The Polish Army in France formed in France under the command of General Władysław Sikorski in late 1939, after the fall of Poland resulting from the Polish Defensive War. About 85,000 troops were in the process of being organized into fighting formations when the Battle of France started. The army was partially destroyed in the hostilities, but over 20,000 soldiers were evacuated and formed a new Polish army in the United Kingdom.
Polish soldiers in training with MAS 36 rifles, France, 1940.
Wladyslaw Sikorski presents the banner for the Polish sapper unit in France.
Polish Renault UE column in France, 1940.
The ceremony parade presenting the banner of the Independent Podhale Rifle Brigade, 1940.
The Polish 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade was an armoured formation of the Polish Armed Forces in the West. It was organized in France during World War II as part of the Polish Army in France, mostly by veterans of the 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade who managed to escape from German and Soviet occupied Poland. Led by General Stanisław Maczek, it took part in the Battle of France in May 1940. It was later reformed in Great Britain as a part of the 1st Armoured Division.
R35 tanks of the 1st Polish battalion of tanks in France, June 1940.
Leopard 2A4 of the brigade, December 2005
Image: 1 Pulk Czołgow Wojska Polskiego we Francji czolgi Renault podczas postoju NAC 18 264 6