page_title: Soviet order of battle for invasion of Poland in 1939
section_title: The two invading fronts
hierarchical_section_title: Soviet order of battle for invasion of Poland in 1939 / The two invading fronts
caption_attribution_description: English: Organization of the Soviet Armies in the Invasion of Poland 17 September 1939
context_page_description: The Soviet order of battle for the invasion of Poland in 1939 details the major combat units arrayed for the Soviet surprise attack on Poland on September 17, 1939. As a result of joining battle after the Germans had already launched their invasion, the Soviets, prepared for battle in secrecy, met comparatively limited resistance. Several skirmishes between the German and Soviet forces did occur, but neither government was prepared for starting a larger conflict, and these were soon referred to as "misunderstandings".
  Like the Germans, the Soviets employed two primary offensive axes, each managed by a Front. Each Front commander had at his disposal a mobile group of forces created from cavalry and mechanised troops; a precursor of the cavalry-mechanised groups of the Second World War.
  The effects of the purge are visible in the ranks of the commanders in the order of battle, with only one Army commander serving in the appropriate rank of Komandarm, in this case 2nd Class, the rest serving in being Corps and Divisional Commander rank
context_section_description: The Belorussian Front included four Armies and a Cavalry-mechanised Group (left). The Ukrainian Front included three Armies (right).
caption: Organization of the Soviet Armies in the Invasion of Poland 17 September 1939[2]
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