Polish 10th Motorised Infantry

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 BrigadeCommanded 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.The 10th Motorised Division fought so skillfully that, rather than surrender, they escaped across the border to Hungary, from whence their survivors went on to