Polish People's Army

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The Polish People's Army (Template:Langx, Script error: No such module "IPA".; LWP)[1] was the second formation of the Polish Armed Forces in the East during the latter stages of the Second World War (1943–1945), and subsequently the armed forces of the Polish communist state (1945–1989), which was formalized in 1952 as the Polish People's Republic.[2]

The creation of communist-led Polish armed forces that were outside the command of the Polish government-in-exile was allowed and facilitated by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, following efforts made in the early 1940s by Soviet-based Polish exiles Wanda Wasilewska and Zygmunt Berling.

Initially called the Polish Army in the USSR from 1943 to 1944,[3] it became the Polish Troops[4] and Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland[5] from 1944 to 1952, and thereafter the Armed Forces of the Polish People's Republic.[6] During these restructurings, the Polish military was increasingly integrated into Soviet military and command structures, becoming comparatively more distinct and independent in 1956.

On 7 October 1950, the anniversary of the Battle of Lenino—one of the first major engagements of Polish Armed Forces in the East against Axis forces—was declared the official "Day of the Polish People's Army" by the People's Republic.

History

World War II

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File:Polish 1st Infantry Division (1943).jpg
Polish troops, 1943

What became the LWP was formed during World War II, in May 1943, as the 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division, which developed into the First Polish Army, unofficially known as Berling's Army. Because of the shortage of Polish officers and the policies of the Soviet Union, in March 1945 Soviet Red Army officers accounted for nearly 52% of the officer corps (15,492 out of 29,372). Around 4,600 of them remained in the LWP by July 1946.[7]

It was not the only Polish formation that fought on the Allied side, nor the first one formed in the East. The earlier Polish force formed in the Soviet Union, known as Anders' Army, was loyal to the Polish government-in-exile and by that time had moved to Iran. The communist-led Polish forces soon grew beyond the 1st Division into two major commands – the First Polish Army (initially under Zygmunt Berling) and the Second Polish Army (commanded by Karol Świerczewski). The First Polish Army participated in the Vistula–Oder Offensive, the Battle of Kolberg and the final Battle of Berlin.[1]

Immediate post-war years

File:Polish Army 1945.jpg
The Polish First Army on their way to Berlin, 1945
File:Polish flag 1945 Berlin.jpg
Polish flag raised on the top of Berlin Victory Column on 2 May 1945
File:T-55A Martial law Poland.jpg
T-55A tanks of the Polish People's Army (Martial law in Poland)

After the war the Polish Army was reorganized into six (later seven) military districts. These were the Warsaw Military District, headquartered (HQ) in Warsaw, the Lublin Military District, HQ in Lublin, the Kraków Military District, HQ in Kraków, the Łódź Military District, HQ in Łódź, the Poznań Military District, HQ in Poznań, the Pomeranian Military District, HQ in Toruń, and the Silesian Military District, HQ in Katowice.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Polish Army was under the command of Marshal of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Poland and Minister of Defense of Poland Konstantin Rokossovsky. It was increasingly integrated into Soviet military structure and organization. This process was mitigated in the aftermath of the Polish October of 1956, when Władysław Gomułka formalized aspects of Poland's military relationship with the Soviet Union.[8] The Sovietization of the armed forces structure was phased out altogether and thus the combat and service support structures were integrated once more into regular combat formations following the old Polish model.

Cold War

File:LWP 001.JPG
General Wojciech Jaruzelski in 1984

An anti-Zionist purge in the Polish Army took place in 1968 to systematically remove soldiers of Jewish origin, following the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab countries.

Characteristics

Uniform

In 1949, the first fundamental uniform reform after the war was made.[9] The "Dress Rules for the Soldiers of the Polish Army" were introduced and were to apply from January 1, 1951.

In the Polish People's Army, a soft field cap modeled on the pre-war one was introduced. After the war, the pre-war garrison caps were used again. Stiffened caps were only worn until around 1950 when they were completely replaced by round caps. In 1982, the Polish Rogatywka, modeled on the pattern from 1935, were restored in the Polish Army's Representative Company.[10]

In the late 1950s, camouflaged field uniforms were introduced, starting with:

Chaplaincy

Throughout the entire period of the existence of the Polish People's Army, its officers and soldiers were provided with pastoral care. Such a service was provided by the General Dean's Office of the Polish Army.[12]

Training

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In the 1980s, the Polish People's Republic had 4 military academies and 11 higher officers' schools, which trained auxiliary corpsmen and corresponded in rank to higher educational institutions. In 1954, judo instructors from the Warsaw and Kraków institutes of physical culture, participated in the training program for border guards and military personnel of the airborne units of the Polish army.[13]

Equipment

Helmet Origin Type Notes Photo
SSh-39/SSh-40 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Combat helmet Used during World War II and shortly after File:Ssh39exterior.jpg
Hełm wz. 31/50 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Combat helmet Pre-war polish helmet after modernisations File:CascPol-m31.jpg
Hełm wz. 50 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Combat helmet Standard helmet in 1950-1967 File:M50P.png
Hełm wz. 63 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Paratrooper helmet Used by airbone troops and special units. File:Hełm wz. 63.jpg
Hełm wz. 67

Hełm wz. 67/75

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Combat helmet Standard helmet from 1967 to 1989. File:Hełm wz. 67.jpg
Weapon Origin Type Notes Photo
P-64 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Semi-automatic pistol File:P-64 Armémuseum.jpg
P-83 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Semi-automatic pistol File:P-83 Wanad pistol nobg.png
P-33[14] Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Semi-automatic pistol Licensed copy of TT-33. File:PW-33 1.jpg
AKM

AKMS

File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

Assault rifle Standard issue rifle File:AKM automatkarbin Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armémuseum rightside noBG.png
PM-84 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Submachine gun Limited use File:Submachine gun PM-84.jpg
PM-63 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Submachine gun Standard submachine gun form 1963 till 1989[15] File:Submachine gun wz63.jpg
7.62 mm pm wz.41 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

Submachine gun Polish PPSh-41 produced domestically.[16] File:PPSh-41 from soviet.jpg
SWD File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Designated sniper rifle Standard marksman rifle of PPA File:SVD Dragunov.jpg
PK File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

General purpose machinegun Standard general purpose machinegun of PPA File:PK machine gun.jpg
SKS File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Semi-automatic rifle [17] File:Simonow SKS 45 noBG.jpg
Mosin–Nagant File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic File:Flag of Russia.svg Russian Empire

Bolt-action rifle Domestically produced.[18] File:Mosin-Nagant M1891.png
SG-43 Goryunov Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Machine gun Template:Sfn File:Филиал ЦВММ «Дорога жизни», СГ-43.jpg
RPG-7 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

Light AT weapon File:RPG-7 detached.jpg

Ground Forces

Tank Origin Version In service Notes
T-60 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union 3 pcs. - 1944-1945[19][20] After the war, several pieces were sent to military schools.[21]
T-70 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union 53 pcs. - 1944-1945[22] Some of the tanks used after 1945 by the Internal Security Corps.[23]
T-34 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943[24] 118 pcs. - 1944-1945[25] According to Magnuski, many different versions of the T-34 vehicle were used, both early production and modernized ones.[26]
T-34-85 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

M1, M2[27] 328 pcs. - 1944–1945. 1083 pcs. - 1955, 1444 pcs. - 1960, 417 pcs. - 1985[28] Domestically produced 1355 pcs. between 1952 and 1956.

In 1985, the military had 417 pieces of M1, M2 versions.[29]

PT-76 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union PT-76, PT-76B[30] 68 pcs. - 1965, 108 pcs. - 1970, 112 pcs. - 1985, 30 pcs. 1990[31] Some of the tanks were modernized in Poland by adding a DSzK HMG above the loader's hatch.[32]
T-54 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

A, AD, AM, AM1, AM2, T-55U[33] 1258 pcs. - 1965, 998 pcs. - 1970[34] Between 1956 and 1964, 2,000 T-54 tanks were produced under license in Poland.[35]
T-55 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

A, AD, AD-1, AD-2, AM, AD1M, AD2M, AMS[36] 128 pcs. - 1965, 956 pcs. - 1970, 2653 pcs., 2100 pcs. - 1990[37] Between 1964 and 1980, 5,000 T-55s were produced. Most of it was exported.[38]
T-72 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

M, M1[39] 317 pcs. - 1985, 700 pcs. - 1990[40] In the years 1981–1990, Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy produced approximately 1,600 T-72 tanks.[41]
IS-2 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union M[42] 50 pcs. - 1944–1945,[43][44] 180 pcs. - 1955, 75 pcs. - 1960[45] Withdrawn from use in the 1960s.[46]
IS-3 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union 2 or 3 pcs.[47] Brought for testing purposes. They did not come into use. Two copies have been preserved in museums in Poznań and Warsaw.[48]
TD/SPG Origin Version In service Notes
SU-57 File:Flag of the United States.svg USA

File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

SPG 15 pcs. - 1944–1945,[49] Few pcs. survived war.[50] Withdrawn from use in the 1950s.[51]
SU-76 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union SPG 130 pcs. - 1944–1945,[52] 206 pcs. - 1955.[53] Withdrawn from use in the 1950s.[54]
SU-85 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union TD 70 pcs. - 1944–1945,[55] 51 pcs. - 1955, 43 pcs. - 1960[56] Withdrawn from use in the 1960s.[57]
SU-100 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union TD At least 3 pcs. - 1943-1945[58] Withdrawn from use in the 1950s.[59]
ISU-122S File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union SPG 32 pcs. – 1944–1945,[60] 399 pcs. (together with ISU-152) – 1955, 49 pcs. – 1960[61] Withdrawn from use in the 1960s.[62]
SU-152 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union SPG 3 pcs. - 1944-1945[63]
ISU-152 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union SPG 10 pcs. – 1944–1945,[64] 399 pcs. (together with ISU-122S) – 1955[65] Withdrawn from use in the 1950s.[66]
ASU-85 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union SPG 20-30 pcs. - 1965-1975[67] Withdrawn from use in the second half of 1970s.[68]
2S1 Goździk File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

SPG 166 pcs. - 1985, 490 pcs. - 1990[69] Licensed production launched in the 1980s at Huta Stalowa Wola.[70]
wz.77 DANA Template:Country data Czechoslovak Socialist Republic SPG The first copies appeared in WP in the mid-1980s.[71]
APC/IFV Origin Version In service Notes
BWP-1 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

IFV 1 400[72]
BMP-2 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union IFV 62[73] Sold to Angola after communism fell in country.[74]
MT-LB File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union APC 15 Template:Sfn
TOPAS File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakia

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

WPT-TOPAS, -2AP, R-2, R-3[75] 120 pcs. - 1968, 70 pcs. - 1990[75] Jointly developed by Poland and Czechoslovakia[76]
SKOT File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakia

Template:Country data Polish People's Republic

-1A, -2A, S-260 Art, S-260 Inż., -WPT, -2AP, R-1, R-2, R2M, R2AM, R-3, R-3M, R-3AM, R-4, R-6[75] 548 pcs. - 1966

2 500 total production form Polish Army[77]

Jointly developed by Poland and Czechoslovakia between 1963 and 1971.[75]
BTR-60 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union PU-12[78] Included with the 9K33 Osa SAM system delivered between 1980 and 1985.[78]
BRDM-1 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union The first ones entered the army in the 1960s[75]
BRDM-2 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union 9P133, 9P148, RS, 9P31[76] 800 pcs. - 1990[75]
FUG Template:Country data Hungarian People's Republic The first ones entered the army in the 1960s[76]

Air Force

Model Origin Type In service Notes
Lim-1 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Fighter 227 [79]
Lim-2 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Fighter 500 [79]
Lim-5 Template:Country data Polish People's Republic Fighter 477 [80]
MiG-19 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Fighter 33 [81]
MiG-21 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Fighter 600 [82]
MiG-23 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Fighter 40 [82]
MiG-29 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Fighter 12 [82]
Sukhoi Su-7 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Attack Aircraft 50 [82]
Su-20 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Attack Aircraft 40 [83]
Sukhoi Su-22 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Attack Aircraft 110 [83]
Ilyushin Il-28 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Bomber 80 [83]
Antonov An-2 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Transport N/A [83]
Antonov An-26 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Transport 20
Ilyushin Il-14 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Transport 30
Mil Mi-8 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Helicopter 80
Mil Mi-2 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Helicopter 200 [84]
Mil Mi-24 File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Attack helicopter 40

Artillery

Rocket Artillery

Towed artillery

Selfpropelled artillery

Air defense

Mobile missile

Mobile self-propelled AA guns

Towed anti-aircraft gun

Artillery tractors

Utility vehicles

Engagements

See also

References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Initially ruled by the Polish Workers' Party (1942-1948) and thereafter the Polish United Workers' Party.
  3. ↑ Polish: Armia Polska w ZSRR.
  4. ↑ Polish: Wojsko Polskie
  5. ↑ Polish: Siły Zbrojne Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej.
  6. ↑ Polish: Siły Zbrojne Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Jerzy Eisler, Siedmiu wspaniałych poczet pierwszych sekretarzy KC PZPR [The Magnificent Seven: First Secretaries of KC PZPR], Wydawnictwo Czerwone i Czarne, Warszawa 2014, Template:ISBN, pp. 214–215
  9. ↑ Dziennik rozkazów MON nr 4 z 1949 roku poz.30.
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Влодзимеж Голембевский. Из-под Фудзиямы на Вислу // журнал «Польша», № 5 (117), май 1964. стр.52-53
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ BMP-2 Pancerni.net 1 Template:Webarchive. Pancerni.abajt.pl. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Kubiaczyk C., Transporter opancerzony SKOT, A. Karaś, W. Stefanowska (red.), J. Magnuski, Seria: Typy broni i uzbrojenia, vol. 9, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, 1971
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  79. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  83. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  84. ↑ Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 47.
  85. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  86. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  87. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  88. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  89. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  90. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Sources

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

External links

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