Polish

Despite facing the double invasion of their homeland in 1939 by both Germany and the Soviet Union, the vastly outnumbered Polish military fought with bravery and tenacity. The Polish army in 1939 was large, well-officered and relatively well-equipped. It fought hard, but was entirely outmanoeuvred by fast-moving German armoured thrusts supported by all arms in a new dynamic style of war that a largely foot-slogging Polish army could not match. When the Soviets joined the fight and also invaded Poland, bisecting the country, it was too much for an already over-extended army short of armour and air support to hold out against – the end was inevitable. The Poles put up a dogged resistance to the two invading forces despite, in some cases, being utterly outnumbered. There were many desperate actions where the Poles fought the invaders to a standstill, and the stoic infantry held their ground whilst their dashing Polish cavalry caught the enemy by surprise. Equipped with Mauser rifles, great coats, and standard polish uniform. Warlord sculptor Wojtek brought these heroes to life in full kit, fighting in the early autumn of 1939. Contains a metal 10-man Polish Infantry Squad:

• 1 NCO with rifle
• 1 soldier with automatic rifle
• 8 riflemen

Infantry weapons teams are a key component of any Bolt Action army, providing as they do great tactical flexibility for your force. Sniper teams, light mortar teams and anti-tank rifle teams are among the most prevalent, presenting your opponent with multiple challenges to overcome. Like many other nations, Poland learned well the lessons of World War I, and saw the value in close-support mortar weaponry. Many infantry companies were issued 46mm light mortars to fulfil this close support role. The Polish Army didn’t include specially equipped snipers as such, but the best shots in a company would be designated as marksmen. The Polish wz.35 anti-tank rifle was unusual in that it did not fire a solid tungsten core round as did most other nations’ anti-tank rifles. Rather, it fired a standard lead core with a steel jacket. Instead of penetrating the hull like traditional anti-tank rounds, the transferred energy would cause spalling (making a piece of armour tear off inside the crew compartment) that lead to fragments ricocheting around the inside of the vehicle – a very nasty affair for the crew! Contains three Bolt Action Order Dice and the following Warlord Resin Plus figures:

• 2-man Light Mortar team
• 2-man Sniper team
• 2-man Anti-tank rifle team

The 10th Motorised Division is one of the most famous units of the Polish Army during World War II. Officers, NCOs and motorcycle troops wore distinctive black leather jackets along with the German-style stahlhelm, leading to their nickname The Black Brigade Commanded by the brave and intelligent General Maczek, the 10th were led into many defensive battles as German panzers swept into Poland in 1939. The Black Brigade were a unique unit that were being developed and trained by the Polish high command when war erupted. The division was composed of infantry and artillery with supporting arms of engineers, artillery, anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns, whilst also boasting tanks, tankettes and lorried infantry. This flexible and hard hitting force fought German mechanized, armoured and mountain troops to a standstill on many occasions. Clad in greatcoats this squad is led by an NCO in trademark black leather jacket and beret. Ready to make the German invaders pay for every inch of Polish soil in blood, these doughty fighters will make a potent addition to your force. Contains a 10-man Polish 10th Motorised Brigade Squad:

• 1 NCO with rifle
• 1 soldier with automatic rifle
• 8 riflemen