Windsor’s Wartime Legacy: 85th Anniversary of the Polish Army Recruiting Station (1941–1942)
Between 1941 and 1942, Windsor served as the Canadian headquarters for recruiting volunteers into the Polish Armed Forces, fighting alongside the Allies.
In 2026, Windsor proudly commemorates the 85th Anniversary of the Polish Army Recruiting Station, which operated in our city during the Second World War, from 1941 to 1942. This remarkable, but often overlooked chapter of Windsor’s military heritage, reflects not only the determination of the Polish nation during its darkest hour, but also Canada’s vital role in supporting the Allied forces and displaced European armies, fighting for freedom. The Second World War began on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. On September 17, the Soviet Union attacked from the east. Within weeks, Poland was occupied and divided under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the nonaggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Despite this defeat, the Polish armed forces continued the fight abroad. A Polish Government-in-Exile was established in Western Europe, determined that Poland one day would be liberated and restored as a free nation (…)
Text – courtesy of: Jerry Barycki, President, the Polish-Canadian Business and Professional Association of Windsor
