POLISH KOMPANIA CZOLGOW (Tank Company)

Poland 1939

Headquarters: 1 Cmd 7TP jw

3 Czolgw Platoons each
--Headquarters: 1 Cmd 7TP jw
-- 2 Czolgw Sections each: 2 7TP jw

Notes:
At the time of the invasion the Polish Army was able to field two
independent light tank battalions equipped with 7TP light tanks. An
additional independent company of eleven brand-new tanks was formed
to defend Warsaw.

The 7TP light tank was a locally-produced, diesel-engined version of the

British Vickers E. The first 40 completed were armed with twin wx.30
macine gun turrets, while the final 95 had a single turret armed with the
Bofors 37mm wz.37 gun. The 7TP was an effective tank, but there were
simply not enough of them to make a difference to the eventual
outcome of the invasion.

POLISH PULK KAWALERII ZMOTORYZOWANEJ (Motorized Cavalry

Regiment)
Poland 1939

Headquarters: 1 Cmd, 1 Fiat 508 car, 1 M/C sidecar

1 Armored Platoon
--1 Reconnaissance Tank Section: 2 TKS
--1 Vickers Tank Section: 2 Vickers E
--1 Kawalerii Zmotoryzowanej Platoon: 4 infantry, 1 ATR, 2 Polski Fiat 621
truck
--1 Zmotoryzowanej Motorcyclist Squad: 2 M/C
1 Weapons Platoon
--1 Mortar Section: 2 81mm wz 31 mortar, 2 Polski Fiat 621 truck
--3 Zmotoryzowanej Anti Tank Gun Sections each: 1 37mm wz.36 ATG, 1
Fiat 508 car
--1 Motorized Artillery Section: 2 75mm wz.1897 gun, 2 Polski Fiat 621
truck
1 Zmotoryzowanej Heavy Machine Gun Company
--2 Machine Gun Platoons each: 4 Ckm wz. 30 HMG, 2 Polski Fiat 621
truck
--1 Machine Gun Platoon: 4 Polski Fiat 508 Tachanka
1 Zmotoryzowanej Anti Tank Gun Platoon
--3 Anti Tank Gun Sections each: 1 37mm wz.36 ATG, 1 Fiat 508 car
1 Zmotoryzowanej Motorcyclist Platoon
--Headquarters: 1 M/C
--3 Motorcyclist Squads each: 2 M/C
1 Reconnaissance Tank Platoon
--Headquarters: 1 Cmd TKS
--2 Tankette Sections each: 2 TKS
4 Kawalerii Zmotoryzowanej Companies each
--Headquarters: 1 Cmd, 1 Fiat 508 car
--1 Machine Gun Section: 2 Ckm wz.30 HMG, 2 Fiat 508 car
--3 Kawalerii Platoons each: 4 infantry, 1 ATR, 2 Polski Fiat 621 truck

Notes:
In a 1936 review of their defense policy, the Poles decided that Germany
was a greater threat than Russia. Germany's rearmament program
emphasised a strike force of motorized and armored divisions. Poland
responded as best it could by forming a motorized cavalry brigade.

The 24th Lancers Regiment and the 10th Mounted Rifle Regiment were
concerted from horsed cavalry into the 10th Motorized Cavalry brigade
in 1936. A second brigade, the Warsaw Armored-Motorized Brigade was
formed in May 1939.

The decision to give up their horses was not an easy one for many
cavalrymen. On learning they were to be motorized, the officers of the
20th Lancers mutinied, so the 24th Lancers were motorized in their
place. Ironically, the 20th Lancers ceased to exist with the fall of Poland,
while the 24th went on to fight in France in 1940, and then again in
1944.

POLISH BATALION PIECHOTY (Infantry Battalion)

Poland 1939

Headquarters: 1 Cmd, 1 infantry

1 Mortar Platoon: 2 81mm wz.31 mortar
1 Piechoty Infantry Gun Section: 1 75mm wz.02/26, 1 limber
2 Piechoty Anti Tank Gun Section: 1 37mm wz.36, 1 limber
1 Piechoty Scout Section: 4 infantry
1 Piechoty Heavy Machine Gun Platoon
--3 Tachanka Sections each: 1 Tachanka
3 Piechoty Companies each
--1 Machine Gun Platoon: 4 Ckm wz.30 HMG
--3 Piechoty Platoons each: 1 Cmd, 12 infantry

Notes:
The Polish Army began the war on 1 September 1939 with thirty regular
infantry divisions, just over half the number they faced in the German
Army.
POLISH PULK KAWALERII (Cavalry Regiment)
Poland 1939

Headquarters: 1 Cmd, 1 cavalry

1 Reconnaissance Tank Section: 2 TKS
1 Armored Car Section: 1 wz.34 A/C
1 Horse Artillery Platoon: 2 75mm wz.02/26, 2 limber
1 Kawalerii Heavy Machine Gun Company
--2 Machine Gun Platoons each: 4 Ckm wz.30 HMG
--1 Tachanka Platoon: 4 Tachanka
1 Kawalerii Anti Tank Gun Platoon
--2 Anti Tank Gun Sections each: 2 37mm wz.36, 2 limber
3 Mounted Kawalerii Companies
--Headquarters: 1 Cmd, 1 cavalry
--3 Kawalerii Platoons each: 4 cavalry, 1 cavalry ATR
1 Dismounted Kawalerii Company
--Headquarters: 1 Cmd, 1 infantry
--3 Kawalerii Platoons each: 4 infantry, 1 ATR
1 Kawalerii Cyclist Company
--Headquarters: 1 Cmd B/C
--3 Platoons each: 6 B/C
--1 Mchine Gun Platoon: 4 B/C Ckm wz.30 HMG, 2 B/C light mortar

Notes:
The regiments of the twelve Cavalry Brigades represent the elite of the
Polish Army. The men volunteered for a two-year term rather than the
single year of the infantry conscripts. The quality of their officers and
men provided tham with their only significant advantage over the
Germans during the campaign in September.

POLISH SUPPORT UNITS

Poland 1939

Armored Car Platoon

--Headquarters: 1 Cmd wz.34 A/C
--2 Armored car Sections each: 1 wz.34 A/C

Heavy Artillery Battery

--3 Gun Sections each: 1 105mm wz.29 or 155mm wz.17, 1 limber

Light Gun Battery

--2 Gun Platoons each: 2 75mm wz.1897, 2 limber

Light Howitzer Battery

--2 Gun Platoons each: 2 100mm wz.14/19, 2 limber
Light Tank Platoon
--Headquarters: 1 Cmd FT-17
--2 Tank Sections each: 2 FT-17

Motorized Artillery Battery

--2 Motorized Artillery Sections each: 2 75mm wz.1897 gun, 2 Polski Fiat
621 truck