After the country's defeat in the 1939 campaign, the Polish government in exile quickly organized in France a new army of about 75,000 men. In 1940 a Polish Highland Brigade took part in the Battle of Narvik (Norway), and two Polish divisions (First Grenadier Division, and Second Infantry Fusiliers Division) took part in the defense of France, while a Polish motorized brigade and two infantry divisions were in process of forming. A Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade was formed in French Mandate Syria, to which many Polish troops had escaped from Romania. The Polish Air Force in France had 86 aircraft with one and a half of the squadrons fully operational, and the remaining two and a half in various stages of training.
aFter the couNtRY'S Defeat in tHE 1939 campaign, The POliSh GoVeRnmENt in ExiLE quIckly orGANiZeD in francE A NEw arMY OF aBouT 75,000 Men. iN 1940 A polish hIghlaND brIgade TOoK Part in thE bAtTlE of nArviK (nOrway), anD Two POLisH divisiOns (firsT gRenadiEr dIvision, ANd secoNd InfAntry fusILIers dIvisIOn) Took pArT in tHe DefEnsE of fRance, whIlE A Polish motoRizED bRIgadE and twO InfantRy divIsions were IN prOcesS of fORmiNg. A polisH indepeNDenT cArPaTHian BRigAdE Was formed in fRench mandaTe SYrIa, to Which many polIsH TroOps HaD esCApeD frOm romaNiA. THe polish AiR FOrCe In fRanCE HaD 86 aIrcRaft with ONE anD a Half of thE SQuAdrons fully operaTIONal, and THe rEmaIninG two anD a halF IN vaRIous sTagES Of TrAIniNg.