First Polish Armoured Division 1938 – 47

This book is an examinate of the history of the Polish First Armoured Division during the years 1938 and 1947. Nine years that shook Poland to the core and changed it from being an independent country to one yet again occupied by the Germans and then the Russians. Like many who feature in this book my Grandfather could not go home after the war, due to the annexation and occupation by the Russians.

This book was a joint effort between Evan McGilvray and Janusz Jarzembowski who have used original pictures and new archives to open up the story of the division from its actions in 1938 invading Czechoslovakia to the end of their work in post-war Europe. The First Polish Armoured Division was a unit that sprang up quickly in response to the events of the 1930s central – east Europe which would affect the whole of the world. It was under the command of General Stanislaw Maczek a talented commander. Like many talented Polish commanders and soldiers who were talented were ignored and were allowed to disappear into obscurity. It was if the Polish were not part of the allied forces.

The First Armoured Division was formed in Scotland 1942 from the Polish exiled soldiers who had escaped from Poland, and then later France. Many of the men in this unit had originally served under Maczek when they were previously the Polish 10th Motorised Cavalry Brigade. The Brigade had given a good account of itself in the defence of Poland from the Nazi invasion on the 1st September 1939 and when the Soviet Union swept in from the east on 17th September.

The division was equipped along British lines in preparation for D-Day and the Normandy offensive. Officially they were attached to the 1st Canadian Army and was eventually sent to Normandy in July 1944. It also describes how the division suffered during Operation Totalise and the crucial role they played during the Falaise Pocket.

The part that really hits home for many of the Polish diaspora is the concluded part of the book and how it looks at the very often poor treatment not only Maczek and his men received after the war. Remember the Poles were not invited to take place in the victory parade, a reminder of Churchill’s appeasement of Stalin for one.

An excellent history well worth reading and will remind many the Allies were made up of soldiers from many countries. ( )