Polish army order of battle in 1939

The overall operational plan assumed the creation of thirty

Armies

Karpaty Army

Created on July 11, 1939, under Major General

• Border Defence Corps units from Volhynia
  ,
• 3rd Mountain Brigade (3 Brygada Górska), made of National Defence units from Krosno, Sanok, Przemyśl and Rzeszów
• Carpathian Half-Brigade of National Defence (Karpacka Półbrygada ON)
• 1st Motorized Artillery Regiment
• 9th Heavy Artillery Regiment

Additionally, mobilisation plans called for creation of the Tarnów Group consisting of:

• 22nd Mountain Infantry Division from Przemyśl,
• Volhynian Voivodeship
  .

Kraków Army

Created on March 23, 1939, as the main pivot of Polish defence. Its main task was to delay advancing German troops and withdraw eastwards along the northern line of the Carpathians. It consisted of 5 infantry divisions, 1 mountain infantry division, 1 motorized cavalry brigade, 1 mountain brigade and 1 cavalry brigade under gen. Antoni Szylling.

Lublin Army

An improvised army created on September 4 from a motorized brigade and various smaller units concentrated around Lublin, Sandomierz and upper Vistula. Commanded by mj. gen. Tadeusz Piskor.

• Warsaw Armoured Motorized Brigade (Warszawska Brygada Pancerno-Motorowa)
• Smaller units

Łódź Army

Created on March 23, 1939, under gen. Juliusz Rómmel. Armia Łódź was to become a bolt between Armies "Kraków" and "Poznań". However, because of mistakes committed by Gen. Rómmel, the army was located too close to the German border and joined fighting from the very beginning of the campaign, which deprived it of any possibilities of cooperation with the surrounding units. It consisted of 4 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades.

• 2nd Legions Infantry Division (2 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów) from Kielce,
• 10th Infantry Division (10 Dywizja Piechoty) from Łódź,
• 28th Infantry Division (28 Dywizja Piechoty) from Łomża,
• 30th Infantry Division (30 Dywizja Piechoty, reserve division) from Kobryn,
• Kresowa Cavalry Brigade (Kresowa Brygada Kawalerii) from Brody,
• Wołyńska Cavalry Brigade (Wołyńska Brygada Kawalerii) from Rowne
  ,
• Sieradz National Defence Brigade (Sieradzka Brygada Obrony Narodowej)

Modlin Army

Created on March 23, 1939, for defence of Warsaw from the north. The army was to defend fortified lines along the border with East Prussia near Mława, and then retreat towards Narew river. Led by brig. gen. Emil Krukowicz-Przedrzymirski. Consisted of 2 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades.

• 8th Infantry Division (8 Dywizja Piechoty) from Modlin,
• Baranowicze
  ,
• Baranowicze
  ,
• Mazowiecka Brygada Kawalerii) from Warsaw
  ,
• Warsaw National Defence Brigade (Warszawska Brygada Obrony Narodowej)

Pomorze Army

The Army was created on March 23, 1939, to defend Toruń and Bydgoszcz and to carry out delaying actions in the so-called "Polish Corridor". It was led by Lt.-Gen. Władysław Bortnowski and consisted of five infantry divisions, two National Defence brigades and one cavalry brigade.

Poznań Army

The Armia Poznań led by mj. gen.

• 14th Infantry Division (14 Dywizja Piechoty) from Poznań
• 17th Infantry Division (17 Dywizja Piechoty) from Gniezno
• 25th Infantry Division (25 Dywizja Piechoty) from Kalisz
• 26th Infantry Division (26 Dywizja Piechoty) from Skierniewice
• Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade (Wielkopolska Brygada Kawalerii) from Poznań
  ,
• Podolska Cavalry Brigade (Podolska Brygada Kawalerii) from Stanisławów.

Prusy Army

Under gen. Stefan Dąb-Biernacki. Created in the summer of 1939 as the main reserve of the Commander in Chief. According to the "Plan West" (Plan Zachód, code name for the Polish mobilization plan) it was to be composed of units mobilized as the second and third waves and its main purpose was to cooperate with the nearby armies "Poznań" and "Kraków".

Mobilized in two groups. Because of fast German advance both groups entered combat separately and most units did not reach full mobilization. It consisted of 6 infantry divisions, 1 cavalry brigade and a battalion of tanks.

Warszawa Army

Created on September 10, 1939, from various units in Warsaw and Modlin Fortress area. Initially it consisted of approximately 25 infantry battalions and 40 tanks. Later it was reinforced by forces of Łódź Army and elements of Modlin Army. It was commanded by col. Walerian Czuma, although the nominal commander was gen. Juliusz Rómmel.

Operational Groups

Operational Group Wyszków

Was one of the reserves of the northern front of Polish defences, created on September 1, 1939. According to

• Wilno
  ,
• Border Defence Corps from northern parts of the Wilno Voivodeship
  ,
• Border Defence Corps
  ,
• Bartosz Glowacki (armoured train)
  ,
• elements of 2nd Regiment of Heavy Artillery.

Consisted of 2 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades:

• 18th Infantry Division (Polish: 18 Dywizja Piechoty) from Łomża,
• Wilno
  ,
• Podlaska Cavalry Brigade (Polish: Podlaska Brygada Kawalerii) from Białystok,
• Suwalska Cavalry Brigade (Polish: Suwalska Brygada Kawalerii) from Suwałki and Grodno
  .

Supporting forces

Air support

• Lotnictwo Wojskowe (Polish Air Force)

Naval and river support

• Polska Marynarka Wojenna (Polish Navy)

See also

• Polish cavalry brigade order of battle
• Border Guard
• Fall Weiss (1939)
• History of Poland
• Invasion of Poland
• List of Polish armies in World War II
• Polish armaments 1939–45
• Plan Wschod
• Soviet invasion of Poland