by
andrzejku98
Hello Denbo1951,
May I be the first to welcome you to the Forum, I have had a quick look through Kpt Jan Lorys book on the History of the Parachute Badge and found the following information Plut. (Lance Sergeant) Marian Bednarz awarded the Parachute Badge Numbered : 3581 and the Combat Jump wreath (For Arnhem) Numbered 366, he was in the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion under the command of Kpt Jerzy Bernatzik.
With regards to your Father and his service with the Podhale Rifle Brigade, this should have been mentioned in his Service Records that you obtained from the Ministry of Defence. Denbo1951 when applying for your Fathers Service record did you ask for all records that they have or did you just receive the normal 1 or 2 Page letter detailing his service.
With regards to the Norweigan Campaign the British, French and the Polish Brigade had been earmarked for the Campaign in Finland against the soviets but the peace treaty between the 2 was signed before they could be fully trained and deployed.
When the germans invaded Norway in 1940 it was decided to send Allied troops to Norway, the Podhale Brigade was sent to Ankenes.
The Allies wanted to take the post of Narvik through which the germans imported massive amounts of iron ore from Sweden, the germans got there first on 9th April 1940. You can read more of the norweigan campaign in books like "No gReater Ally" by K K KOskodan. No doubt other Forum members will be able to add other reading matter although I do remember seeing a book in Polish on the Norweigan Campaign, but unfortunately I can not remember the title.
Best wishes
Andrzej
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