# 1st Armoured Division (1944)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1944-1st-armoured-division
Location: Normandy
Categories: battle

General Stanisław Maczek's 1st Armoured Division closed the Falaise Pocket in Normandy and later liberated Breda. Within the broader World War II period: Invaded by Germany and the Soviet Union, Poland suffered brutal occupation and the Holocaust, while its underground state and armed forces fought on every front of the war. At this point in the timeline (1944), the governing authority was Władysław Raczkiewicz (President of Poland (in exile)). President of the internationally recognised Polish government-in-exile in France and London during World War II. 1st Armoured Division mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
1st Armoured Division mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed.

Ruler at the time: [Władysław Raczkiewicz](https://poland-history.com/rulers/wladyslaw-raczkiewicz)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 1st Armoured Division (Poland)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Armoured_Division_(Poland))
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — 1st Armoured Division](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=1st+Armoured+Division)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland (1939–1945) (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_(1939%E2%80%931945))