Unit Descriptions: Air, Naval, Land

[Shannon V. OKeets]

There are a total of 149 land units left that need write-ups. I am looking for authors to fill in these gaps. If you have any interest in doing so, please send me an email: SHokanson@HawaiianTel.net. The task requires doing some original research, finding multiple sources and writing your own synthesis of what you have learned. Simply cutting and pasting from other sources is NOT what we are looking for here.

---

The remaining units are presented by nationality, alphabetically.

American - 11 units
-----
[2040] [American 1st Motorized Engineer Division]
[2041] [American 2nd Motorized Engineer Division]
[2042] [American Marine Engineer Division]
[2109] [American 120mm Antiaircraft Gun]
[3010] [American Saigon Militia]
[3011] [American Naples Garrison]
[3012] [American 5th Motorized Division]
[3013] [American Rome Motorized Corps]
[3014] [American 7th Armor Division]
[3072] [American Supply Unit]
[6001] [American Synthetic Oil]

Australian - 7 units
-----
[2001] [Australian 2nd Infantry]
[2003] [Australian Sydney Militia]
[2004] [Australian Territorials]
[2005] [Australian Territorials]
[2006] [Australian 3rd Garrison]
[2007] [Australian 1st Motorized Corps]
[2008] [Australian 4th Mechanized Corps]

British - 7 units
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[2425] [British Motorized Engineer Division]
[2426] [British Marine Engineer Division]
[2450] [British VI Armor Corps]
[3035] [British Oslo Militia]
[3036] [British Athens Garrison]
[6005] [British Synthetic Oil]
[6006] [British Synthetic Oil]

Canadian - 1 unit
-----
[2118] [Canadian 6th Garrison Corps]

Commonwealth - 1 unit
-----
[6014] [Commonwealth Synthetic Oil]

Danish - 1 unit
-----
[2677] [Danish Copenhagen Militia]

Eritrean - 1 unit
-----
[2870] [Eritrean Territorials]

French - 3 units
-----
[3051] [French Algeria Mountain Corps]
[3052] [French Algiers Militia]
[3055] [French Dakar Motorized Corps]

German - 28 units
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[2513] [German 5th Mountain Division]
[2514] [German Alpine Mountain Korps]
[2517] [German 1st Engineer Division]
[2518] [German 5th Motorized Pz Engineer Division]
[2548] [German 1st Motorized Division]
[2550] [German LIII Motorized Korps]
[2551] [German LXVI Motorized Korps]
[2560] [German XXXXVI Motorized Korps]
[2561] [German 2nd Mechanized Division]
[2562] [German HG Mechanized Korps]
[2564] [German LII Mechanized Korps]
[2565] [German LVI Mechanized Korps]
[2567] [German XL Mechanized Korps]
[2568] [German XLVI Mechanized Korps]
[2569] [German XVIII Mechanized Korps]
[2570] [German XXXIX Mechanized Korps]
[2571] [German 1st Armor Division]
[2573] [German GD Armor Korps]
[2574] [German HG Armor Division]
[2576] [German LVII Armor Korps]
[2577] [German XLI Armor Korps]
[2578] [German XLIX Armor Korps]
[2579] [German XLVII Armor Korps]
[2580] [German XLVIII Armor Korps]
[2581] [German XLIV Armor Korps]
[3039] [German 4th Motorized Division]
[3040] [German 7th Mechanized Division]
[3049] [German I Slovak Militia]

Italian - 10 units
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[2731] [Italian Venice Militia]
[2732] [Italian Lucca Garrison]
[2733] [Italian XIII Garrison]
[2734] [Italian XV Garrison]
[2735] [Italian XX Garrison]
[3045] [Italian Madrid Infantry Corps]
[3046] [Italian Cairo Infantry Corps]
[3047] [Italian Athens Infantry Corps]
[3048] [Italian Supply Unit]
[6011] [Italian Synthetic Oil]

Italian Somaliland - 2 units
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[2873] [Italian Somaliland Territorials]
[2874] [Italian Somaliland Territorials]

Japanese - 9 units
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[2148] [Japanese 1st Infantry Division]
[2178] [Japanese 1st Engineer Division]
[2179] [Japanese 2nd Engineer Division]
[2193] [Japanese Vladivostok Militia]
[2203] [Japanese 5th Motorized Division]
[3018] [Japanese 7th Motorized Division]
[3020] [Japanese 3rd Mechanized Division]
[6002] [Japanese Synthetic Oil]
[6003] [Japanese Synthetic Oil]

Korean - 2 units
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[2225] [Korean Soeul Militia]
[2226] [Korean Territorials]

Libyan - 3 units
-----
[2852] [Libyan Territorials]
[2853] [Libyan Territorials]
[2854] [Libyan Territorials]


Nationalist Chinese - 1 unit
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[6012] [Nationalist Chinese Synthetic Oil]

New Zealand - 3 units
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[2009] [New Zealand Auckland Militia]
[2010] [New Zealand Territorials]
[2011] [New Zealand 1st Motorized Corps]

Polish - 13 units
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[2788] [Polish 1st Infantry Division]
[2789] [Polish Karpaty Infantry Army]
[2790] [Polish Krakow Infantry Army]
[2791] [Polish Modlin Infantry Army]
[2792] [Polish Pomorze Infantry Army]
[2793] [Polish Poznan Infantry Army]
[2794] [Polish Prusy Infantry Army]
[2795] [Polish Tarnow Cavalry Corps]
[2797] [Polish Lodz Militia]
[2798] [Polish Warsaw Militia]
[2799] [Polish Narew Motorized Army]
[2800] [Polish Kutno Mechanized Army]
[2801] [Polish Gd Armor Army]

Senegali - 1 unit
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[2895] [Senegali Dakar Militia]

South Afriacan - 5 units
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[2881] [South African 1st Infantry Corps]
[2882] [South African Cape Town Militia]
[2883] [South African Territorial]
[2884] [South African Territorial]
[2885] [South African 4th Motorized Corps]

Soviet - 8 unit
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[2347] [Soviet 2nd Armor]
[3023] [Soviet 4th Guards Banner Infantry Division]
[3030] [Soviet 3rd Motorized Division]
[3031] [Soviet 3rd Guards Banner Motorized Division]
[3032] [Soviet 13th Mechanized Division]
[3033] [Soviet 2nd Guards Banner Mechanized Division]
[3034] [Soviet 1st Guards Banner Armor Division]
[6004] [Soviet Synthetic Oil]

Spanish - 12 units
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[2991] [Spanish Gd Infantry Corps]
[2992] [Spanish IV Infantry Corps]
[2993] [Spanish V Infantry Corps]
[2994] [Spanish VIII Infantry Corps]
[2995] [Spanish Cavalry Corps]
[2997] [Spanish Cartegena Militia]
[2998] [Spanish Seville Militia]
[2999] [Spanish VI Garrison]
[3000] [Spanish VII Garrison]
[3001] [Spanish III Motorized Corps]
[3002] [Spanish II Mechanized Corps]
[3003] [Spanish I Armor Corps]

Spanish Republican - 13 units
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[2897] [Spanish Republican Gd Infantry Corps]
[2898] [Spanish Republican IV Infantry Corps]
[2899] [Spanish Republican Red Infantry Division]
[2900] [Spanish Republican V Infantry Corps]
[2901] [Spanish Republican Cavalry Corps]
[2903] [Spanish Republican Barcelona Militia]
[2904] [Spanish Republican Bilbao Militia]
[2905] [Spanish Republican Madrid Militia]
[2906] [Spanish Republican VI Garrison]
[2907] [Spanish Republican VII Garrison]
[2908] [Spanish Republican III Motorized Corps]
[2909] [Spanish Republican II Mechanized Corps]
[2910] [Spanish Republican I Armor Corps]

Ukrainian - 7 units
-----
[2379] [Ukrainian I Infantry Corps]
[2380] [Ukrainian II Infantry Corps]
[2381] [Ukrainian Cavalry Corps]
[2383] [Ukrainian Kiev Militia]
[2384] [Ukrainian IV Garrison Corps]
[2385] [Ukrainian III Motorized Corps]
[2386] [Ukrainian Guards Mechanized Corps]

[HansHafen]

I guess Extraneous would also prefer the writeups to be all in Italian too?

This is a volunteer project with people giving their free time to make a better game for all of us. Please give them the benefit of the doubt. Be polite when pointing out errors or ommissions. (or misspellings!)

Here is what you could have said,

Hey Jimm, great writeups buddy! I have read alot about the Italians in WWII and have a couple suggestions if you don't mind.

1.
2.
3.

Hope this helps and keep up the good work friend!

Extraneous

Here is basically what you said,

Damn, you screwed alot of that up. I could do better with my eyes closed noob!

You should have said this

1.
2.
3.

Get it right for gods sake, jesus...

(I provide translation services from smartass to english and from english to smartass on a contract basis, please inquire within.)

Oh, Extraneous said he'll do the rest of the unit writeups because he wants them done "write" the first time. He will have them to you tomorrow evening...

[michaelbaldur]

no offence, I have already done most of those write ups.

who decided they were no good

I have done the Australians, south Africa, Denmark, Poland, NZ

[Extraneous]

Someone should have searched the WiF forums for unit descriptions.

German 5th Mountain (Gebirgs) Division

[Extraneous]

ORIGINAL: HansHafen

I guess Extraneous would also prefer the writeups to be all in Italian too?

This is a volunteer project with people giving their free time to make a better game for all of us. Please give them the benefit of the doubt. Be polite when pointing out errors or ommissions. (or misspellings!)

Here is what you could have said,

Hey Jimm, great writeups buddy! I have read alot about the Italians in WWII and have a couple suggestions if you don't mind.

1.
2.
3.

Hope this helps and keep up the good work friend!

Extraneous

Here is basically what you said,

Damn, you screwed alot of that up. I could do better with my eyes closed noob!

You should have said this

1.
2.
3.

Get it right for gods sake, jesus...

(I provide translation services from smartass to english and from english to smartass on a contract basis, please inquire within.)

Oh, Extraneous said he'll do the rest of the unit writeups because he wants them done "write" the first time. He will have them to you tomorrow evening...

Good flame to bad you are so badly informed.


You forgot to mention ALL THE WRITE-UPS, CONTENT, EDITING, AND LINKS I have provided to Matrix. For which I DEMAND no credit.

Thanks for trying to put words into my mouth.

What I said was with all the links and information I have provided the focus of the write-ups was in meaningless areas and left out more important meaningful areas.

I am glad you can translate for us who are not fluent in smartass as you are.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: michaelbaldur


no offence, I have already done most of those write ups.

who decided they were no good

I have done the Australians, south Africa, Denmark, Poland, NZ

warspite1

Well I have volunteered to do the Polish units but if they have been done then obviously won't bother!

I will do nothing further unless I hear otherwise.

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: michaelbaldur


no offence, I have already done most of those write ups.

who decided they were no good

I have done the Australians, south Africa, Denmark, Poland, NZ

Thats not a bad effort considering 6 of the 7 Australian units are fictional.

[michaelbaldur]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

ORIGINAL: michaelbaldur


no offence, I have already done most of those write ups.

who decided they were no good

I have done the Australians, south Africa, Denmark, Poland, NZ

Thats not a bad effort considering 6 of the 7 Australian units are fictional.

as I remember Australia never had any corps size units

they are really not fictional ... Australia had enough divisions for all corps, the just never were formed as corps.

so simply told the history of the different division under the corps that made most sense

[michaelbaldur]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: michaelbaldur


no offence, I have already done most of those write ups.

who decided they were no good

I have done the Australians, south Africa, Denmark, Poland, NZ

warspite1

Well I have volunteered to do the Polish units but if they have been done then obviously won't bother!

I will do nothing further unless I hear otherwise.

the ones in the game right now is not mine .. so delete away

[michaelbaldur]

ORIGINAL: michaelbaldur


no offence, I have already done most of those write ups.

who decided they were no good

I have done the Australians, south Africa, Denmark, Poland, NZ

just went though those write ups. and none of them are mine.

and looking though the rest of the ones I remembered I did. they are not mine either

so basic.... all my work have been erased.

[Gendarme]

Just a note concerning Two Italian units:

The Eug Filiberto corps was printed incorrectly in the original game. I believe this corps is supposed to be named after a renaissance era Duke of Savoy and military hero, Emanuele Filiberto, who led King Philip II of Spain's army to victory over the French at Saint Quentin in 1557, bringing an end to the Italian wars and ending French involvement in Italy for some time. There is no Eug Filiberto in the House of Savoy (Italy's Royal Family from 1860), but there was of course Prince Eugene of Savoy who served the Habsburgs against the Turk and then the French armies of the Sun King in the late 1600s to early 1700s.

As a side note, both the Germans and Italians hold Eugene as a military hero, the Germans because he fought for Austria, the Italians because he was a Savoy. Hence, the KM has the CA Prinz Eugen and the RM has the Eugenio di Savoia.

Also, another unit is misspelled, I believe. It is the Mizza cavalry corps. There was a Nizza cavalry regiment, and that was probably what was intended when the counter was first created.

I know it will contradict original wif, but can we correct these misnamed Italian units for Matrix wif please? Thanks.

Anthony DeChristopher

[Extraneous]

ORIGINAL: michaelbaldur

ORIGINAL: michaelbaldur


no offence, I have already done most of those write ups.

who decided they were no good

I have done the Australians, south Africa, Denmark, Poland, NZ

just went though those write ups. and none of them are mine.

and looking though the rest of the ones I remembered I did. they are not mine either

so basic.... all my work have been erased.

Was the content similar or completely different?

It could have been edited. A lot of mine have been edited which I expected them to be.

[Extraneous]

ORIGINAL: Gendarme

Just a note concerning Two Italian units:

The Eug Filiberto corps was printed incorrectly in the original game. I believe this corps is supposed to be named after a renaissance era Duke of Savoy and military hero, Emanuele Filiberto, who led King Philip II of Spain's army to victory over the French at Saint Quentin in 1557, bringing an end to the Italian wars and ending French involvement in Italy for some time. There is no Eug Filiberto in the House of Savoy (Italy's Royal Family from 1860), but there was of course Prince Eugene of Savoy who served the Habsburgs against the Turk and then the French armies of the Sun King in the late 1600s to early 1700s.

As a side note, both the Germans and Italians hold Eugene as a military hero, the Germans because he fought for Austria, the Italians because he was a Savoy. Hence, the KM has the CA Prinz Eugen and the RM has the Eugenio di Savoia.

Also, another unit is misspelled, I believe. It is the Mizza cavalry corps. There was a Nizza cavalry regiment, and that was probably what was intended when the counter was first created.

I know it will contradict original wif, but can we correct these misnamed Italian units for Matrix wif please? Thanks.

Anthony DeChristopher

Filiberto corps could have been named after Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta who led the Italian Third Army (Armata invitta ~ "undefeated army") in WWI.

Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta was made a Maresciallo d'Italia (Marshal of Italy) by Benito Mussolini in 1926.

And you are correct about Mizza/Nizza and it was decided to ask Harry Roland about this but there have been no post on any results.

Keep up the good work Gendarme [:)]

[Gendarme]

Of course, I forgot about the Duca d'Aosta! Father of the Duke of Aosta who ended up as Viceroy of Africa Orientale. The corps is probably named after the WWI general. He was the more recent Emanuele Filiberto and no doubt better known. How archaic would it have been to name a unit after someone from four centuries past. Even if the Testa di ferro was also a famous soldier. There's a great equestrian statue of the Duke in Torino, the Caval d'brons I believe. He's in a beautiful suit of full armor with sword raised. On his horse's bridle can be seen the Savoia motto, FERT.

I know, wildly off topic. Don't jump on me.

Anthony DeChristopher

[Extraneous]

ORIGINAL: Gendarme

Of course, I forgot about the Duca d'Aosta! Father of the Duke of Aosta who ended up as Viceroy of Africa Orientale. The corps is probably named after the WWI general. He was the more recent Emanuele Filiberto and no doubt better known. How archaic would it have been to name a unit after someone from four centuries past. Even if the Testa di ferro was also a famous soldier. There's a great equestrian statue of the Duke in Torino, the Caval d'brons I believe. He's in a beautiful suit of full armor with sword raised. On his horse's bridle can be seen the Savoia motto, FERT.

I know, wildly off topic. Don't jump on me.

Anthony DeChristopher

I see it as totally on topic as we are discussing unit descriptions after all.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: Extraneous

ORIGINAL: Gendarme

Of course, I forgot about the Duca d'Aosta! Father of the Duke of Aosta who ended up as Viceroy of Africa Orientale. The corps is probably named after the WWI general. He was the more recent Emanuele Filiberto and no doubt better known. How archaic would it have been to name a unit after someone from four centuries past. Even if the Testa di ferro was also a famous soldier. There's a great equestrian statue of the Duke in Torino, the Caval d'brons I believe. He's in a beautiful suit of full armor with sword raised. On his horse's bridle can be seen the Savoia motto, FERT.

I know, wildly off topic. Don't jump on me.

Anthony DeChristopher

I see it as totally on topic as we are discussing unit descriptions after all.

Yes, I agree.

[paulderynck]

ORIGINAL: Gendarme

Of course, I forgot about the Duca d'Aosta! Father of the Duke of Aosta who ended up as Viceroy of Africa Orientale. The corps is probably named after the WWI general. He was the more recent Emanuele Filiberto and no doubt better known. How archaic would it have been to name a unit after someone from four centuries past. Even if the Testa di ferro was also a famous soldier. There's a great equestrian statue of the Duke in Torino, the Caval d'brons I believe. He's in a beautiful suit of full armor with sword raised. On his horse's bridle can be seen the Savoia motto, FERT.

I know, wildly off topic. Don't jump on me.

Anthony DeChristopher

Well, Prince Eugene of Savoy was over two centuries back at the time (3 now) and well thought of by both the Italians and Germans, as you pointed out.

[warspite1]

Please see first drafts of two Polish units. Firstly the Warsaw Militia counter:

[2798 Polish Warsaw Militia]
.P This counter is used to provide a high level look at the Polish Army in 1939.
.P At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Polish Army contained the
following units:
.P
.B 30 infantry divisions
.B 11 cavalry brigades
.B 2 motorised brigades
.B sundry artillery, tank, engineer and signal units.
.P
.P In addition to this were the men of the Frontier Defence Corps (KOP) (who were
responsible for watching over Poland's Eastern border with the Soviet Union) and
the National Defence, which consisted of reservists and men below the age of
conscription.
.P In 1939 the Polish Army nominally consisted of 1 million men. However, in
order to bring the army up to strength, a process of mobilisation needed to be
completed. When the Germans invaded Poland on the 1st September 1939 the actual
number of men under arms was around 370,000.
.P As part of the mobilisation process, not only would existing units be brought
up to strength, but a further 9 infantry divisions would be fielded (Please see
counter 2788 - The Polish 1st Infantry Division - for a closer look at the
strength of a 1939 Polish infantry division).
.P In 1939 the Polish army was lacking in both tanks and motorised units
generally. It contained 313 light tanks and 634 armoured cars and reconnaissance
carriers. Money and resources had at least been spent on anti-aircraft and anti-
tank weapons which were relatively modern.
.P So in the later 1930's, with Adolf Hitler's Germany looking menacingly toward
Poland, how was the Polish army to defend the country? It was obvious to most
that the Poles could not hope to defeat the German army. Therefore what the army
had to do was to try and hold the invaders long enough to allow Poland's allies
time to mobilise and attack Germany in the West, thus forcing Germany into a
two-front war that would ultimately spell her doom.
.P In executing this plan, the Poles were faced with two choices. One option was
for the plan that they ultimately adopted; a forward defence of the border areas.
Provided the various army groups could hold the Germans long enough, the Poles
would have time to complete their mobilisation plans and reinforce the border
armies with the reserve armies.
.P The second option was for the Poles to make best use of the natural obstacles
provided by the Vistula and San rivers. The problem with this plan was that it
meant giving up large parts of western Poland to the invaders. This would have
serious consequences for both mobilisation and for the ability of Poland to
continue the war due to the industrial areas that would need to be abandoned.
For these reasons a border defence was adopted.
.P Outlined below are the seven army formations that the Polish Army fielded
initially, together with the reserve formations (planned and actual). In the bend
of the Vistula river were three armies:
.B Pomorze Army (see counter 2792 - Pomorze Infantry Army)
.B Poznan Army (see counter 2793 - Poznan Infantry Army)
.B Lodz Army (there is no specific counter for this army and so its main
constituents are listed below):
.P
.B Lodz Army (commanded by Lt-General Juliusz Rommel)
.B 2nd Legions Infantry Division
.B 10th Infantry Division
.B 28th Infantry Division
.B Kresowa Cavalry Brigade
.B Wolynska Cavalry Brigade (part of Group Piotrkow)
.B 30th Infantry Division (part of Group Piotrkow)
.B Plus supporting artillery, engineer and National Defence troops.
.P Note: some sources have the 22nd Mountain Division attached to the Lodz Army,
however this unit never fought with this army.
.P
.P In the south of the country were two armies:
.B Krakow Army (see counter 2790 - Krakow Infantry Army)
.B Karpaty Army (see counter 2789 - Karpaty Infantry Army)
.P
.P In the north was a sixth army:
.B Modlin Army (see counter 2791 - Modlin Infantry Army)
.P
.P In support of these six armies was a reserve army and a number of independent
operational groups:
.B Prusy Army (see counter 2794 - Prusy Infantry Army) - this reserve formation
was deployed behind the left wing of the Lodz Army.
.B Narew Group (see counter 2799 - Narew Infantry Corps) - this formation was
deployed on the right flank of the Modlin Army, covering German units in East
Prussia.
.B Kutno Group (see counter 2800 - Kutno Mechanised Corps) - a reserve formation
deployed in support of the Pomorze and Poznan Armies
.B Tarnow Group (see counter 2795 - Tarnow Cavalry Corps) - a reserve formation
deployed in support of the Krakow and Karpaty Armies.
.B Wyszkow Group (there is no specific counter for this unit so its main
constituents are listed below). The Group was deployed behind the Modlin Army and
the Narew Group in order to support those forces in the defence of Warsaw.
.P
.B Wyszkow Group (commanded by Major-General Wincenty Kowalski)
.B 1st Legions Infantry Division
.B 35th Infantry Division
.B 41st Infantry Division
.P
.P During the Battle for Poland, a number of additional formations were created
from reserves and survivors from previously destroyed formations. The formations
and their composition will be explained in the appropriate write-ups.
.P This then was how the Polish Army lined up to face the German Army in
September 1939. The fighting effectively lasted just less than a month (Warsaw
fell on the 29th September, but the final battle was not fought until the 6th
October) before, stabbed in the back by the Soviets, and with no direct
assistance coming from the Western Allies, the Polish surrendered. For a summary
of the campaign please see counter 2797 - Lodz Militia.

[warspite1]

[2788 Polish 1st Infantry Division]
.P The 1st Polish Infantry Division was officially titled the 1st Legions
Infantry Division. Polish Army infantry divisions 1-3 inclusive were given
"Legion" status, although curiously this does not mean that they were any better
equipped or manned than any other regular infantry division. The Legion
designation was a reference to the Polish Legions that fought for the Austro-
Hungarian Army in World War I and for the newly formed Polish state against the
Soviets in the 1920's.
.P A 1939 Polish Infantry Division had at its core three infantry regiments, each
consisting of three battalions. The 1st Polish Infantry consisted of the
following regiments:
.P
.B 1st Legions Infantry Regiment
.B 5th Legions Infantry Regiment
.B 6th Legions Infantry Regiment
.B Note: each infantry regiment contained a Reconnaissance and an anti-tank
company.
.P In addition to the Infantry component, a Polish division also contained:
.P
.B A cavalry squadron
.B A bicycle company (31st)
.B A Light Artillery Regiment (1st Legions)
.B A Heavy Artillery Detachment (1st)
.B An Anti-aircraft battery (1st motorized)
.B A Heavy machine-gun company (31st)
.B An Engineer Battalion (1st)
.B A Telephone and Radio Company
.P
.P Note: the Polish armies in exile, at various times operating with the British,
French and Russian armies, were organised and equipped as per their host army.
.P The 1st Legions Infantry Division - Dywizja Piechoty Legionow (1DPL) was
commanded by Major-General Wincenty Kowalski, The 1DPL was only partially
mobilised when the Germans invaded Poland on 1st September 1939. The division was
attached to the Wyszkow Operational Group which was deployed north of Warsaw (see
counter 2798 - Warsaw Militia).
.P The division saw almost continuous action from the 4th September until it was
effectively destroyed on the 22nd (see counter 2791 Modlin Infantry Army and
2799 Narew Infantry Corps).

[Extraneous]

[2788 Polish 1st Infantry Division]
.P The 1st Polish Infantry Division was officially titled the 1st Legions
Infantry Division. Polish Army infantry divisions 1-3 inclusive were given
"Legion" status, although curiously this does not mean that they were any better
equipped or manned than any other regular infantry division. The Legion
designation was a reference to the Polish Legions that fought for the Austro-
Hungarian Army in World War I and for the newly formed Polish state against the
Soviets in the 1920's.
.P A 1939 Polish Infantry Division had at its core three infantry regiments, each
consisting of three battalions. The 1st Polish Infantry consisted of the
following regiments:
.P
.B 1st Legions Infantry Regiment
.B 5th Legions Infantry Regiment
.B 6th Legions Infantry Regiment
.B Note: each infantry regiment contained a Reconnaissance and an anti-tank
company.
.P In addition to the Infantry component, the division also contained:
.P
.B A organic cavalry squadron
.B A bicycle company (31st)
.B A Light Artillery Regiment (1st Legions)
.B A Heavy Artillery Detachment (1st)
.B An Anti-aircraft battery (1st motorized)
.B A Heavy machine-gun company (31st)
.B An Engineer Battalion (1st)
.B A Telephone and Radio Company
.P
.P Note: the Polish armies in exile, at various times operating with the British,
French and Russian armies, were organised and equipped as per their host army.
.P The 1st Legions Infantry Division - Dywizja Piechoty Legionow (1DPL) was
commanded by Major-General Wincenty Kowalski, The 1DPL was only partially
mobilised when the Germans invaded Poland on 1st September 1939. The division was
attached to the Wyszkow Operational Group, which was deployed north of Warsaw (see
counter 2798 - Warsaw Militia).
.P The division saw almost continuous action from the 4th September until it was
effectively destroyed on the 22nd (see counter 2791 Modlin Infantry Army and
2799 Narew Infantry Corps).


NOTE: In 1939 I can find no reference to Anti-tank units attached to 1DPL infantry regiments or Radio units directly attached to 1DPL.




Just for fun I researched 1DPL.

The 1st Polish Infantry Division was officially titled the 1st Legions Infantry Division (Polish: 1. Dywizja Piechoty Legionów abbreviated 1DPL).

The Polish Army 1st, 2nd, and 3rf infantry divisions were given "Legion" status. The Legion designation was a reference to the Polish Legions that fought for the Austro-Hungarian Army in World War I and for the newly formed Polish state against the Soviets in the 1920's.

The 1DPL consisted of the following:
1st Legions Infantry Regiment,
5th Legions Infantry Regiment,
6th Legions Infantry Regiment,
(Each Infantry Regiment consisted of a headquarters and three infantry battalions.)

1st Legions Light Artillery Regiment
1st Heavy Artillery Detachment

An organic cavalry squadron,
31st bicycle company,
1st motorized Anti-aircraft battery,
31st Heavy machine-gun company (horse-drawn),
1st Engineer Battalion,
1st Signals Company (telephone).

1939
In March the 1DPL was partially mobilized under the command of Major-General Wincenty Kowalski. Where it was deployed north of Warsaw Under Operational Group Wyszków to shield the northern approaches to Warsaw from German assault from East Prussia.

Germany invaded Poland on September 1 and on September 4 the 1DPL completed its mobilization and came into contact with the Germans in the forests around D³ugosiod³o to the north of Warsaw. 1DPL managed to retain most of its combat effectiveness whike delaying the German forces in a number of skirmishes and battles along the Narew river and near the town of Ró¿an.

September 7 after the battle for Pu³tusk where the Poles were outnumbered 3 to 1 the 1DPL was ordered to retreat southwards. Durring the retreat Major-General Kowalski managed not only to withdraw most of his forces, but also to rally the defeated forces of Modlin Army and Independent Operational Group Narew crowded near the bridge in Wyszków. Thanks to Kowalski's actions, 2 divisions and (33rd Infantry and 41st Infantry), as well as the Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade were not only rallied but also safely transported to the other side of the Bug River. 1DPL then withdrew to the area between Wyszków and Kamieñczyk, and successfuly defened the line there. 1DPL sfter being reinforced by 98th Heavy Artillery Detachment and 61st Light Artillery Detachment repelled a German assault on Brañszczyk. 1DPL started to slowly move southwards while performing delaying actions and keeping its combat readiness almost intact.

September 11 the German forces seized the town of Ka³uszyn cutting off 1DPL.

September 13 1DPL brakes through enemy lines and retaks the city in what became known as the battle of Ka³uszyn.

Despite heavy losses on the Polish side, Major-General Kowalski managed to yet again rally a large part of his forces and continued his move towards W³odawa, Lublin and Lwów.

September 18 and 19th near Che³m 1DPL (then reduced to merely a regiment after two weeks of constant fights against numerically and technically superior enemy) is reorganized and reinforced with an improvised detachment under Stanis³aw Tatar. From there 1DPL proceeded towards Tomaszów Lubelski.

September 21 German panzers and the German 8th Infantry Division successfuly break through the Polish lines at Falków.

September 22 at the battle of Falków, 1DPL arrived at Tomaszów Lubelski. Outnumbered, lacking artillery, supplies, food and reduced to not more than a regiment.

September 23 the assault on Tarnawatka by 1DPL was stopped and wounded Major-General Kowalski was taken prisoner of war by the Germans.

The Germans nicknamed 1DPL the Iron division.

Note: the Polish armies in exile, at various times operating with the British, French, and Russian armies, were organized and equipped as per their host army.