2nd Rifle Division (Poland)

2nd Rifle Division
	2 Dywizja Strzelców Pieszych
	Insignia
Active	1939–1940
Country	Poland
Branch	Polish Army
Part of	XXXXV Corps
Engagements	World War II Battle of France;
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Bronisław Prugar-Ketling

The 2nd Rifle Division (Polish: 2 Dywizja Strzelców Pieszych, French: 2e Division des Chasseurs or 2e Division d'Infanterie Polonaise) was a Polish Army unit, part of the recreated Polish Army in France in 1940.

The division (numbering 15,830 soldiers) was commanded by Brigadier-General Bronisław Prugar-Ketling, and was based from late December 1939 to May 1940 at Parthenay in Eastern France. Under Prugar-Ketling the division was charged with holding the defences around Belfort, Alsace.[1] Assigned to part of the French reserves,[2] 45th Corps.[3] Engaged in heavy fighting from June 17 to 19 near the Doubs and Saône rivers,[3] it stopped a German attack on the Clos-du-Doubs hills.[4] but due to the (unknown to the Poles) rapid retreat of the nearby French forces it was surrounded by the Germans; nonetheless it managed to break through to Switzerland over 20–21 June 1940,[5] where its soldiers were interned for the rest of the war, although many "escaped" back into France and eventually made their way to England to rejoin the Polish forces there.[6]

Organization

Structure of the division:[7]

Chief of Staff, 2nd Polish Infantry Division
- 4th Polish Infantry Regiment
- 5th Polish Infantry Regiment
- 6th Polish Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Polish Artillery Regiment
- 202nd Polish Heavy Artillery Regiment

Notes

The Polish Army In France 1939 - 1940. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.
http://france1940.free.fr/oob/gqg.html
(in Polish) Wojsko Polskie we Francji. Świat Polonii.
Campaign in France - The Poles on the frontlines of WWII. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.
Hoseason, Julian. "The Polish Army In France & 2DSP Internment in Switzerland 1939 – 1940". www.polandinexile.com. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
(in Polish) Polskie Siły Zbrojne na Zachodzie - Polskie Siły Zbrojne we Francji, WIEM Encyklopedia. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.
The Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II: Volume VI Italy and France Including the Neutral Countries of San Marino, Vatican City (Holy See), Andorra, and Monaco. p. 444.

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External links

Order of battle

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[polandinexile.com-1] The Polish Army In France 1939 - 1940. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.

[2] ttp://france1940.free.fr/oob/gqg.html

[ŚPolWPWF-3] (in Polish) Wojsko Polskie we Francji. Świat Polonii.

[ww2-4] Campaign in France - The Poles on the frontlines of WWII. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.

[5] Hoseason, Julian. "The Polish Army In France & 2DSP Internment in Switzerland 1939 – 1940". www.polandinexile.com. Retrieved 24 April 2019.

[WIEM-6] (in Polish) Polskie Siły Zbrojne na Zachodzie - Polskie Siły Zbrojne we Francji, WIEM Encyklopedia. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.

[7] The Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II: Volume VI Italy and France Including the Neutral Countries of San Marino, Vatican City (Holy See), Andorra, and Monaco. p. 444.