Polish Land Forces
Land Forces | |
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Wojska Lądowe | |
Marsz Pierwszej Brygady" (English: "March of the First Brigade") | |
Engagements | Polish–Ukrainian War Polish–Czechoslovak War Polish–Soviet War Polish–Lithuanian War World War II War on Terror
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Commanders | |
Major General Maciej Klisz | |
Inspector of the Land Forces | Major General Piotr Trytek |
Insignia | |
Flag[2] | |
Banner of the Commander in Chief |
The Land Forces (
History
1918–1938
When Poland regained independence in 1918, it recreated its military which participated in the Polish–Soviet War of 1919–1921, and in the two smaller conflicts ( Polish–Ukrainian War (1918–1919) and the Polish–Lithuanian War (1919–1920)).
Initially, right after the
- Poznań Military District (Poznański Okręg Wojskowy), HQ in Poznań
- Kraków Military District (Krakowski Okręg Wojskowy), HQ in Kraków
- Łódź Military District (Łódzki Okręg Wojskowy), HQ in Łódź
- Warsaw Military District (Warszawski Okręg Wojskowy), HQ in Warsaw
- Lublin Military District (Lubelski Okręg Wojskowy), HQ in Lublin.
The Polish Land Forces as readied for the Polish–Soviet War was made up of soldiers who had formerly served in the various partitioning empires, supported by some international volunteers.[4] There appear to have been a total of around thirty Polish divisions involved. Boris Savinkov was at the head of an army of 20,000 to 30,000 largely Russian POWs, and was accompanied by Dmitry Merezhkovsky and Zinaida Gippius. The Polish forces grew from approximately 100,000 in 1918 to over 500,000 in early 1920.[5]
In August 1920, the Polish army had reached a total strength of 737,767 people. Half of that was on the frontline. Given Soviet losses, there was rough numerical parity between the two armies. By the time of the Battle of Warsaw Poles might have even had a slight advantage in numbers and logistics.[6]
Among the major formations involved on the Polish side were a number of Fronts, including the Lithuanian-Belarusian Front, and about seven armies, including the First Polish Army.
1939–1945
The
Both the
The army operational today has its roots in the surrogate force formed in support of Soviet interests during the establishment of the
1945–1989
Polish Armed Forces |
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Branches |
Land Forces Air Force Navy Special Forces Territorial Defence Force |
History |
Timeline Wars |
Personnel |
Awards Oaths |
Equipment |
Land Forces Navy |
The end of the war found the Polish Army in the midst of intense organisational development. Although the implementation of the Polish Front concept was abandoned, new tactical units and troop types were created. As a result of mobilisation, troop numbers in May 1945 reached 370,000 soldiers, and in September 1945 there were 440,000. Military districts were organised in liberated areas. The districts exercised direct authority over the units stationed on the territory administered by them.
Returning to Poland, the
In mid-1945, after the end of
In June 1945 the 1st, 3rd and 8th Infantry Divisions were assigned internal security duties. The 4th Infantry Division was reorganised for the purpose of creating the Internal Security Corps (KBW). The rule was that military units were used primarily against the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), while the Internal Security Corps was used to fight the armed underground independence.
Often however army units fought the underground resistance, and vice versa. The culmination of the UPA suppression operation was the so-called 'Wisła Action' (
One of the most important tasks facing the army after the war was mine clearance. Between 1944 and 1956 the demining operation involved 44 engineering units or about 19,000 sappers. They cleared mines and other munitions in a clearance area of more than 250,000 square kilometers (80% of the country). 14.75 million munitions of various types and 59 million bullets, bombs and other ammunition were found and removed. The mining operations cost the lives of 646 sappers.
In 1949 the military districts were reduced to four. They were the Pomeranian Military District, HQ in Bydgoszcz, the Silesian Military District, HQ in Wroclaw, the Warsaw Military District, HQ in Warsaw, and the Kraków Military District with its headquarters in Kraków. In November 1953, the Kraków Military District was dissolved and until 1992, Poland was divided into three districts.
Following victory and the movement of Polish borders these troops and other Polish soldiers thought loyal to their Soviet overlords were built up into a force which was to form part of the
The Polish Front headquarters was deactivated in 1990, and the three-army mobilisation scheme was likewise abandoned. Polish land forces during the communist era included troops dedicated to internal security – the Territorial Defence Forces – and control of the country's borders.[8]
Until the
In 1989 the Pomeranian Military District controlled the 8th, 12th, 15th, 16th, and 20th Divisions, the Silesian Military District controlled the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 10th, and 11th Divisions, and the Warsaw Military District the 1st, 3rd, and 9th Divisions, plus the 6th Airborne Division earmarked for Front control.[9] The 7th Sea Landing Division was based within the Pomeranian Military District but probably earmarked for front control. The two districts facing Germany each controlled four divisions in 1990, which had been recently reorganised, in line with the late 1990s Soviet defensive doctrine, from a 3:1 mix of motor rifle : tank regiments into a 2:2 mix of motor rifle and tank regiments.[10]
The Warsaw Military District in the east controlled only the 1st Mechanised Division. Two other mechanised divisions in that district had been disbanded in 1988. There was also the 6th Airborne Division and the 7th Sea Landing Division, possibly intended to form part of a Warsaw Pact attack on Denmark, to open the Baltic straits to the North Sea and beyond. There were 205,000 personnel, of which 168,000 were conscripts.
Since 1989
Following the end of the Cold War the Wojska Lądowe was drastically reduced and reorganised. In 1992, the Kraków Military District was recreated. From nine divisions, the total was planned in 2001 to fall to four, plus six independent brigades.[11] Since 1 January 1999, Poland has been divided into two military districts. These are the Pomeranian Military District (Pomorski Okręg Wojskowy) with HQ in Bydgoszcz, covering northern Poland, and the Silesian Military District (Śląski Okręg Wojskowy) with HQ in Wrocław, covering southern Poland.
From that date the former Krakow Military District became the headquarters of the Air-Mechanized Corps, which later became the headquarters of the 2nd Mechanised Corps. On 1 September 2011 the 1st Warsaw Mechanised Division was disbanded.
General Edward Pietrzyk served as commander of the Polish Land Forces from 2000 to September 2006. He was succeeded by General Waldemar Skrzypczak (2006–2009).
In May 2014, Defence Minister
On June 17, 2022, after the
Participation in peacekeeping operations
From the 1950s the Polish Land Forces have contributed troops to peacekeeping operations, initially the
Poland deployed about ten attack and transport helicopters as part of its force in Iraq between 2004 and 2008.[16] These helicopters formed the Independent Air Assault Group (pl:Samodzielna Grupa Powietrzno-Szturmowa). The division was disbanded in 2008. A Polish Military Advisory Liaison Team (MALT) stayed in Iraq until at least 2011 (see pl:PKW Irak).
One of the most recent peace keeping missions was
Equipment and modernization
In 2019 a new long-term program designed to modernize the Polish Armed Forces was introduced. Over the period of the next 10 to 14 years a large portion of the equipment currently being used by the Polish Army will be either upgraded or replaced. Some elements of this program are already in place. The Polish Ministry of Defence signed a contract aiming at modernization of all Leopard 2 main battle tanks used by the Polish Army to the Leopard 2PL standard. The completion of this program is planned to take place prior to 2023. The first Leopard 2PL arrived in March 2018.[17]
The Polish Army has 1,009 tanks (2017) including 249
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Poland has donated over 200 T-72 tanks to Ukraine's army, along with dozens of other armored vehicles.[20] As a result of the invasion, the Polish government has expedited the process of modernization of the military equipment. In July 2022, Poland signed a contract to acquire 1000 K2 Black Panther tanks and 460 K9 Thunder howitzers from South Korea for (the cost for the latter was US$2.4 billion). The first batch of K2 tanks and K9 howitzers was delivered in December 2022. Further deliveries are scheduled for 2023-2026 period.[21]
Looking towards the future, the 'Wilk' procurement program envisions the acquisition of up to 500 new tanks.[22] Some of the T-72s and PT-91s will be replaced by M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 main battle tanks (separate from the Wilk program) after Poland signed a contract to purchase 250 Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tanks (plus ammunition, spare parts, training, and logistical vehicles) on April 6, 2022.[23][24]
For air and missile defense, acquisitions of Poprad Anti-Air missile systems - which covers very short range air defense (VSHORAD) - are in their final stages. Legacy systems will be replaced through the Wisla and Narew procurement programs. The Wisla program will procure medium range air defense platforms and is being fulfilled through the acquisition of 2 Patriot air and missile defense batteries integrated with IBCS (delivery scheduled for late 2022), with plans to order six further batteries. The Narew program covers short range air defense (SHORAD) and is in its final stages of design selection and contract assignment. Considerable involvement of Polish defense contractors is being planned.[25][26] After the invasion of Ukraine, Poland ordered 1 battery of the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) short-range air defense system from the UK[27] as a short-term stop-gap, with plans to eventually acquire 23 batteries for the NAREW program.
The Polish army has 863 new KTO Rosomak multi-role wheeled armored personnel carriers.[28] They will be combined with new BWP Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle. The gradual replacement of older BWP-1 with this particular new design is to start from 2023 onward (prototypes are currently being tested).[28]
New rifles (
To modernize its artillery, Poland has purchased several systems including the
Rank insignia
- Officers
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Polish Land Forces[32] |
Various | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marszałek Polski | Generał | Generał broni | Generał dywizji | Generał brygady | Pułkownik | Podpułkownik
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Major | Kapitan | Porucznik | Podporucznik | Podchorąży
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Abbreviation | marsz. | gen. | gen.broni | gen.dyw. | gen.bryg. | płk | ppłk | mjr | kpt. | por. | ppor. |
- Other ranks
NATO rank scale | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Polish Land Forces[32] |
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Starszy chorąży sztabowy | Starszy chorąży | Chorąży | Młodszy chorąży | Starszy sierżant | Sierżant | Plutonowy | Starszy kapral | Kapral | Starszy szeregowy | Szeregowy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | st.chor.szt. | st.chor. | chor. | mł.chor. | st.sierż. | sierż. | plut. | st.kpr. | kpr. | st.szer. | szer. |
Operational organization
5 Engineer Rgt.
Formations
Divisions
- 1st "Legions" Infantry Division, in Warszawa (being formed and will move to Ciechanów)[33]
- 1st Armored Legions Brigade, in Czerwony Bór
- 2nd Mechanized Legions Brigade, in Brodnica
- 3rd Mechanized Legions Brigade, in Ślubowo
- 1st Motorized Legions Brigade, in Kolno
- 11th Armored Cavalry Division, in Żagań
- 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, in Świętoszów
- 17th Mechanized Brigade, in Międzyrzecz
- 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade, in Żagań
- 12th Mechanized Division "Szczecin", in Szczecin
- 2nd Legion Mechanized Brigade, in Złocieniec-Budowo
- 7th "Pomeranian" Coastal Defence Brigade, in Słupsk
- 12th Mechanized Brigade, in Szczecin
- 16th "Pomeranian" Mechanized Division, in Elbląg
- 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade, in Braniewo
- 15th "Giżycka" Mechanized Brigade, in Giżycko
- 20th "Bartoszycka" Mechanized Brigade, in Bartoszyce
Before the end of 2023 will commence the formation of a sixth army division in the center of the country. Minister Błaszczak reiterated, that the future force structure of the Polish Land Forces will be built around "six well-armed divisions."[36]
Independent formations and units
- 1st Aviation Brigade, in Inowrocław
- 6th Airborne Brigade, in Kraków
- 25th Air Cavalry Brigade, in Tomaszów Mazowiecki
- 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment, in Hrubieszów
- 9th Reconnaissance Regiment, in Lidzbark Warmiński
- 18th Reconnaissance Regiment, in Białystok
- 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, in Brzeg
- 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, in Kazuń Nowy
- 2nd Engineer Regiment, in Inowrocław
- 5th Engineer Regiment, in Szczecin
- 4th CBRN defense Regiment, in Brodnica
- 5th CBRN defense Regiment, in Tarnowskie Góry
- 2nd Radio-Electronic Reconnaissance Regiment, in Przasnysz
Arms of Service
- Armored & Mechanized Forces (Wojska Pancerne i Zmechanizowane)
- Missile & Artillery Forces (Wojska Rakietowe i Artyleria)
- Air Defense Forces (Wojska Obrony Przeciwlotniczej)
- Air-mobile Forces (Airborne forces) Forces (Wojska Aeromobilne)
- Engineer Forces (Wojska Inżynieryjne)
- Reconnaissance & Early Warning (Rozpoznanie i Wczesne Ostrzeganie)
- Signals & Information Technology Forces (Wojska Łączności i Informatyki)
- Chemical Forces (Wojska Chemiczne)
- Logistics (Logistyka)
See also
- List of Polish armoured fighting vehicles
- Podhale Rifles
- Territorial Defence Force (Poland)
- Mountain warfare
References
- ^ Załącznik do decyzji budżetowej MON 2023
- ^ "Ustawa z dnia 19 lutego 1993 r. o znakach Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" [Act of February 19, 1993 on the symbols of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland] (PDF). isap.sejm.gov.pl (in Polish). Internet System of Legal Acts. pp. 24–28. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "WPROWADZENIE". Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-7126-0694-3., p83
- ^ Davies, White Eagle..., Polish edition, p.162 and p.202.
- ^ Andrew A. Michta, 'Red Eagle: the army in Polish politics 1944–1988,' Hoover Press, 1990, p.54. Michta says that in 1958, Poland's deputy defence minister, General Duszynski, suggested that the Inspectorate of Training become the nucleus of a 'Polish Front.' According to the plan, in wartime, fifteen Polish divisions would operate in three armies as a 'Front' under a Polish commander. According to one source, the Soviets accepted the proposal and allowed the Inspectorate of Training to become the skeleton for the front. The notion of the front was modified in the mid 1960s and General Duszynski was dismissed in 1964. See also Michta, 1990, p.56.
- ^ Glenn E. Curtis (ed.), Poland : a country study, p. 267, Washington: GPO, 1994
- ^ "Poland Army 1989". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
- ISBN 0-517-05240-7. See also Jane's Soviet Intelligence Review for March 1990.
- ^ Grzegorz Holdanowicz, 'Polish government agrees to modernisation plan,' Jane's Defence Weekly, 4 February 2001
- Jane's Information Group. Archivedfrom the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
- ^ "Defence official: Polish armed forces to be increased by half". Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- Polska Agencja Prasowa. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ 'Poland to withdraw from UN's UNIFIL mission in Lebanon,' Archived 3 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, 11 April 2009
- ^ 6 PZL W-3 Sokół Helicopters (2003–2006) and four W-3 helicopters 2007–08 <http://gdziewojsko.wordpress.com/listy/w-3-sokol Archived 24 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine>. 6 Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters (2004–2008) <"Śmigłowce Mi-24 rozpoczęły wykonywanie zadań w Iraku". Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.>. 4 Mil Mi-8 helicopters (2003–2008).
- ^ "PULASKI POLICY PAPER: B. Kucharski – Nowy Czołg Podstawowy – możliwości pozyskania". 8 March 2021.
- ^ "Jakie czołgi w 2022 roku otrzyma Wojsko Polskie - Defence24". www.defence24.pl. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Zbiam. "Modyfikacja czołgów T-72". Wydawnictwo militarne ZBIAM (in Polish). Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Polska przekazała Ukrainie ponad 200 czołgów. To niejedyne wsparcie - Wiadomości - polskieradio24.pl". polskieradio24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "K9A1 Howitzers and K2 Main Battle Tanks Delivered to Poland". defence24.com (in Polish). 6 December 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "PULASKI POLICY PAPER: B. Kucharski – Nowy Czołg Podstawowy – możliwości pozyskania". 8 March 2021.
- ^ "Poland signs contract for 250 M1A2 SEPv3 MBTS".
- ^ "Poland – M1A2 SEPv3 Main Battle Tank | Defense Security Cooperation Agency". www.dsca.mil. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ Pawlowski, Jakub (24 November 2021). "Narew SHORAD Still a Go". Defence24. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Glowacki, Bartosz (8 October 2021). "Poland Kicks Off Homegrown SHORAD System: Narew". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Adamowski, Jaroslaw (14 April 2022). "Poland will get a new air-defense system after the summer". Defense News. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Po epoce Rosomaka czas na Borsuka?". DziennikZbrojny.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "Kolejne Groty i Visy 100". www.milmag.pl (in Polish). 12 September 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ Adamowski, Jaroslaw (3 September 2019). "Poland to sign $414 million deal for rocket launchers". Defense News. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Szczegóły zamówienia trzeciej partii moździerzy Rak". Radar (in Polish). 28 April 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu wojsk Lądowych i sił Powietrznych" (PDF). wojsko-polskie.pl (in Polish). Armed Forces Support Inspectorate. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/articles/tym-zyjemy-v/ruszylo-formowanie-nowej-dywizji-wojska-polskiego-1-dywizji-piechoty-legionow/
- ^ "Minister Blaszczak decided to create a new division". Polish Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ "18. Brygada Zmotoryzowana z siedzibą w Poniatowej". Polish Government. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "When will the sixth Polish Army division be established? Błaszczak: We will start formation in 2023 (article in Polish)". Radio Połska.