Polish Army 1945 to 1989

[ChalkLine]

Here's the wiki page this came from

A far better list than are NATO-centric lists from the Cold War

Following is the order of battle in 1985, shortly before the fall of communism in Poland.

Ministry of Defense
Ministry of National Defence (Poland) and GHQ, Armed Forces of the People's Republic of Poland

Military Education Inspectorate
Jozef Berna Rocket Forces and Artillery Academy
Air Defense Artillery Academy
Gen. Jakuba Jasinskiego Army Engineering Academy
Tadeusz Kościuszki Armored Forces Academy
Polish General Staff
Signal Forces Directorate
Signal Forces College
Polish Armed Forces General Staff and Command College
Territorial Defense Inspectorate
Technology Inspectorate
Aviation Technology Committee
Naval Technological Committee
Military Technical Academy
Quartermaster Directorate
Chaplaincy Service of the Armed Forces
Munitions Command
Military Communications Command
Armed Forces Medical Academy
Armed Forces Quartermaster Service Academy
Cadres Department
Political Affairs Directorate
Organizational Committee
Committee for Military Education
Dzerzhinsky Political-Military Academy in Warsaw
Political Officers Central School
Military History Institute
Finance and Treasury Office
Organizational Inspections Department
Headquarters and General Staff, Internal Military Service
Land Forces Military Police
Warsaw MD
Pomerania MD
Silesia MD
Air Force Security Command
Naval Military Police
Air Defense Forces IMS
IMS Military Academy
Polish People's Army
Organisation of the Polish People's Army in 1985[2]

Land Forces Headquarters, in Warsaw
Front Command, in Warsaw (would have formed the Warsaw Pact's Northern Front with an authorized strength of 205,620 soldiers in wartime)
6th Pomorska Air Assault Division, in Krak3w (reduced to 6th Pomorska Airborne Brigade in 1986)
6th Air Assault Battalion, in Niepołomice
10th Air Assault Battalion, in Oświęcim
16th Kołobrzeski Air Assault Battalion, in Krak3w
18th Kołobrzeski Air Assault Battalion, in Bielsko-Biała
5th Mixed Artillery Battalion, in Wola Justowska
8th Supply Battalion, in Krak3w
1st Transport Company
15th Medical Company
24th Dropzone and Landing Sites Security Company
Weapons Maintenance Workshop
Automotive Maintenance Workshop
120th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battery, in Krak3w
11th Sapper Company, in Krak3w
6th Signal Company, in Krak3w
22nd Chemical Defence Company, in Krak3w
7th Łużycka Naval Assault Division, in Gdańsk (reduced to 7th Łużycka Coastal Defence Brigade in 1986)
33rd Company Command, in Gdańsk
4th Pomorski Assault Regiment, in Lębork
34th Budziszyński Assault Regiment, in Słupsk
35th Gdański Assault Regiment, in Gdańsk
11th Amphibious Tank Battalion, in Gdańsk
20th Rocket Artillery Battalion, in Gdańsk
41st Tactical Missile Battalion, in Gdańsk
11th Sapper Battalion, in Lębork
7th Maintenance Battalion, in Słupsk
52nd Reconnaissance Company, in Lębork
29th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battery, in Gdańsk
23rd Signal Company, in Gdańsk
7th Chemical Defence Company, in Słupsk
7th Supply Company, in Gdańsk
23rd Medical Company, in Gdańsk
Traffic Management Company, in Gdańsk
1st Warszawska Engineer Brigade, in Brzeg
2nd Signal Brigade, in Wałcz
3rd Warszawska Missile Artillery Brigade, in Biedrusko (Tactical Ballistic Missiles)
4th Chemical Defence Regiment, in Brodnica
2nd Internal Signal Regiment, in Bialystok
2nd Radio-technical Reconnaissance Regiment, in Przasnysz
8th Electronic Warfare Regiment, in Grudziądz
10th Radio-location Reconnaissance Regiment, in Dziwn3w
15th Antitank Artillery Regiment, in Gniezno
61st Surface-to-Air Missile Artillery Brigade, in Skwierzyna
91st Wejherowo Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, in Gniezno
1st Assault Battalion (Special Forces), in Dziwn3w
Pomeranian Military District
Pomeranian Military District, in Bydgoszcz (Readiness level A, would have formed 1st Combined-Arms Army with 91,000 soldiers in wartime)
8th Dresden Mechanized Infantry Division, in Koszalin
16th Dnowsko-Łużycki Tank Regiment, in Słupsk
28th Sudecki Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Kołobrzeg
32nd Budziszyński Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Kołobrzeg
36th Łużycki Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Trzebiat3w
4th Artillery Regiment, in Kołobrzeg
83rd Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Kołobrzeg
47th Rocket Artillery Battalion, in Szczecin
1st Tactical Missile Battalion, in Trzebiat3w
15th Division Artillery Commander Command Battery, in Kołobrzeg
5th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Kołobrzeg
19th Sapper Battalion, in Unieście
13th Signal Battalion, in Koszalin
8th Supply Battalion, in Koszalin
8th Maintenance Battalion, in Koszalin
39th Medical Battalion, in Kołobrzeg
64th Chemical Defence Company, in Koszalin
12th Szczecin Mechanized Infantry Division, in Szczecin
25th Drezdeński Medium Tank Regiment, in Szczecin
5th Kołobrzeski Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Szczecin
9th Zaodrzański Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Stargard
41st Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Szczecin
2nd Artillery Regiment, in Szczecin
124th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Szczecin
21st Rocket Artillery Battalion, in Szczecin
22nd Tactical Missile Battalion, in Szczecin
87th Division Artillery Commander Command Battery
16th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Szczecin
2nd Sapper Battalion, in Stargard Szczeciński
33rd Signal Battalion, in Szczecin
12th Supply Battalion, in Kobylanka
8th Maintenance Battalion, in Gryfice
45th Medical Battalion, in Stargard Szczecin
19th Chemical Defence Company, in Stargard
15th People's Guards Mechanized Infantry Division, in Olsztyn (disbanded in 1988)
35th Tank Regiment, in Ostr3da
37th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Morąg
50th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Lidzbark
75th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Bartoszyce
9th Artillery Regiment, in Olsztyn
46th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Olsztyn
19th Tactical Missile Battalion, in Morąg
Division Artillery Commander Command Battery
12th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Biskupiec
46th Sapper Battalion, in Olsztyn
29th Signal Battalion, in Olsztyn
Supply Battalion
Maintenance Battalion
Medical Battalion
Chemical Defence Company
16th Kaszubska Armored Division, in Elbląg
1st Warsaw Tank Regiment, in Elbląg
51st Kościerski Tank Regiment, in Braniewo
60th Kartuski Tank Regiment, in Elbląg
55th Mechanized Regiment, in Braniewo
16th Artillery Regiment, in Braniewo
13th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Elbląg
48th Rocket Artillery Battalion, in Malbork
4th Tactical Missile Battalion, in Malbork
Division Artillery Commander Command Battery
17th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Elbląg
47th Sapper Battalion, in Tczew
43rd Signal Battalion, in Elbląg
16th Supply Battalion, in Elbląg
Maintenance Battalion, in Elbląg
57th Medical Battalion, in Braniewo
61st Chemical Defence Company, in Elbląg
20th Warsaw Armored Division, in Szczecinek
24th Drezdeński Tank Regiment, in Stargard
28th Saski Tank Regiment, in Czarne
68th Tank Regiment, in Budowo
49th Warszawski Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Wałcz
36th Artillery Regiment, in Budowo
75th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Rogowo
26th Rocket Artillery Battalion, in Stargard
7th Tactical Missile Battalion, in Budowo
Division Artillery Commander Command Battery
8th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Stargard
73rd Sapper Battalion, in Gryfice
63rd Signal Battalion, in Szczecinek
Supply Battalion, in Szczecinek
Maintenance Battalion
Medical Battalion, in Stargard
Chemical Defence Company
2nd Pomerania Artillery Brigade, in Choszczno (Tactical Ballistic Missiles)
5th Mazurska Engineer Brigade, in Szczecin
6th Warsaw Cannon Artillery Brigade, in Toruń
7th Howitzer Artillery Brigade, in Toruń
2nd Pomerania Chemical Defence Regiment, in Grudziądz
4th Łużycki Signal Regiment, in Bydgoszcz
14th Sudecki Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, in Kwidzyn
56th Special Troops Company, in Szczecin (Long Range Reconnaissance)
Silesian Military District
Silesian Military District, in Wrocław (Readiness level B, would have formed 2nd Combined-Arms Army with 89,500 soldiers in wartime)
2nd Warsaw Mechanized Infantry Division, in Nysa
15th Tank Regiment, in Gliwice
6th Mechanized Regiment, in Częstochowa
27th Mechanized Regiment, in Kłodzko
33rd Mechanized Regiment, in Nysa
37th Artillery Regiment, in Kędzierzyn-Koźle
99th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Ząbkowice Śląskie
2nd Tactical Missile Battalion, in Kędzierzyn-Koźle
37th Division Artillery Commander Command Battery, in Nysa
10th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Nysa
18th Sapper Battalion, in Nysa
48th Signal Battalion, in Nysa
2nd Supply Battalion, in Nysa
2nd Maintenance Battalion, in Nysa
Medical Battalion
21st Chemical Defence Company, in Nysa
4th Pomerania Mechanized Infantry Division, in Krosno Odrzańskie
18th Tank Regiment, in Wędrzyn
11th Złotowski Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Krosno Odrzańskie
12th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Gorz3w Wielkopolski
17th Drezdeński Mechanized Regiment, in Międzyrzecz
22nd Artillery Regiment, in Sulech3w
128th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Czerwieńsk
24th Tactical Missile Battalion, in Sulech3w
Division Artillery Commander Command Battery
4th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Międzyrzecz
5th Sapper Battalion, in Krosno Odrzańskie
4th Signal Battalion, in Krosno Odrzańskie
4th Supply Battalion, in Krosno Odrzańskie
4th Maintenance Battalion, in Krosno Odrzańskie
65th Medical Battalion, in Krosno Odrzańskie
20th Chemical Defence Company, in Międzyrzecze
5th Saska Armoured Division, in Gubin
23rd Tank Regiment, in Słubice
27th Tank Regiment, in Gubin
73rd Tank Regiment, in Gubin
13th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Kożuch3w
113th Artillery Regiment, in Kostrzyn nad Odrą
5th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Gubin
25th Rocket Artillery Battalion, in Gubin
18th Tactical Missile Battalion, in Kostrzyn nad Odrą
84th Division Artillery Commander Command Battery, in Gubin
2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, in Gubin
14th Sapper Battalion, in Kostrzyn nad Odrą
59th Signal Battalion, in Gubin
5th Supply Battalion, in Kostrzyn nad Odrą
5th Maintenance Battalion, in Gubin
56th Medical Battalion, in Gubin
60th Chemical Defence Company, in Gubin
10th Sudecka Armoured Division, in Opole
2nd Tank Regiment, in Opole
10th Tank Regiment, in Opole
13th Tank Regiment, in Opole
25th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Opole
39th Artillery Regiment, in Tarnowskie G3ry
18th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Jelenia G3ra
8th Tactical Missile Battalion, in Tarnowskie G3ry
83rd Division Artillery Commander Command Battery, in Tarnowskie G3ry
7th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Brzeg
41st Signal Battalion, in Opole
21st Sapper Battalion, in Świdnica
Supply Battalion, in Opole
Maintenance Battalion, in Opole
54th Medical Battalion, in Opole
58th Chemical Defence Company, in Opole
11th Dresden Armored Division, in Żagań
3rd Tank Regiment, in Żagań
8th Tank Regiment, in Żagań
29th Tank Regiment, in Żagań
42nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Żary
33rd Artillery Regiment, in Żary
66th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Bolesławiec
43rd Rocket Artillery Battalion, in Żary
10th Tactical Missile Battalion, in Żary
17th Division Artillery Commander Command Battery, in Żagan
9th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Żagań
16th Sapper Battalion, in Żary
34th Signal Battalion, in Żagań
Supply Battalion, in Żagań
11th Maintenance Battalion, in Żagan
11th Medical Battalion, in Żagan
17th Chemical Defence Company, in Żagan
4th Łużycka Engineer Brigade, in Gorz3w Wielkopolski
5th Pomorska Artillery Brigade, in Głog3w
14th Howitzer Artillery Brigade, in Głog3w
18th Artillery Brigade, in Bolesławiec (Tactical Ballistic Missiles)
1st Chemical Defence Regiment, in Zgorzelec
6th Security Regiment, in Wrocław
10th Saski Signal Regiment, in Wrocław
20th Anti-tank Artillery Regiment, in Pleszew
62nd Special Forces Company, in Bolesławiec (Long Range Reconnaissance)
Warsaw Military District
Warsaw Military District, in Warsaw (Readiness level C, would have formed 4th Combined-Arms Army with 64,700 soldiers in wartime)
1st Warsaw Mechanized Infantry Division, in Legionowo
11th Tank Regiment, in Giżycko
1st Praski Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Wesoła
2nd Berliński Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Skierniewice
3rd Berliński Mechanized Infantry Regiment, in Ciechan3w
1st Berliński Artillery Regiment, in Bartoszyce
1st Darnicki Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Modlin
5th Tactical Missile Battalion, in Giżycko
Division Artillery Commander Command Battery
1st Reconnaissance Battalion
1st Sapper Battalion, in Pułtusk
Signal Battalion, in Legionowo
1st Supply Battalion, in Legionowo
1st Maintenance Battalion, in Łomża
53rd Medical Battalion, in Skierniewice
1st Chemical Defence Company, in Siedlce
3rd Pomerania Mechanized Infantry Division, in Lublin (disbanded in 1988)
5th Tank Regiment, in Włodawa
7th Mechanized Regiment, in Lublin
8th Mechanized Regiment, in Hrubiesz3w
45th Mechanized Regiment, in Siedlce
3rd Artillery Regiment, in Chełm
18th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, in Siedlce
42nd Tactical Missile Battalion, in Choszczno
Division Artillery Commander Command Battery
3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, in Lublin
Sapper Battalion
53rd Signal Battalion, in Lublin
3rd Supply Battalion, in Lublin
3rd Maintenance Battalion, in Lublin
Medical Battalion
Chemical Defence Company
9th Mechanized Infantry Division, in Rzesz3w
26th Tank Regiment, in Sanok
4th Mechanized Regiment, in Kielce
14th Kołobrzeski Mechanized Regiment, in Tarn3w
30th Mechanized Regiment, in Rzesz3w
40th Artillery Regiment, in Jarosław
23rd Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, in Jarosław
44th Tactical Missile Battalion, in Toruń
Division Artillery Commander Command Battery
23rd Reconnaissance Battalion, in Jarosław
13th Sapper Battalion, in Dębica
30th Signal Battalion, in Rzesz3w
17th Supply Battalion, in Łańcut
Maintenance Battalion
Medical Battalion
Chemical Defence Company
1st Warszawska Cannon Artillery Brigade, in Węgorzewo
8th Howitzer Artillery Brigade, in Węgorzewo
2nd Warszawska Engineer Brigade, in Kazuń Nowy
32nd Łużycka Artillery Brigade, in Orzysz (Tactical Ballistic Missiles)
3rd Chemical Defence Regiment, in Biskupiec
5th Podhale Rifles Regiment, in Krak3w
9th Signal Regiment, in Białobrzegi
15th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Gołdap
80th Anti-tank Artillery Battalion, in Suwałki
48th Special Forces Company, in Krak3w (Long Range Reconnaissance)

[mpipes]

Are all the regiments independent Or did they amalgamate to form divisions/brigades after war broke out

[ChalkLine]

Are all the regiments independent Or did they amalgamate to form divisions/brigades after war broke out

It's a lot clearer on the original page. I couldn't get the format to work on VBB

[Adm.Lee]

Always found it interesting that the Poles made up almost an entire Front in the WP force structure, with its own Army commands. The East Germans, Hungarians, and Czechs only contributed divisions and units to Soviet Fronts.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

I have a vague recollection from somewhere that the Soviets believed the Poles were more politically reliable than some of the other WarPac nations and thus gave them more responsibility.

Of course, Solidarity proved that many Poles were not content being just another Soviet lapdog.

[dragoon500ly]

I have a vague recollection from somewhere that the Soviets believed the Poles were more politically reliable than some of the other WarPac nations and thus gave them more responsibility.

Of course, Solidarity proved that many Poles were not content being just another Soviet lapdog.

Poles were regarded as more reliable than other members of the Warsaw Pact, source is the FM100 series of manuals.

The reason why the East Germans never had their own front and their units were always assigned to Soviet armies is simple; the East Germans were often regarded as being better Communists than the Russians, but the Russians have never forgotten or forgiven WW2. They were never trusted by the Russians.