Polish contribution to World War II

After the country's defeat in the 1939 campaign, the Polish government in exile quickly organized in France a new army of about 80,000 men. In 1940 a Polish Highland Brigade took part in the Battle of Narvik (Norway), and two Polish divisions (First Grenadier Division, and Second Infantry Fusiliers Division) took part in the defense of France, while a Polish motorized brigade and two infantry divisions were in process of forming. A Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade was formed in French-mandated Syria, to which many Polish troops had esca ...

See also:

Polish contribution to World War II, Polish contribution to World War II - Army, Polish contribution to World War II - Air Force, Polish contribution to World War II - Navy, Polish contribution to World War II - Intelligence, Polish contribution to World War II - Underground, Polish contribution to World War II - Battles, Polish contribution to World War II - Technical inventions

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Witold Pilecki (May 13, 1901 – May 25, 1948; pronounced ['vitɔld pi'leʦki]; codenames Roman Jezierski, Tomasz Serafiński, Druh, Witold) was a soldier of the Second Polish Republic, founder of the resistance movement Secret Polish Army (Tajna Armia Polska) and member of the Home Army (Armia Krajowa). During World War II he was the only known person to volunteer to be imprisoned at Auschwitz Concentration Camp. While there, he organized inmate resistance, and as early as 1940 informed the Western Allies of Nazi ...

Including:

• Witold Pilecki - Biography
• Witold Pilecki - Pilecki's early life
• Witold Pilecki - World War II breaks out
• Witold Pilecki - The Auschwitz campaign: 945 days
• Witold Pilecki - Back outside Auschwitz: the Warsaw Uprising.
• Witold Pilecki - Liberation: Soviet-dominated Poland
• Witold Pilecki - Summary of Pilecki's Polish Army career

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Build up The Battle Lack of outside support Capitulation Aftereffects Cultural representations Military participants Notable People Facts and figures The Warsaw Uprising (Powstanie Warszawskie) was an armed struggle during the Second World War by the Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) to liberate Warsaw from German occupation and Nazi rule. It started on August 1, 1944, as a part of a nationwide uprising, Operation Tem ...

Including:

• Warsaw Uprising - Eve of the battle
• Warsaw Uprising - Opposing forces
• Warsaw Uprising - The battle
• Warsaw Uprising - Life behind the front lines
• Warsaw Uprising - Lack of outside support
• Warsaw Uprising - The capitulation
• Warsaw Uprising - Destruction of the city
• Warsaw Uprising - Liberation of the ruins
• Warsaw Uprising - The legacy
• Warsaw Uprising - After the war
• Warsaw Uprising - Note

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A major campaign of World War II, the Battle of Britain is the name for the attempt by Germany's Luftwaffe, the German airforce, to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF). Neither Hitler nor the German Wehrmacht perceived it possible to carry out a successful amphibious assault on the British Isles until the RAF had been knocked out. Secondary objectives were to destroy aircraft production and to terrorise the British people with the intent of intimidating them into seeking an armistice or surrender. The campaign was launched as preparation for ...

Including:

• Battle of Britain - Background
• Battle of Britain - Luftwaffe strategy
• Battle of Britain - The Dowding System
• Battle of Britain - Groups
• Battle of Britain - Sectors
• Battle of Britain - Limitations
• Battle of Britain - Efficiency
• Battle of Britain - Effect of signals intelligence
• Battle of Britain - Battle of the beams
• Battle of Britain - Luftwaffe tactics
• Battle of Britain - RAF tactics
• Battle of Britain - Phases of the Battle
• Battle of Britain - Kanalkampf
• Battle of Britain - Adlerangriff
• Battle of Britain - Luftwaffe targets RAF airfields
• Battle of Britain - Raids on London
• Battle of Britain - Aftermath
• Battle of Britain - Foreign contribution
• Battle of Britain - Polish contribution
• Battle of Britain - Czech contribution
• Battle of Britain - Irish contribution
• Battle of Britain - Canadian contribution
• Battle of Britain - American contribution
• Battle of Britain - Palestinian contribution
• Battle of Britain - Australian contribution

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The Armia Krajowa or AK (Home Army) functioned as the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland, which was active in all areas of the country from September 1939 until its disbanding in January 1945. The Armia Krajowa, one of the largest underground resistance movement during World War II, formed the armed wing of what subsequently became known as the "underground state" (państwo podziemne). Armia Krajowa - Origins. The AK originated from the Sluzba Zwyciestwu PolskiIncluding:

• Armia Krajowa - Origins
• Armia Krajowa - Structure
• Armia Krajowa - Weapons and equipment
• Armia Krajowa - Operations
• Armia Krajowa - Relations with Jews
• Armia Krajowa - Relations with Lithuanians
• Armia Krajowa - External link

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Polish September Campaign - Plans. The German plan Fall Weiss, for what became known as the September campaign, was created by General Franz Halder, chief of the general staff, and directed by General Walther von Brauchitsch, the commander in chief of the upcoming campaign. The plan called for the start of hostilities before the declaration of war and to pursue a traditional doctrine of mass encirclement and destruction of enemy forces, assisted by the Germans' material advantages, including the use of mo ...

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Polish September Campaign, Polish September Campaign - Opposing forces, Polish September Campaign - Germany, Polish September Campaign - Soviet Union, Polish September Campaign - Poland, Polish September Campaign - Order of battle, Polish September Campaign - Prelude to the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Details of the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Plans, Polish September Campaign - Phase 1: German aggression, Polish September Campaign - Phase 2: Soviet aggression, Polish September Campaign - Civilian losses, Polish September Campaign - Aftermath, Polish September Campaign - Notes

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As a clandestine army operating in a country occupied by the enemy, separated by over a thousand kilometers from any friendly territory, the AK faced unique challenges in acquiring arms and equipment. In a tremendous achievement, the AK was able to overcome these difficulties to some extent and put tens of thousands of armed soldiers into the field. Nevertheless, the difficult conditions meant that only infantry forces armed with light weapons could be fielded. Any use of artillery, armor or aviation was obviously out of the question (except ...

See also:

Armia Krajowa, Armia Krajowa - Origins, Armia Krajowa - Structure, Armia Krajowa - Weapons and equipment, Armia Krajowa - Operations, Armia Krajowa - Relations with Jews, Armia Krajowa - Relations with Lithuanians

Read more here: » Armia Krajowa: Encyclopedia II - Armia Krajowa - Weapons and equipment

The Home Army's initial plans for a national uprising, Operation Tempest, which would link up with British forces, changed in 1943 when it became apparent that the Red Army would force the Germans from Poland. The discovery of the Katyn massacre occasioned the breaking-off of Polish-Soviet relations in April, and they never properly recovered. Although doubts existed about the military wisdom of a major uprising, the planning continued. The situation came to a head as Operation Bagration, the Soviet attack on Germany, reached the old ...

See also:

Warsaw Uprising, Warsaw Uprising - Eve of the battle, Warsaw Uprising - Opposing forces, Warsaw Uprising - The battle, Warsaw Uprising - Life behind the front lines, Warsaw Uprising - Lack of outside support, Warsaw Uprising - The capitulation, Warsaw Uprising - Destruction of the city, Warsaw Uprising - Liberation of the ruins, Warsaw Uprising - The legacy, Warsaw Uprising - After the war, Warsaw Uprising - Note

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List of World War II topics - Soviet Union. Hero of the Soviet Union Order of Lenin Order of Suvorov Order of the October Revolution Order of the Red Banner Order of Victory In Soviet Union orders and medals were also awarded to cities and military divisions. List of World War II topics - United States. Medal of Honor Silver Star Bronze Star Medal Distinguished Flying Cross See also:

List of World War II topics, List of World War II topics - Military engagements, List of World War II topics - Political and social aspects of the war, List of World War II topics - Production and logistics, List of World War II topics - Common military awards, List of World War II topics - Soviet Union, List of World War II topics - United States, List of World War II topics - United Kingdom, List of World War II topics - France and Belgium, List of World War II topics - Poland, List of World War II topics - Nazi Germany, List of World War II topics - Lists

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After the joint Nazi-Soviet victory in the Polish Defensive War of 1939, a large part of both the flying personnel and technicians of the Polish Airforce were evacuated to Romania and Hungary, from where hundreds of them found their way to France. There, in accordance with the Franco-Polish Military Alliance of 1921 and the ammendments of 1939 Polish Air units were to be re-created. However, the French headquarters was hesitant in creating large Polish air units and instead most of Polish pilots were attached to small units, so-called key ...

See also:

Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain, Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain - History, Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain - Stats, Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain - Notes, Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain - Trivia

Read more here: » Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain: Encyclopedia II - Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain - History

Kosciuszko Squadron was formed on August 2, 1940, and became operational on August 31 of the same year. The 'Kosciuszko' name chosen by the squadron was in honour of the famous Polish Kosciuszko Squadron which fought during the Polish-Soviet War in 1920. No. 303 Squadron was also linked to the original Kosciuszko Squadron through personel that had served in the Squadron of 1920. Later, further air force units from the aforementioned ...

See also:

No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron - Operational History, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron - Squadron statistic, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron - Scores, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron - Locations, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron - Squadron equipment, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron - Commanders, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron - Pilots of 303, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron - Quotes

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Note: The nation of Iran has been referred to as "Persia" in the West since the time of the Persian Wars. The earliest Iranian peoples known to recorded history are the Parsua mentioned in an Akkadian text. For hundreds of years, Persia was the proper English term for Iran, and the name stuck in the minds of many foreigners long after Reza Pahlavi asked, in 1935, that his country be referred to by its native name. English-language official documents from the Persian Corridor period continue to make the word "Persia" completely ...

See also:

Persian Corridor, Persian Corridor - Background, Persian Corridor - Overthrow of the Shah, Persian Corridor - Anders' army, Persian Corridor - Supply efforts, Persian Corridor - Statistics, Persian Corridor - Supply routes, Persian Corridor - Personnel

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Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade - Operation Market Garden. The anti-tank battery went into Arnhem during the first days of the battle, 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, on the south bank of the Rhine, was delayed 2 days. Finally the 2nd Battalion, and elements of the 3rd Ba ...

See also:

Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade, Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade - History, Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade - Operation Market Garden, Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade - Brigade Order of Battle

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The Polish armed forces resisted the German invasion, but their strategic position was hopeless since Poland was surrounded on three sides by Germany and German-controlled Czechoslovakia. It was in Poland that the Germans first used the tactics of Blitzkrieg ("lightning war"): rapid advance of Panzer (armored) divisions, dive bombing to break up troop concentrations, and aerial bombing of undefended cities to sap civilian morale. The Polish Army and Air Force had little modern equipment to match the onslaught. German forces wer ...

See also:

History of Poland 1939–1945, History of Poland 1939–1945 - German and Soviet Invasion, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Dismemberment of Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The General Government, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Treatment of the Poles, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The Holocaust in Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Governments in exile, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Resistance, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Aftermath of the War, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Yalta and the Soviet Occupation 1943–45

Read more here: » History of Poland 1939–1945: Encyclopedia II - History of Poland 1939–1945 - German and Soviet Invasion

Polish September Campaign - Plans. The German plan Fall Weiss, for what became known as the September campaign, was created by General Franz Halder, chief of the general staff, and directed by General Walther von Brauchitsch, the commander in chief of the upcoming campaign. The plan called for the start of hostilities before the declaration of war and to pursue the doctrine of lightning war, later known as blitzkrieg. The novel concept of blitzkrieg called for German tanks (panzers) to attac ...

See also:

Polish September Campaign, Polish September Campaign - Opposing forces, Polish September Campaign - Germany, Polish September Campaign - Soviet Union, Polish September Campaign - Poland, Polish September Campaign - Order of battle, Polish September Campaign - Prelude to the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Details of the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Plans, Polish September Campaign - Phase 1: German aggression, Polish September Campaign - Phase 2: Soviet aggression, Polish September Campaign - Civilian losses, Polish September Campaign - Aftermath, Polish September Campaign - Notes

Read more here: » Polish September Campaign: Encyclopedia II - Polish September Campaign - Details of the campaign

Witold Pilecki - Pilecki's early life. Witold Pilecki was born May 13, 1901, in Olonets on the shores of Lake Ladoga in Karelia, Russia, where his family had been forcibly resettled by Tsarist Russian authorities after the suppression of Poland's January Uprising of 1863-1864. His grandfather, Józef Pilecki, had spent seven years in exile in Siberia for his part in the Uprising. In 1910 Pilecki moved with his family to Wilno (now Vilnius, Lithuania), where he completed Commercial School and joined the secret ZHP scouts organization. In 1916 he moved to Orel, ...

See also:

Witold Pilecki, Witold Pilecki - Biography, Witold Pilecki - Pilecki's early life, Witold Pilecki - World War II breaks out, Witold Pilecki - The Auschwitz campaign: 945 days, Witold Pilecki - Back outside Auschwitz: the Warsaw Uprising., Witold Pilecki - Liberation: Soviet-dominated Poland, Witold Pilecki - Summary of Pilecki's Polish Army career

Read more here: » Witold Pilecki: Encyclopedia II - Witold Pilecki - Biography

Western betrayal - First World War aftermath. After the First World War, Poland regained independence after 123 years of partitions. While the victorious Western allies proclaimed their support for an independent Poland, their hidden motivation was to weaken Germany and Russia. Therefore their actual support was limited. One instance is the affair of Silesia. Many French and British politicians desired the industrial region of Silesia to remain part of Germany, so that Germany would have an easier time paying the ...

See also:

Western betrayal, Western betrayal - Diplomacy & Eastern Europe Between the Wars, Western betrayal - Croatia, Western betrayal - Czechoslovakia, Western betrayal - Munich Conference, Western betrayal - Second World War Ally, Western betrayal - Finland, Western betrayal - Poland, Western betrayal - First World War aftermath, Western betrayal - Up to 1939, Western betrayal - 1940s, Western betrayal - Russia, Western betrayal - Spain, Western betrayal - Ukraine, Western betrayal - Yugoslavia, Western betrayal - Essays and articles, Western betrayal - Dictionaries

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Władysław Sikorski - Early life and World War I. Sikorski was born May 20, 1881, in Tuszów Narodowy, Polish Galicia, then a territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father was Tomasz Sikorski, of impoverished Polish gentry (coat of arms Kopaszyna); his mother was Emilia Habrowska. Young Sikorski studied engineering at the Lwów Polytechnic, specializing in road and bridge construction. After graduation he worked for the Galician administration in the petroleum industry. In 1906 Sikorski volunteered for a ...

See also:

Władysław Sikorski, Władysław Sikorski - Biography, Władysław Sikorski - Early life and World War I, Władysław Sikorski - Polish-Soviet War, Władysław Sikorski - In government and in opposition, Władysław Sikorski - Prime Minister in Exile, Władysław Sikorski - Katyn, Władysław Sikorski - Death, Władysław Sikorski - Aftermath, Władysław Sikorski - Controversy surrounding Sikorski's death, Władysław Sikorski - Further reading and other media

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The Battle can be roughly divided into four phases: 10 July – 11 August: Kanalkampf, the Channel battles. 12 August – 23 August: Adlerangriff, the early assault against the coastal airfields. 24 August – 6 September: the Luftwaffe targets the airfields. The critical phase of the battle. 7 September onwards: the day attacks switch to London. See also:

Battle of Britain, Battle of Britain - Background, Battle of Britain - Luftwaffe strategy, Battle of Britain - The Dowding System, Battle of Britain - Groups, Battle of Britain - Sectors, Battle of Britain - Limitations, Battle of Britain - Efficiency, Battle of Britain - Effect of signals intelligence, Battle of Britain - Battle of the beams, Battle of Britain - Luftwaffe tactics, Battle of Britain - RAF tactics, Battle of Britain - Phases of the Battle, Battle of Britain - Kanalkampf, Battle of Britain - Adlerangriff, Battle of Britain - Luftwaffe targets RAF airfields, Battle of Britain - Raids on London, Battle of Britain - Aftermath, Battle of Britain - Foreign contribution, Battle of Britain - Polish contribution, Battle of Britain - Czech contribution, Battle of Britain - Irish contribution, Battle of Britain - Canadian contribution, Battle of Britain - American contribution, Battle of Britain - Palestinian contribution, Battle of Britain - Australian contribution

Read more here: » Battle of Britain: Encyclopedia II - Battle of Britain - Phases of the Battle

The Allies delivered all manner of materiel to the Soviets, from Studebaker US6 trucks to B-24 bombers. Most supplies in the corridor arrived by ship at Gulf ports and were carried north by rail or in truck convoys. Some goods were reloaded onto ships to cross the Caspian, others continued in trucks. United States forces in the corridor originally under the Iran-Iraq Service Command, later renamed the Persian Gulf Service Command (PGSC); this was the successor to the original United States Military Iranian Mission, which had been put ...

See also:

Persian Corridor, Persian Corridor - Background, Persian Corridor - Overthrow of the Shah, Persian Corridor - Anders' army, Persian Corridor - Supply efforts, Persian Corridor - Statistics, Persian Corridor - Supply routes, Persian Corridor - Personnel

Read more here: » Persian Corridor: Encyclopedia II - Persian Corridor - Supply efforts