Operations, 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade

Operations

North West Europe

September 17^th, 1944 – September 25^th, 1944

1^st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade

The 1^st Polish Independent Airborne Brigade, led by Major-General Stanislaw Sosabowski, plays a critical role in Operation Market Garden, with their deployment initially scheduled for September 19^th, 1944. Their primary objective is to reinforce the British 1^st Airborne Division by securing crossings over the Rhine River near Arnhem, particularly focusing on aiding the embattled forces at the Arnhem bridge.

However, due to adverse weather conditions, the brigade’s deployment is delayed, and they are not able to drop until September 21^th, 1944. When they finally land near Driel, south of the Rhine, they encounter heavy German resistance. The brigade faces immediate challenges, including the lack of proper equipment to cross the Rhine and the strong German defences on the opposite bank.

Over the following days, the brigade attempts several crossings of the Rhine to reach the British forces trapped in Arnhem. Despite their best efforts, including makeshift attempts to ferry troops across the river, the Poles are only partially successful. The situation for the British at Arnhem continues to worsen, and the Polish brigade’s contributions, while valiant, are insufficient to turn the tide of the battle.
By September 25^th, 1944, the overall situation forces the Allies to abandon the attempt to hold Arnhem, and the brigade, like the other Allied units, is ordered to withdraw. The 1st Polish Independent Airborne Brigade suffers significant casualties during the operation, and their role, despite being crucial, is marred by logistical challenges and the overwhelming German resistance they face.

After the operation, the brigade is unfairly blamed by some Allied commanders for the failure of Market Garden, leading to tensions between Major-General Sosabowski and British leadership.