1st Czechoslovakian Armoured Brigade
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On 1 September 1943 Czechoslovak 1st Infantry Brigade converted to armour and was redesignated the 1st Czechoslovakian Armoured Brigade. It continued to train in the UK until the summer of 1944 when, with some 4000 troops under command, it moved to Normandy under 21st Army Group. At the beginning of October the brigade advanced to Dunkirk and relieved Canadian troops in the siege of the German-held fortress of Dunkirk, coming under Canadian 1st Army.
1st Brigade spent the remainder of the war at Dunkirk, alternately attacking and being attacked by the energetic German garrison. During that time the brigade was reinforced by French units formed from local FFI forces; on 15 October these were amalgamated into the 110th French Infantry Regiment of two battalions, and on 24 January 1945 the regiment was redesignated 51st French Infantry Regiment and expanded to four battalions. Various British and Canadian formations also supported the siege at one time or another.
In November the brigade passed from Canadian 1st Army back to direct control of Montgomery’s 21st Army Group. In the spring of 1945 the 1st Armoured Brigade was expanded to 5900 Czechoslovak officers and men, some of whom came from nationals recruited in liberated France, and some from countrymen forced to serve in the Wehrmacht and were then captured by the Allies.
The Dunkirk garrison did not surrender until 9 May 1945, at which time 15,500 German troops and three U-boats were taken by the Czechoslovaks.
Organization in September 1944:
- 1st Czechoslovakian Tank Battalion
- 2nd Czechoslovakian Tank Battalion
- 1st Czechoslovakian Motorized Infantry Battalion (two companies)
- artillery regiment (two battalions)
- anti-tank battalion
- reconnaissance battalion
- 1st Czechoslovakian Tank Battalion
- 2nd Czechoslovakian Tank Battalion
- 3rd Czechoslovakian Tank Battalion
- 1st Czechoslovakian Motorized Infantry Battalion (three companies)
- artillery regiment (three battalions)
- anti-tank battalion
- reconnaissance battalion