Polish People's Army

{{short description|Former army of the Polish People's Republic}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{Expand Polish|topic=mil|Ludowe Wojsko Polskie|date=August 2021}}

}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Polish People's Army

| native_name = {{Lang|pl|Ludowe Wojsko Polskie}}

| image = Emblem of the Polish People's Army land forces (1972).jpg

| caption = Emblem worn by LWP soldiers

| image2 =

| caption2 =

| size = 200,000 (World War II)

| garrison = Seltsy, Russian SFSR
(1943–1945)
Warsaw, Poland
(1945–1989)

| garrison_label = Headquarters

| patron = Tadeusz Kościuszko

| motto =

| battles = World War II - Eastern Front

Aftermath of World War II

Invasion of Czechoslovakia

| battle_honours = 22px For Warsaw
22px For Battle of Berlin

| commander1 = Mieczysław Rakowski (last)

| commander1_label = First Secretary

| commander2 = Tadeusz Mazowiecki (last)

| commander2_label = Prime Minister

| commander3 = Florian Siwicki (last)

| commander3_label = Minister of National Defence

| commander4 = Józef Użycki (last)

| commander4_label = Chief of the General Staff

| current_form =

| dates = May 1943 – December 1989

| country = {{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} Poland

| allegiance = {{flagdeco|Soviet Union|1936}} Soviet Union
(1943–1945)
{{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} Polish People's Republic
(1945–1989)

| branch = Polish Army Air Force
(1943–1947)
Polish Air Force
(1947–1989)
Polish Air Defence Force
(1962–1989)
Polish Land Forces
Polish Navy

| age =

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| fit =

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The Polish People's Army ({{langx|pl|Ludowe Wojsko Polskie}}, {{IPA|pl|luˈdɔvɛ ˈvɔjskɔ ˈpɔlskʲɛ|pron}}; LWP){{cite journal |title=Pierwsza Armia Wojska Polskiego |url=http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/24821,,,,pierwsza_armia_wojska_polskiego,haslo.html |publisher=Encyklopedia WIEM |author=Popularna Encyklopedia Powszechna Wydawnictwa Fogra |year=2016 |access-date=2016-11-06 |archive-date=2016-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106125232/http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/24821,,,,pierwsza_armia_wojska_polskiego,haslo.html |url-status=dead }} was the second formation of the Polish Armed Forces in the East during the latter stages of the Second World War (1943–1945), and subsequently the armed forces of the Polish communist state (1945–1989), which was formalized in 1952 as the Polish People's Republic.Initially ruled by the Polish Workers' Party (1942-1948) and thereafter the Polish United Workers' Party.

The creation of communist-led Polish armed forces that were outside the command of the Polish government-in-exile was allowed and facilitated by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, following efforts made in the early 1940s by Soviet-based Polish exiles Wanda Wasilewska and Zygmunt Berling.

Initially called the Polish Army in the USSR from 1943 to 1944,Polish: Armia Polska w ZSRR. it became the Polish TroopsPolish: Wojsko Polskie and Armed Forces of the Republic of PolandPolish: Siły Zbrojne Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej. from 1944 to 1952, and thereafter the Armed Forces of the Polish People's Republic.Polish: Siły Zbrojne Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej During these restructurings, the Polish military was increasingly integrated into Soviet military and command structures, becoming comparatively more distinct and independent in 1956.

On 7 October 1950, the anniversary of the Battle of Lenino—one of the first major engagements of Polish Armed Forces in the East against Axis forces—was declared the official "Day of the Polish People's Army" by the People's Republic.

History

=World War II=

File:Polish 1st Infantry Division (1943).jpg

What became the LWP was formed during World War II, in May 1943, as the 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division, which developed into the First Polish Army, unofficially known as Berling's Army. Because of the shortage of Polish officers and the policies of the Soviet Union, in March 1945 Soviet Red Army officers accounted for nearly 52% of the officer corps (15,492 out of 29,372). Around 4,600 of them remained in the LWP by July 1946.{{cite journal|last1=Kałużny|first1=Ryszard|title=Oficerowie Armii Radzieckiej w wojskach lądowych w Polsce 1945-1956|journal=Zeszyty Naukowe WSOWL|date=2007|volume=2|issue=2|pages=86–87|publisher=AWL|language=pl|issn=1731-8157|url=http://yadda.icm.edu.pl/yadda/element/bwmeta1.element.baztech-article-BATA-0005-0014/}}

It was not the only Polish formation that fought on the Allied side, nor the first one formed in the East. The earlier Polish force formed in the Soviet Union, known as Anders' Army, was loyal to the Polish government-in-exile and by that time had moved to Iran. The communist-led Polish forces soon grew beyond the 1st Division into two major commands – the First Polish Army (initially under Zygmunt Berling) and the Second Polish Army (commanded by Karol Świerczewski). The First Polish Army participated in the Vistula–Oder Offensive, the Battle of Kolberg and the final Battle of Berlin.

=Immediate post-war years=

File:Polish Army 1945.jpg, 1945]]

File:Polish_flag_1945_Berlin.jpg on 2 May 1945]]

File:T-55A Martial law Poland.jpgA tanks of the Polish People's Army (Martial law in Poland)]]

After the war the Polish Army was reorganized into six (later seven) military districts. These were the Warsaw Military District, headquartered (HQ) in Warsaw, the Lublin Military District, HQ in Lublin, the Kraków Military District, HQ in Kraków, the Łódź Military District, HQ in Łódź, the Poznań Military District, HQ in Poznań, the Pomeranian Military District, HQ in Toruń, and the Silesian Military District, HQ in Katowice.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Polish Army was under the command of Marshal of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Poland and Minister of Defense of Poland Konstantin Rokossovsky. It was increasingly integrated into Soviet military structure and organization. This process was mitigated in the aftermath of the Polish October of 1956, when Władysław Gomułka formalized aspects of Poland's military relationship with the Soviet Union.Jerzy Eisler, Siedmiu wspaniałych poczet pierwszych sekretarzy KC PZPR [The Magnificent Seven: First Secretaries of KC PZPR], Wydawnictwo Czerwone i Czarne, Warszawa 2014, {{ISBN|978-83-7700-042-7}}, pp. 214–215 The Sovietization of the armed forces structure was phased out altogether and thus the combat and service support structures were integrated once more into regular combat formations following the old Polish model.

=Cold War=

File:LWP 001.JPG in 1984]]

An anti-Zionist purge in the Polish Army took place in 1968 to systematically remove soldiers of Jewish origin, following the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab countries.

Characteristics

=Uniform=

In 1949, the first fundamental uniform reform after the war was made.Dziennik rozkazów MON nr 4 z 1949 roku poz.30. The "Dress Rules for the Soldiers of the Polish Army" were introduced and were to apply from January 1, 1951.

In the Polish People's Army, a soft field cap modeled on the pre-war one was introduced. After the war, the pre-war garrison caps were used again. Stiffened caps were only worn until around 1950 when they were completely replaced by round caps. In 1982, the Polish Rogatywka, modeled on the pattern from 1935, were restored in the Polish Army's Representative Company.{{Cite web|url=http://brepr.wp.mil.pl/pl/3.html|title=Pulk Reprezentacyjny Wojska Polskiego|access-date=2021-06-08|archive-date=2022-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207012758/https://brepr.wp.mil.pl/pl/3.html|url-status=dead}}

In the late 1950s, camouflaged field uniforms were introduced, starting with:

wz. 58 "deszczyk" – used since 1958 to 1968.{{Cite web |title=UWIWP - Umundurowanie i wyposażenie indywidualne wojska polskiego |url=http://uwiwp.pl/pages/03_00000.html |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=uwiwp.pl}}
wz. 68 "moro" – used since 1968 to 1989.
wz. 89 "puma" – incompletely implemented in 1989.

=Chaplaincy=

Throughout the entire period of the existence of the Polish People's Army, its officers and soldiers were provided with pastoral care. Such a service was provided by the General Dean's Office of the Polish Army.{{cite web|title=Duszpasterstwo wojskowe w PRL|url=http://www.sjerzy.parafia.info.pl/?p=main&what=21|agency=sjerzy.parafia.info.pl|access-date=2017-09-04}}

=Training=

In the 1980s, the Polish People's Republic had 4 military academies and 11 higher officers' schools, which trained auxiliary corpsmen and corresponded in rank to higher educational institutions. In 1954, judo instructors from the Warsaw and Kraków institutes of physical culture, participated in the training program for border guards and military personnel of the airborne units of the Polish army.Влодзимеж Голембевский. Из-под Фудзиямы на Вислу // журнал «Польша», № 5 (117), май 1964. стр.52-53

Equipment

class="wikitable"

|+

!Helmet

!Origin

!Type

!Notes

!Photo

SSh-39/SSh-40

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Combat helmet

|Used during World War II and shortly after

|frameless

Hełm wz. 31/50

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Combat helmet

|Pre-war polish helmet after modernisations

|frameless

Hełm wz. 50

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Combat helmet

|Standard helmet in 1950-1967

|frameless

Hełm wz. 63

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Paratrooper helmet

|Used by airbone troops and special units.

|frameless

Hełm wz. 67

Hełm wz. 67/75

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Combat helmet

|Standard helmet from 1967 to 1989.

|frameless

class="wikitable"

|+

!Weapon

!Origin

!Type

!Notes

!Photo

P-64

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Semi-automatic pistol

|

|frameless

P-83

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Semi-automatic pistol

|

| frameless

P-33{{Cite book |title=Instrukcja Piechoty Pistolet wz. 1933 (wydanie drugie) Piech. 38/48 |date=18 October 1961 |publisher=Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej |edition=2nd |location=Poland |language=pl |trans-title=Infantry Manual Pistol pattern. 1933 (second edition) Piech. 38/48}}

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Semi-automatic pistol

|Licensed copy of TT-33.

|frameless

AKM

AKMS

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Assault rifle

|Standard issue rifle

|frameless

PM-84

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Submachine gun

|Limited use

|frameless

PM-63

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Submachine gun

|Standard submachine gun form 1963 till 1989{{Cite book |last=Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej - Departament Uzbrojenia |title=9 mm PISTOLET MASZYNOWY wz.1963 OPIS I UŻYTKOWANIE SPOSOBY I ZASADY STRZELANIA Uzbr. 1048/68 |date=1974 |publisher=Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej |edition=Wydanie z 1974 |location=Poland |language=Polish |trans-title=9 mm MACHINE PISTOL wz.1963 DESCRIPTION AND USE SHOOTING METHODS AND RULES Armed. 1048/68}}

|frameless

7.62 mm pm wz.41

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Submachine gun

|Polish PPSh-41 produced domestically.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fabrykabroni.pl/tresci.php |access-date=2024-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214032102/http://www.fabrykabroni.pl/tresci.php |archive-date=2013-12-14 }}

|frameless

SWD

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Designated sniper rifle

|Standard marksman rifle of PPA

|frameless

PK

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|General purpose machinegun

|Standard general purpose machinegun of PPA

|frameless

SKS

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Semi-automatic rifle

|{{Cite journal |title=Artigo original com identificação |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.33233/eb.v17i5.2331.s1537 |access-date=2024-07-06 |doi=10.33233/eb.v17i5.2331.s1537 |doi-broken-date=2024-11-04 }}

|frameless

Mosin–Nagant

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Bolt-action rifle

|Domestically produced.{{Cite web |date=2017-07-16 |title=Mosin Nagant Master Model Reference |url=http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRef01.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716010943/http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRef01.htm |archive-date=2017-07-16 }}

|frameless

SG-43 Goryunov

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Machine gun

|{{sfn|Smith|1969|p=526}}

|frameless

RPG-7

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Light AT weapon

|

|frameless

= Ground Forces =

class="wikitable"

|+

!Tank

!Origin

!Version

!In service

!Notes

T-60

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|

|3 pcs. - 1944-1945{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}}

|After the war, several pieces were sent to military schools.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

T-70

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|

|53 pcs. - 1944-1945{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}}

|Some of the tanks used after 1945 by the Internal Security Corps.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

T-34

|1940, 1941, 1942, 1943{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}}

|118 pcs. - 1944-1945{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}}

|According to Magnuski, many different versions of the T-34 vehicle were used, both early production and modernized ones.{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}}

T-34-85

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|M1, M2{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|328 pcs. - 1944–1945. 1083 pcs. - 1955, 1444 pcs. - 1960, 417 pcs. - 1985{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Domestically produced 1355 pcs. between 1952 and 1956.

In 1985, the military had 417 pieces of M1, M2 versions.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

PT-76

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|PT-76, PT-76B{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|68 pcs. - 1965, 108 pcs. - 1970, 112 pcs. - 1985, 30 pcs. 1990{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Some of the tanks were modernized in Poland by adding a DSzK HMG above the loader's hatch.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

T-54

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|A, AD, AM, AM1, AM2, T-55U{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|1258 pcs. - 1965, 998 pcs. - 1970{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Between 1956 and 1964, 2,000 T-54 tanks were produced under license in Poland.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

T-55

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|A, AD, AD-1, AD-2, AM, AD1M, AD2M, AMS{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|128 pcs. - 1965, 956 pcs. - 1970, 2653 pcs., 2100 pcs. - 1990{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Between 1964 and 1980, 5,000 T-55s were produced. Most of it was exported.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

T-72

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|M, M1{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|317 pcs. - 1985, 700 pcs. - 1990{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|In the years 1981–1990, Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy produced approximately 1,600 T-72 tanks.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

IS-2

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|M{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|50 pcs. - 1944–1945,{{Cite book |last=Magnuski |first=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP: 1943 - 1983 |date=1985 |publisher=Wydawn. Min. Obrony Nar |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}}{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}} 180 pcs. - 1955, 75 pcs. - 1960{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Withdrawn from use in the 1960s.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

IS-3

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|

|2 or 3 pcs.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Brought for testing purposes. They did not come into use. Two copies have been preserved in museums in Poznań and Warsaw.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

class="wikitable"

|+

!TD/SPG

!Origin

!Version

!In service

!Notes

SU-57

|{{Flag|USA}}

|SPG

|15 pcs. - 1944–1945,{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}} Few pcs. survived war.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Withdrawn from use in the 1950s.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

SU-76

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|SPG

|130 pcs. - 1944–1945,{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}} 206 pcs. - 1955.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Withdrawn from use in the 1950s.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

SU-85

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|TD

|70 pcs. - 1944–1945,{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}} 51 pcs. - 1955, 43 pcs. - 1960{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Withdrawn from use in the 1960s.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

SU-100

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|TD

|At least 3 pcs. - 1943-1945{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Withdrawn from use in the 1950s.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

ISU-122S

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|SPG

|32 pcs. – 1944–1945,{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}} 399 pcs. (together with ISU-152) – 1955, 49 pcs. – 1960{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Withdrawn from use in the 1960s.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

SU-152

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|SPG

|3 pcs. - 1944-1945{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}}

|

ISU-152

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|SPG

|10 pcs. – 1944–1945,{{Cite book |last1=Magnuski |first1=Janusz |title=Wozy bojowe LWP [Ludowego Wojska Polskiego]: 1943-1983 |last2=Modrzewski |first2=Jerzy |date=1985 |publisher=Wydaw. Min. Obrony Narodowej |isbn=978-83-11-06990-9 |location=Warszawa}} 399 pcs. (together with ISU-122S) – 1955{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Withdrawn from use in the 1950s.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

ASU-85

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|SPG

|20-30 pcs. - 1965-1975{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Withdrawn from use in the second half of 1970s.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

2S1 Goździk

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|SPG

|166 pcs. - 1985, 490 pcs. - 1990{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

|Licensed production launched in the 1980s at Huta Stalowa Wola.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

wz.77 DANA

|{{Flag|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic}}

|SPG

|

|The first copies appeared in WP in the mid-1980s.{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Czołgi i samobieżne działa pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1919-2016 |date=2017 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-249-0 |location=Czerwonak}}

class="wikitable"

|+

!APC/IFV

!Origin

!Version

!In service

!Notes

BWP-1

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|IFV

|1 400{{Cite web |last=bocquelet |first=david |title=Polish Tanks & AFVs of the Cold War |url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/Poland/polish-tanks.php |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=tanks-encyclopedia.com |language=en}}

|

BMP-2

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|IFV

|62[http://www.pancerni.abajt.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=83 BMP-2 Pancerni.net 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818081435/http://www.pancerni.abajt.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=83|date=18 August 2007}}. Pancerni.abajt.pl. Retrieved 20 September 2011.

|Sold to Angola after communism fell in country.{{Cite web |title=Polish Land Forces from 1945 - Muzeum Wojsk Lądowych |url=https://muzeumwl.pl/en/polish-land-forces-from-1945/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |language=en-GB}}

MT-LB

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|APC

|15

|{{sfn|The Military Balance 2017|p=145}}

TOPAS

|{{Flag|Czechoslovakia}}

|WPT-TOPAS, -2AP, R-2, R-3{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Pojazdy Ludowego Wojska Polskiego |date=2014 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-192-9 |edition=Wydanie I |location=Czerwonak}}

|120 pcs. - 1968, 70 pcs. - 1990

|Jointly developed by Poland and Czechoslovakia{{Cite book |last=Szczerbicki |first=Tomasz |title=Pojazdy Ludowego Wojska Polskiego |date=2014 |publisher=Vesper |isbn=978-83-7731-192-9 |location=Czerwonak}}

SKOT

|{{Flag|Czechoslovakia}}

| -1A, -2A, S-260 Art, S-260 Inż., -WPT, -2AP, R-1, R-2, R2M, R2AM, R-3, R-3M, R-3AM, R-4, R-6

|548 pcs. - 1966

2 500 total production form Polish ArmyKubiaczyk C., Transporter opancerzony SKOT, A. Karaś, W. Stefanowska (red.), J. Magnuski, Seria: Typy broni i uzbrojenia, vol. 9, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, 1971

|Jointly developed by Poland and Czechoslovakia between 1963 and 1971.

BTR-60

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|PU-12{{Citation |title=BTR-60 |date=2024-06-26 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BTR-60&oldid=1231127353 |access-date=2024-07-10 |language=en}}

|

|Included with the 9K33 Osa SAM system delivered between 1980 and 1985.

BRDM-1

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|

|The first ones entered the army in the 1960s

BRDM-2

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|9P133, 9P148, RS, 9P31

|800 pcs. - 1990

|

FUG

|{{Flag|Hungarian People's Republic}}

|

|The first ones entered the army in the 1960s

= Air Force =

class="wikitable"

|+

!Model

!Origin

!Type

!In service

!Notes

Lim-1

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Fighter

|227

|{{Cite web |title=samolotypolskie.pl - Lim-1 / Lim-2 |url=http://www.samolotypolskie.pl/samoloty/2281/126/Lim-1-Lim-2 |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=www.samolotypolskie.pl}}

Lim-2

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Fighter

|500

|

Lim-5

|{{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}

|Fighter

|477

|{{Cite web |title=samolotypolskie.pl - Lim-5 / PZL Lim-6 |url=http://www.samolotypolskie.pl/samoloty/2283/126/Lim-5-Lim-62 |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=www.samolotypolskie.pl}}

MiG-19

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Fighter

|33

|{{Cite web |date=2024-01-04 |title=Mikojan-Guriewicz MiG-19PM - Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego w Krakowie |url=https://muzeumlotnictwa.pl/wystawy/mikojan-guriewicz-mig-19pm/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego w Krakowie - Oficjalna strona Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego w Krakowie |language=pl}}

MiG-21

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Fighter

|600

|{{Cite web |title=Orbats |url=https://www.scramble.nl/planning/orbats/poland |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=www.scramble.nl}}

MiG-23

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Fighter

|40

|

MiG-29

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Fighter

|12

|

Sukhoi Su-7

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Attack Aircraft

|50

|

Su-20

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Attack Aircraft

|40

|{{cite book |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%201052.html |title=World Air Forces 1971 pg. 935 |date=1971 |publisher=FlightGlobal |location=UK |page=935 |access-date=2021-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708115136/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%201052.html |archive-date=2015-07-08 |url-status=dead}}

Sukhoi Su-22

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Attack Aircraft

|110

|

Ilyushin Il-28

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Bomber

|80

|

Antonov An-2

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Transport

|N/A

|

Antonov An-26

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Transport

|20

|

Ilyushin Il-14

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Transport

|30

|

Mil Mi-8

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Helicopter

|80

|

Mil Mi-2

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Helicopter

|200

|Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 47.

Mil Mi-24

|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}

|Attack helicopter

|40

|

= Artillery =

== Rocket Artillery ==

RM-70- 30{{Cite web |title=Poland - Army Equipment |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/pl-army-equipment-armor.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}
BM-21 Grad-250 in 1980s.
9K52 Luna-M- 40 launchers in 1980s
R-11 Zemlya - 22 launchers in 1960s{{Cite web |last=MP |date=2023-08-11 |title=Wyrzutnia rakiet operacyjno-taktycznych 2P19 SCUD-A |url=https://www.zabytki-techniki.org.pl/index.php/historia/82-ciekawostki/584-wyrzutnia-rakiet-operacyjno-taktycznych-2p19-scud-a |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=www.zabytki-techniki.org.pl |language=pl-pl}}
Scud B- 25 launchers in 1980s

== Towed artillery ==

76 mm divisional gun M1942 (ZiS-3){{Cite web |title=Armata dywizyjna wzór 1942 (ZIS-3) kal. 76,2 mm – Muzeum Wojska Polskiego w Warszawie |url=https://muzeumwp.pl/mwpedia/armata-dywizyjna-wzor-1942-zis-3-kal-762-mm/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=muzeumwp.pl}}
122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30)- 715
152 mm gun-howitzer D-20-166{{Cite web |title=Poland - Army Equipment |url=https://premium.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/pl-army-equipment-intro.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=premium.globalsecurity.org}}

=== Selfpropelled artillery ===

= Air defense =

== Mobile missile ==

2K12 Kub
2K11 Krug
9K33 Osa{{Cite web |title=9K33 Osa (1972) |url=https://truck-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/ussr/9k33-osa.php |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=truck-encyclopedia.com}}

== Mobile self-propelled AA guns ==

ZSU-23-4 Shilka-150 were delivered from USSR until 1991{{cite web |title=5. ЗЕНИТНЫЕ САМОХОДНЫЕ УСТАНОВКИ (ЗСУ) – Военный паритет |url=http://www.militaryparitet.com/nomen/russia/arty/sarty/data/ic_nomenrussiaartysarty/14/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728202516/http://www.militaryparitet.com/nomen/russia/arty/sarty/data/ic_nomenrussiaartysarty/14/ |archive-date=28 July 2017 |access-date=22 May 2017 |website=www.militaryparitet.com}}

Towed anti-aircraft gun

ZU-23-2-252 ZU-23 and 72 ZUR-23-2 series{{sfn|The Military Balance 2017|p=145}}

= Artillery tractors =

= Utility vehicles =

Engagements

Battle of Lenino - 1943
Lublin–Brest offensive - 1944
Battle of Studzianki - 1944
Vistula-Oder offensive - 1945
Battle of Kolberg - 1945
Siege of Danzig - 1945
Battle of the Seelow Heights - 1945
Battle of Bautzen - 1945
Battle of Berlin - 1945
Anti-communist resistance in Poland (1944–1946)
Battles for Bircza - 1945–1946
Operation Vistula - 1947
Poznań protests of 1956
Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia - 1968
Polish protests of 1970
Pacification of Wujek - 1981
Martial law in Poland (13 December 1981 – 22 July 1983)

References

Sources

{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Joseph E.|title=Small Arms of the World|url=https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld00smit|url-access=registration|edition =11|location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|publisher= The Stackpole Company|year=1969|isbn=9780811715669}}
{{cite book | title=The Military Balance 2017 | publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | via=Routledge| url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/the-military-balance-2017 | publication-place=Arundel House, Temple Place, London, UK | date=2017 | isbn=978-1-85743-900-7 | oclc=960838207 | ref={{sfnref | The Military Balance 2017}}}}

External links

{{commons category-inline}}
[https://histmag.org/Wojsko-Polskie-w-PRL-i-III-RP-mapy-15439 Maps showing the LWP positioning]
[https://histmag.org/Kadry-LWP.-Polityka-personalna-w-wojsku-w-pierwszych-latach-powojennych-16116 Personnel policy of the LWP in the post-war period]

Category:Poland–Soviet Union relations

Category:Polish Land Forces

Category:Polish People's Republic

Category:Military units and formations established in 1943

Category:Warsaw Pact

Category:Disbanded armies

Category:Military units and formations of the Cold War

Category:Polish resistance during World War II