British Army (Polish)

Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade (1 Samodzielna Brygada Spadochronowa)

The Polish 1st Independent Paratrooper Brigade (1. Samodzielna Brygada Spadochronowa) was created in September 1941 in Scotland as a part of Polish armed forces Directly subordinate to Polish Government in Exile. It’s exclusive mission was to drop into occupied Poland in order to help liberate country hence the brigade’s motto „By the shortest way”.

The unit was created and commanded by Col. Stanisław Sosabowski (promoted in June 1944 to promoted to Brigadier General

6th June 1944 Brigade became the part of 1st Allied Airborne Army and under high pressure from British HQ instead of being dropped directly into Poland could be sent into action at any part of the Western front.

The unit was eventually used during Operation Market Garden in 1944. The Poles were initially landed by glider from the 18th September, whilst due to bad weather over England, the Parachute section of the Brigade was held up, and jumped on the 21st September at Driel on the South bank of the Rhine. The Poles suffered significant casualties during the next few days of fighting, but still were able, by their presence, to cause around 2,500 German troops to be diverted to them for fear of supporting the remnants of 1st Airborne trapped over the lower Rhine in Oosterbeek.

The following day, the Poles were able to produce some make-shift boats and attempted the crossing. With great difficulty and under German fire from the heights of Westerbouwing at the northern bank of the river, the 8th Parachute Company and later additional troops from 3rd Battalion, managed to cross the Rhine in two attempts. In total about 200 Polish Paratroopers made it across in two days, and were able to cover the subsequent withdrawal of the remnants of the British 1st Airborne Division.

On the 26th of September 1944, the brigade (now including the 1st Battalion and elements of the 3rd Battalion, who were parachuted near to Grave on the 23rd September) was ordered to march in the direction of Nijmegen. The brigade had lost 23% of its fighting strength, amounting to 400 casualties.

In 1945 it was attached to the Polish 1st Armoured Division and undertook occupation duties in Northern Germany until 30th June 1947 when it was disbanded. The majority of its soldiers stayed in exile.

Brigade Order of Battle

• Brigade HQ
  • Deputy Brigade
• 1st Parachute Battalion
  • 1st Parachute Company
  • 2nd Parachute Company
  • 3rd Parachute Company
• 2nd Parachute Battalion
  • 4th Parachute Company
  • 5th Parachute Company
  • 6th Parachute Company
• 3rd Parachute Battalion
  • 7th Parachute Company
  • 8th Parachute Company
  • 9th Parachute Company
• Airborne Anti-tank Battery
• Airborne Engineer Company
• Airborne Signals Company
• Airborne Medical Company
• Transport and Supply Company
• Airborne Light Artillery Battery

Commanding officers:

• Brig. Gen. S. Sosabowski
• Lt. Col. Stanisław Jachnik – From 26th Dec. 1944
• Maj. Marian Tonn
• Lt. Col. Antoni Rawicz-Szczerbo – from April 1945