72HM0061 POLISH BOFORS AT 37MM GUN CREW 1939

During the 20th anniversary of the interwar period, the Second Polish Republic aimed at expanding its armed forces (especially in the 1930s), and it attached a significant role to the development of artillery, which, along with infantry and cavalry, constituted the main element of the Polish armed forces. In the summer of 1939, even before mobilization, its ranks included about 61,000 officers and soldiers, which constituted about 14% of the number of the Polish Army at the peacekeeping level. It is worth noting that on the peacetime level the Polish infantry division had a light artillery regiment with 3 squadrons of 75 mm cannons or howitzers wz. 1914/19, and a heavy artillery squadron consisting of two 105 mm and 155 mm gun batteries. It was assumed that in the course of mobilization, the artillery component in the infantry division would be strengthened, which was partially implemented during the fighting in September 1939. Polish field artillery, although relatively numerous, was based on equipment that was often outdated and inferior to its German or Soviet counterparts. The degree of motorization was also insufficient, and the command and communication system was highly anachronistic. The Polish artillery also had many types of cannons and howitzers, including the 105 mm wz. 29, howitzer 155 mm caliber wz. 17 or the 76 mm gun wz.02 / 26.