Karpaty Army, which covered southern, mountainous border of the province, Kraków Army, guarding western part of the province, together with adjacent Polish part of Upper Silesia. Later in the course of war it joined the Karpaty Army, forming the Lesser Poland Army (Armia Małopolska), Łódź Army, which protected extreme northwestern corner of the province, north of Częstochowa, Prusy Army, which was main reserve of the Commander in Chief, and was concentrated in central and northern Lesser Poland (between Radom and Kielce), Lublin Army, improvised after 4 September, and concentrated in the area of Lublin and Sandomierz in northEastern Lesser Poland. right|thumb|Soldiers of Holy Cross Mountains Brigade in parade 1945 After a few days the Battle of the Border was lost, and forces of German Army Group South advanced deep into Lesser Poland's territory. Polish troops resisted fiercely, and among major battles in initial stages of the war, which took place in Lesser Poland, there are Battle of Mokra, Battle of Jordanów, and Battle of Węgierska Górka. By 6 September, Polish forces were in general retreat and Marshal of Poland Edward Rydz-Śmigły ordered all troops to fall back to the secondary lines of defences at the Vistula and San Rivers. German units entered Częstochowa on 3 September (where on the next day they murdered hundreds of civilians), Kielce on 5 September, Kraków on 6 September, and Radom on 8 September (see also Battle of Radom). Within a week, almost whole Lesser Poland was under Nazi occupation. Northeastern part of the province, the area of Lublin, was held by the Poles until 17 September, but eventually, and after fierce battles (see Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski), all Lesser Poland was firmly under Nazi control. First draft of Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact stipulated that northEastern Lesser Poland (east of the Vistula river) was to be occupied by the Soviet Union, and forces of the Red Army reached the area of Lublin after 20 September, but withdrew east on 28 September.
karpaty army which covered southern mountainous border of the province kraków army guarding western part of the province together with adjacent polish part of upper silesia later in the course of war it joined the karpaty army forming the lesser poland army (armia małopolska) łódź army which protected extreme northwestern corner of the province north of częstochowa prusy army which was main reserve of the commander in chief and was concentrated in central and northern lesser poland (between radom and kielce) lublin army improvised after 4 september and concentrated in the area of lublin and sandomierz in northeastern lesser poland right|thumb|soldiers of holy cross mountains brigade in parade 1945 after a few days the battle of the border was lost and forces of german army group south advanced deep into lesser poland's territory polish troops resisted fiercely and among major battles in initial stages of the war which took place in lesser poland there are battle of mokra battle of jordanów and battle of węgierska górka by 6 september polish forces were in general retreat and marshal of poland edward rydz-śmigły ordered all troops to fall back to the secondary lines of defences at the vistula and san rivers german units entered częstochowa on 3 september (where on the next day they murdered hundreds of civilians) kielce on 5 september kraków on 6 september and radom on 8 september (see also battle of radom) within a week almost whole lesser poland was under nazi occupation northeastern part of the province the area of lublin was held by the poles until 17 september but eventually and after fierce battles (see battle of tomaszów lubelski) all lesser poland was firmly under nazi control first draft of molotov–ribbentrop pact stipulated that northeastern lesser poland (east of the vistula river) was to be occupied by the soviet union and forces of the red army reached the area of lublin after 20 september but withdrew east on 28 september