“The First Polish Armoured Division/ On the fields of France went into bloody battle.” This is how a song written by Stanisław Kowalski begins, glorifying the battles of the Polish Armoured Division’s soldiers. Although the battles in France are the division’s best-known achievements, its history dates back deeper.

The Poles started to fight against the Germans on 1 September 1939. After the defeat of the defensive war, thousands of Polish soldiers began to force their way westwards, eager to continue fighting the aggressor, initially in France and then wherever there were battles against the Germans.

The 1st Armoured Division began to be formed on 25 February 1942 in southern Scotland. The formation was made up of Polish forces already existing in the UK, with the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, experienced in the battles of Polish September and in the defence of France, at its head. General Stanisław Maczek, who had been associated with armoured weapons since 1938, became its commander. The division numbered around 16,000 men, almost 400 tanks and around 5,000 other vehicles. The unit was initially directed to secure eastern Scotland against a possible landing of German forces. After more than two years, it was finally sent into battle.

The division’s landing in Normandy began at the end of July 1944 and it had already begun combat operations from 7 to 8 August. Allied forces faced a difficult task of destroying the fiercely defending units of German Army Group B. During the operation, the Allies achieved partial success, but it was only a foretaste of large-scale clashes. On 14 August, the Poles went into battle again, this time as part of Operation Tractable, during which the famous Battle of Falaise took place. Polish armoured troops were given the crucial task of closing the encirclement around the numerous German divisions in the region. The fierceness of the fighting is evidenced by the fact that the Poles began to run out of ammunition, and the Allies, unable to break through to the fighting Poles, had to drop ammunition by air. Ultimately, the battle ended on 21 August with an Allied victory. The Poles lost around 1,500 men at that time.

The division began the pursuit of the fleeing enemy, harassing them and capturing numerous towns such as Tielt, Ypres, Ruiselede and Ghent. Breda was captured without loss of civilians or buildings, despite fierce resistance. Following the successes in Belgium and the Netherlands, the division entered Germany, continuing the fighting and liberating women from the Polish Home Army prison camp at Oberlangen, among other places.