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The formation of a new division of the Polish Army - the 1st Infantry Division of the Legions - has begun

Poland - Ministry of National Defence

09/01/2023

- Between the 16th Mechanized Division, which operates primarily in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, and the 18th Mechanized Division, operating mainly in the Mazowieckie and Lubelskie Voivodships, the 1st Legions Infantry Division is formed. The division, which will primarily operate in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Not only, but mainly in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The concept of establishing this tactical unit was prepared by General Norbert Iwanowski, an experienced commander. He drew his experience, among others, from the fact that he was the commander of the 15th Mechanized Brigade, as part of the 16th Division, and then for several years he was the head of the P-2 board, i.e. the Reconnaissance and Intelligence Analysis Board at the General Staff of the Polish Army. These are very important experiences that General Ivanovsky uses precisely in the formation,

On Monday, January 9, The head of the Ministry of National Defense in Białystok presented the concept of creating the 1st Legions Infantry Division.

-This is the fifth tactical union in the Polish Army, in the land forces of the Polish Army. It will be organized as we are now forming the 18th Mechanized Division, just as we are transforming the 16th Mechanized Division, so in a system of four, i.e. 4 brigades, then 4 battalions per brigade. Locations where the units of this division, the 1st Legions Infantry Division, will be located, are indications from the Podlaskie Voivodship. So the garrison of Łomża, and therefore Grajewo, to which the Polish Army returns after many years. Also Kolno, where the Polish Army has not been before, but this is the place where the Polish Army will be and this year. Also locations that were previously military locations, but then ceased to be - I am thinking primarily of Czerwony Bór, i.e. the area around Zambrów - this area returns to the possession of the Polish Army, but also a new location: Siemiatycze. These locations are the result of analyzes carried out by the Polish Army. First of all, through the commander - plenipotentiary for the formation of the 1st Infantry Division of the Legions

- said the deputy prime minister.

In September 2022, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense decided to appoint a plenipotentiary of the Ministry of National Defense for the formation of a new - fifth tactical union of the Polish Army - the 1st Legions Infantry Division.

The new division will cover the area between the areas of responsibility of the 16th and 18th Mechanized Divisions. In October last year, in Ciechanów, the head of the Ministry of National Defense announced the creation of a new tank battalion, which will be part of the newly formed division, and the headquarters of the division will also be located in this town.

- There is no doubt that we are dealing with an attempt to rebuild the Russian empire. This is the evil empire. Regardless of whether it was white or red, whether it is now Putin's. It always brought evil with it. What our neighbors from Ukraine find out every day. Because, after all, there is a regular war going on in Ukraine, this is already a full-scale conflict. Ukraine was invaded by Russia. Our task, the task of the Polish authorities, is to build a strong Polish Army. So that the aggressor would not dare to attack our country. In order for it to be consistent, since 2015, when Law and Justice took over power, when Mr. Andrzej Duda became the president of the Republic of Poland, we have been strengthening the Polish armed forces, forming new military units - often in places where these units were disbanded in previous years

- said the head of the Ministry of National Defense in Białystok.

- The year 2011 was particularly bad for the Polish Army, when many units in the east of our country were rolled up and disbanded. In the east of our country - I remind you. Three years after the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008. My political environment warned against it. The late President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, said in Georgia "today Georgia, tomorrow Ukraine, then the Baltic states, then maybe Poland". Since 2015, we have been consistently strengthening the Polish Armed Forces. There is already the 18th Mechanized Division, the "Iron Division", which was established in the place where the 1st Warsaw Mechanized Division named after him operated until 2011. Tadeusz Kosciuszko. We are trying to saturate the eastern part of our country with the Polish Army. Therefore, we organize and establish new military units

- informed Mariusz Błaszczak, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense.

Conclusions from the conducted exercises and simulations led to the decision to form the 1st Legions Infantry Division, which in terms of structure will be similar to the already functioning 16th and 18th Mechanized Divisions. The new division will be equipped with the best military equipment already available to the Polish Army and will be acquired soon. This will allow you to deter a potential aggressor more effectively and prepare a more effective defense in the event of an attack.

- We are dynamically carrying out the process of creating a new tactical unit. The division will be equipped with modern weapons. While the 16th Mechanized Division, when it comes to tanks, will primarily be equipped with K2 tanks, the 18th Division with Abrams tanks, the new division will be equipped with both K2 and Abrams tanks. So the point is to make the most of the modern weapons that are already arriving in Poland. The armored brigade will be located in Czerwony Bór and Siemiatycze. There will also be an Artillery Brigade, because the experience of the war in Ukraine directly shows that artillery plays a key role in the defense and effective defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion. The Artillery Brigade will be equipped with K9 and Kraby howitzers, as well as an unmanned system code-named "Gladius"

- emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the process of forming the division will be dynamic.

- I am deeply convinced of this due to the personality and character of the plenipotentiary whom I appointed to organize this division. We do everything to deter the aggressor. We are strengthening the Polish Army and thanks to that Poland is safe

- said the deputy prime minister.

The name of the new division of the Polish Army refers to the historical tactical union, which was recorded in the longest fight for Poland's independence during the First and Second World Wars.

***

On April 23, 2022, the Law on the Defense of the Homeland entered into force. The act makes it possible to strengthen the Polish army, e.g. by increasing the number of soldiers, a significant increase in state spending on defense and the technical modernization of the army. The Act consolidates and organizes all provisions relating to the Armed Forces. As a result of the entry into force of the provisions of the new act, there is a significant expansion of the capabilities of the Armed Forces, carried out both by forming new units and components of the Polish Army, and by providing them with modern military equipment.

The number of soldiers of the Polish Army is one of the foundations of a strong army. At the end of 2022, the Polish Army had 164,000 soldiers. The Ministry of National Defense consistently takes steps to increase the number of Polish soldiers by, among others, simplified recruitment and expanding the possibility of taking up service, e.g. in new forms, such as the Voluntary Basic Military Service, for which 16,000 volunteers applied last year.

[GS.org: Unofficial translation]