Polish Paras

The 1st Independent Parachute Brigade was established in 1941 in the United Kingdom, composed of Polish soldiers who had escaped Nazi-occupied Europe. Led by Major General Stanisław Sosabowski, the unit trained relentlessly, initially with the goal of parachuting into occupied Poland to support an uprising. However, geopolitical realities and British strategic interests redirected the brigade to the Western Front.

By mid-1944, as Operation Market Garden took shape under the direction of British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, the Polish paratroopers were assigned to support the British 1st Airborne Division in the assault on Arnhem. Though their ultimate desire was to fight in Poland, Sosabowski agreed to commit his men to the mission, provided they could contribute effectively. Unfortunately, from the outset, he saw flaws in the plan that others chose to ignore.

General Sosabowski was one of the few Allied commanders who openly questioned the viability of Operation Market Garden. In planning meetings, he voiced deep concerns about intelligence reports suggesting the presence of German Panzer divisions near Arnhem. He also objected to the chosen drop zones, which were located dangerously far from the critical Arnhem bridge.

Sosabowski, never one to mince words, warned his British counterparts that the mission was likely to fail. His bluntness clashed with the optimism of British planners, particularly General Frederick Browning, who famously dismissed the Polish general’s warnings by stating, “The gallant Poles and the Red Devils can do anything!” In hindsight, Sosabowski’s warnings would prove disturbingly accurate.

The Polish brigade was scheduled to land on 19 September 1944, two days after the main assault began. However, poor weather and logistical chaos delayed their deployment. When they finally dropped on 21 September near the Dutch village of Driel, they found themselves isolated on the southern bank of the Rhine River, cut off from the British forces fighting desperately in Arnhem.

Without the necessary boats or bridging equipment, the Polish troops were unable to cross the river in force. Only a small detachment managed to make it across under heavy fire to reinforce the beleaguered British troops. Despite their limited numbers, they fought bravely, helping to hold the perimeter and maintain some communication between units.

As German pressure intensified, the Polish paratroopers dug in around Driel, facing constant shelling and counterattacks. Despite being understrength and undersupplied, they held the line, buying time and space for the British 1st Airborne Division.

When it became clear that Arnhem could not be held, the Polish brigade played a vital role in covering the withdrawal of Allied troops across the Rhine during the night of 25 September. Under darkness and rain, with the enemy pressing hard, the Poles held their positions as battered Allied forces evacuated. Their discipline and bravery prevented what could have been a massacre during the retreat.

Though the brigade had performed admirably under impossible circumstances, the aftermath of Market Garden turned bitter. The operation had failed to achieve its objectives, and commanders began looking for scapegoats. Sosabowski, despite having voiced clear and accurate criticisms before the battle, became an easy target.

In October 1944, Montgomery publicly praised the Polish brigade. But within weeks, he changed his tone, blaming Sosabowski for “poor performance” and accusing him of being uncooperative. Under British pressure, the Polish government-in-exile relieved him of his command. It was a political move—humiliating to a man who had been right all along and deeply loyal to the Allied cause.

The 1st Independent Parachute Brigade suffered heavy casualties in Market Garden, losing a quarter of its strength. They never fulfilled their original mission of returning to Poland to fight the Germans directly. After the war, most of its members remained in exile, unwilling to return to a homeland now dominated by the Soviet Union.

Decades later, the truth of their sacrifice and bravery began to receive the recognition it deserved. In 2006, the brigade was awarded the Military Order of William, the Netherlands’ highest military honor. Sosabowski, long after his death in 1967, was posthumously rehabilitated and honored for his leadership and foresight.