The Dutch Historian

The Polish 1st Armoured Division (1 Dywizja Pancerna) fought heavily during World War II, and is lesser known than other units. Created in February 1942 at Duns in Scotland, it was commanded by Major General Stanisław Maczek, and at its peak numbered approximately 16,000 - 18,000 soldiers.
At the end of July 1944, the 1st Armoured Division was transferred to Normandy. On 8 August 1944, the division was assigned to the 1st Canadian Army and was used for the first time in Operation Totalize. In the Falaise Pocket Battle, it withstood all attacks in costly battles with the 2nd XX Panzer Division and the 9th XX Panzer Division on Mont Ormel (Hill 262) on 19 and 20 August, 1944. They made sure that the Germans could be surrounded, contributing greatly to the Allied victory.
Between 10 and 17 September 1944, the division, together with Belgian resistance fighters, liberated the city of Ghent. On 27 September, the Polish soldiers were ordered to take the Dutch city of Breda, in which they succeeded after two days of hard fighting without civilian casualties. The soldiers were made honorary citizens of Breda. Later, the division took part in the Battle of the Scheldt as well.
In April 1945, the women's camp in Oberlangen in Emsland, where over 1,700 women from the Warsaw Uprising were imprisoned, was liberated. Next, Wilhelmshaven was to be conquered by the Polish Division. However, the German units surrendered without a fight on 6 May. The Polish occupation of the city began the next day.
The units of the 1st Polish Armored Division acted as occupying forces in north-west Germany for the next two years. Together with the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade, it formed the 1st Polish Corps.
In June 1947, the division was transferred to England and demobilized. The majority of the soldiers did not return to communist Poland, but remained in exile.