Polish commanders received honorary citizenship of the city and 215 soldiers received an occasional medal with the inscription: "Al liberatori che primi entrarono Bologna - 21 Aprile 1945 - per benemerenza" ('To the liberators who were the first to enter Bologna - on 21 April 1945 - in honour of their success').

This final fight led to losses amounting to 1600 killed and wounded amongst the 2nd Corps'. In spite of their military successes, they did not manage, however, to return to their motherland with their arms.
 

 

Emblems of the Polish Army in Italy

 

General Nikodem Sulik-Sarnowski (1893-1954) During the First World War he served in the Russian army, and from 1919 served in the Polish Army. In 1939, as a commander of a Border Corps (KOP) regiment he distinguished himself in the fight with the Soviets. Then he joined the Armed Fighting Unit (Zwišzek Walki Zbrojnej) in Wilno (Vilnius). Arrested by the Soviets, he was imprisoned until August 1941. After his release he served in the Polish Army in the USSR and in the East. He was nominated commander of the 5th Carpathian Infantry Division, belonging to the 2nd Polish Corps. He took part in the Italian campaign, and in 1944 received the rank of Brigade General. After the war he lived in London, where he died on 14 January 1954. He was decorated, amongst others, with Virtuti Militari of the 4th and 5th class.

 

2nd Polish Corps in Italy Commander: - Gen. Władysław Anders. Composition: - 3rd Division of Carpathian Marksmen, - 5th ("Kresowa") Infantry Division, - 7th Infantry Division (reserve), - 2nd Armoured Brigade, - 2nd Artillery Group (four artillery regiments), - The Carpathian Cavalry Regiment, - one regiment of anti-tank artillery, - two regiments of anti-aircraft artillery, - one sappers' batallion. Losses: killed - 2 301, wounded - 14 830, in total - 17 131 soldiers and officers (36,2% of the total personnel).