Polish Army in the USSR

	Polish Army in the USSR

On the basis of the accord signed on July 30th 1941 between the governments of Poland and the Soviet Union, the Soviet government considered the Soviet - German treaty on the territorial changes of Poland invalid. Diplomatic relations between both states were reinstated, and the Soviet government permitted the formation of Polish Army units in the USSR.

In a military agreement signed on 14 August 1941, their number was determined as not exceeding 30,000 men. The Polish Army in the USSR was to consist only of ground units. Volunteers serving in Soviet Air Force or Navy were to be directed to Great Britain in order to supplement the Polish units existing there. Recruitment was to be carried out among Polish citizens staying on the territory of the Soviet Union, as well as deportees, prisoners of camps or penal colonies and prisoners of war. General Władysław Anders was nominated commander of the Polish Army in the USSR. Its equipment and armament was to be provided by the USSR and Great Britain on the basis of the American Land and Lease Bill.
 

The formation of six infantry divisions began. Two were formed according to Polish standards (3 infantry regiments and 1 artillery regiment) whilst 4 were structured according to British standards (2 infantry regiments), as well as of one artillery brigade, a sapper's regiment, communication regiment and services unit.
 

On 2 February 1942 Soviet authorities put forward a proposal to send the 5th Infantry Division to the front. It met with a refusal on the Polish side, owing to the fact that the division was not fully equipped and trained (lack of anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery, incomplete field artillery) and also because Gen. Anders opposed sending single divisions to the front, wishing for the Polish Army to enter combat as a complete force.
 

Because of this refusal Soviet authorities restricted food allowances to the troops. The situation was furthermore complicated by the fact that these rations were also used to feed tens of thousands of Polish civilians based in the military camps. Mutual relations were then further inflamed by the problem of the lack of news about the fate of 20,000 Polish officers and policemen, about whom the Soviet government, despite persistent interventions of the Polish authorities, issued no clear information.

In this situation the decision was taken to evacuate part of the forces to the Middle East. This had full support of British authorities, as they were interested in strengthening their forces in that area. During the first evacuation (end of March and beginning of April 1942) approximately 31,000 soldiers as well as 11,000 civilians were transferred. In April Soviet authorities closed the Polish recruitment commissions, which effectively stopped the influx of new volunteers. Of the 44,000 soldiers remaining in the USSR only one in six was armed, being equipped with merely 28 guns. A significant number of the soldiers suffered from illness - typhoid fever, malaria, or were extremely malnourished.

The en masse influx of volunteers was the reason why, in December, the quota was increased to 96,000 men. 27,000 men were to be evacuated in order to reinforce the Polish Armed Forces in the West. Camps and training units were also set up in central Asia.
 

 

General Władysław Anders (1892-1970) During the First World War he had served in the Russian army, and from 1918 in the Polish Army. Among other functions, he served as a regiment's commander and commander of a cavalry brigade. Durning the September campaign he commanded an operational group of the cavalry. Seriously wounded, he was taken prisoner of war by the Soviets. Released from prison in August 1941 he took command of the Polish Armed Forces in the USSR. Later he became the commander of the 2nd Polish Corps and performed the duty of Supreme Commander. In 1954 he received the rank of the 'General (of the Kind) of Arms' (equivalent to Ltn. General). As one of the leaders of the Poles in exile, he held great authority among them. He was decorated amongst others with Virtuti Militari of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th class, in addition to the American order League of Merit, the British Order of Bath and the Italian Cross of Bravery.

 

Polish Army in the USSR Commander: - General Władysław Anders. Composition: - 6 infantry divisions, - 1 artillery brigade, - 1 armoured brigade, - 1 sappers' regiment, - 1 signal regiment, - services. Number of soldiers and officers: - approx. 75 000 soldiers