1st Grenadiers Division ( Poland ) The 1st Grenadier Division ( literal translation " 1st Grenadiers Division " ; , ) was a Polish infantry formation raised in France during the early stages of World War II . The division was created as a result of the Invasion of Poland as part of the Polish Army in France , and took part in the Battle of France in 1940 . History . As an effect of the Franco - Polish Military Alliance , the formation of a Polish division in France began in early September 1939 , shortly after the Invasion of Poland . The French government gave over a military camp at Coëtquidan to the Polish military mission and permitted voluntary recruitment from the Polish diaspora in France , which were particularly numerous in the coal - producing regions of Flanders . After the fall of Poland and the formation of the Polish government in exile , the newly appointed Polish commander - in - chief Władysław Sikorski ordered the formation of the 1st Grenadier Division on November 13 , 1939 . Initially commanded by Colonel Stanisław Maczek , the division was taken over by Colonel Bronisław Duch in January 1940 . It was organized according to the French model and was equipped with French weapons and uniforms . Altogether , the formation numbered eventually about 13 , 000 enlisted soldiers , 2600 NCOs and 580 officers of all grades , when it was sworn in by Gen . Sikorski on May 25 , 1940 , shortly before arriving at the front in Lorraine . At the end of April 1940 , the division was moved to Colombey - les - Belles in Lorraine where it received its long - awaited heavy equipment and final training . On May 18 the formation was moved to the area of Sarry and was attached to the French 4th Army , French XX Corps . 1st Regiment under Colonel Lowczowski was assigned to defend the Maginot Line near Wittlesburg . Initially divided between the two units of the Corps , the French 52nd Infantry Division and the ' Sarry Fortress Group , ' the division operated in a supporting role . It first saw combat on June 14 , 1940 , when attacked by German forces . The following day the division was centered and successfully defended its positions . However , during the night the French 52nd Division broke down and withdrew soon after it was attacked to Dieuze . Fearing his corps being cut in two , the formation commander ordered the Poles to withdraw to the second line of defenses . It withdrew to the area of Dieuze , where it covered the retreat of the French division throughout the day of June 16 . The following night it successfully disengaged itself and withdrew to the defensive line of the Marne - Rhine Canal , where it covered the area around Lagarde . As a result of the two - day long Battle of Lagarde , the division was heavy damaged , but managed to hold its positions . However , the 52nd Division had been destroyed by the Wehrmacht and the remainder of the corps was disbanded by its commanding officer . The remnants of the XX Corps , then composed mostly of the Polish division and a small detachment of the Sarry Fortress Group , withdrew to the forests around Baccarat . There it formed a perimeter defence in and around the town of Meriller . Not attacked directly , the XX Corps was surrounded by the enemy on June 19 . The Poles broke through to Neureville , but were unable to continue their assault . On June 21 , after receiving information of Franco - German capitulation talks , Gen . Bronisław Duch disbanded the unit and ordered his men to either flee to neutral Switzerland , or to join the Polish forces in the United Kingdom . Many chose the latter option , including the general himself . Altogether , the division lost approximately 5200 men during the Battle of France .