Mariusz Błaszczak, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, on January 9 approved the concept of creating the 1st Legions Infantry Division, Ewa Korsak reports in Polska Zbrojna. The new formation is to operate in the east of Poland, primarily in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, and its soldiers will receive the latest equipment available to the Polish army. The division will consist of four brigades.
“We are saturating the eastern part of our country with the Polish Army. Today I accepted the concept of creating the 1st Legions Infantry Division », said Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak in Białystok, where he met with the soldiers of the 18th Reconnaissance Regiment. The new tactical unit is to be developed primarily in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, Ewa Korsak reports. “The 1st Legions Infantry Division will be established between the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship, where the 16th Mechanized Division operates, and the Mazowieckie and Lubelskie Voivodships, where the 18th Mechanized Division operates”, said Błaszczak.
It will be the 5th tactical formation in the land forces (the other four are: the 11th Armored Cavalry Division and the 12th, 16th and 18th Mechanized Divisions). We create it in a “four” system: the division will have four brigades, and each of them will consist of four battalions”, said the Deputy Prime Minister who also informed that the units will be located in the cities of the Podlaskie Voivodeship: Łomża, Grajewo, Kolno, Czerwony Bór and Siemiatycze.
In addition to the mechanized battalions, an artillery battalion will also be created. “The experience of the war in Ukraine shows that artillery plays a key role in effective defense”, noted the head of the Ministry of National Defense. The headquarters of the 1st Legions Infantry Division will be located in Ciechanów. A tank battalion will also be established in this city. “The choice of these locations is supported by military analyzes”, noted Mariusz Błaszczak. The Deputy Prime Minister added that some units of the new division will be created this year.