The invasion of Russia in June 1941 created a need for rear-area security units on the Eastern Front and Police Regiment Warsaw provided some of these. They were partially replaced by worn-out units returning from Russia. When the regiment was redesignated on 9 July 1942 as the 22nd Police Regiment, its I Battalion came from Police Battalion 41, II Battalion was formed from independent police companies scattered throughout occupied Poland, and III Battalion was formed by redesignating Police Battalion 53, although it was still Russia and remained there until September. All of the police regiments were redesignated as SS police units on 24 February 1943.