1 Dywizja Pancerna Generała Maczka i Wyzwolenie Belgii.

1st Polish Armoured Division
and the Liberation of Belgium
Paulina Majewska
and
Asia Gomulińska
1st Polish Armoured Divion
• It was a huge armored unit of Polish armed
forces in the West during the Second World
War working on the continent,
• It operated in: Scotland, Normandy, France,
Belgium, Netherlands and Germany,
• It was created on 25th February 1942 and
was terminated 10th of June 1947,
• Its 1st general was Stanisław Maczek.
1st Polish Armoured Division
On the 25th
February 1942 the
Chief-Commander
Władysław Sikorski
gave an order to
bring to life 1st PAD
which was part of
the Polish armed
forces in the west.
The Badge of the 1st Armoured Division
was inspired by armour of Polish winged
hussars from 17 century
The battle route of the 1st PAD
General Stanisław Maczek
• Born 31 March 1892 in the suburbs of Lwów
and died 11th December 1994 in Edinburgh
• Lieutenant-General in the Polish Army
• Knight of The White Eagle
• Served in the years 1914 to 1990
• Honourable citizen of the Netherlands
• Later he worked as a bartender in Edinburgh
because he was deprived of Polish citizenship
by the communist authorities.
General Stanisław Maczek
General Maczek was honoured with
sixteen medals, two of them were
awarded by Belgian.
Croix de guerre
Order of the Crown
General Maczek with generals of the
1st Canadian Army
The Liberation of Belgium
On the 6th-17th of
September 1st Polish
Armoured Division
entered Belgium and
liberated many towns
such as: Ypres,
Passendale, Roselare,
Tielt, Ghent, Beveren,
Sint-Gilles-Waas, Axel,
Merksplas.
• Tielt and Ghent were
liberated by Polish
soldiers with a big help
of Belgian Resistance
Movement.
Later the soldiers of General Maczek liberated
Breda on 29th October, where they were
welcomed as heroes.
Next with different units of the 1st Canadian
Army 1st Polish Armoured Division liberated
Moerdijk on the 9th of November. After The
Netherlands had been liberated, the Polish
army entered German teritory. It completed
its war route in the German harbour
Wilhelmshaven.
The tanks of 1st PAD in Ghent
The wehicles of 1st PAD in Ghent
1st PAD fighting on the streets
in Belgium
1st PAD in a liberated town in
Belgium
Belgian Girls are welcoming Polish
soldiers.
The celebration after Liberating Thielt
The Polish people greatly appreciate
Belgian engagement and care in
saving the memory of those who
fought and lost their lives on Belgian
soil in the service of mankind.
General Maczek Memorial
General Maczek Memorial in Tielt
Remembrance Plaque Polish
Liberation of Passendale
Museum
There is a museum in Belgium
commemorating the Canadian and
Polish army where you can find a
sign „for peace and freedom”
leading into the museum.
Thank you for attention
Paulina Majewska
and
Asia Gomulińska