In a large hospital in Antwerp, if you look at the lists of patients, every second name is Polish.
The Polish division has the title of the best division. Everyone refers to us with respect and admiration. We are proud of that. Nevertheless, everyone is aware of the division's great weakness. There is a huge shortage of specialists. First of all, the drivers. And then we lack gunners and radio operators.
There is much talk of withdrawing the division for a prolonged respite in the rear, not for a rest, but for a complete reorganisation and training. It is said that we are to be given a month's leave and here the greatest optimists claim that this is not enough to balance the formation. Three months would be a necessary period for the survival and functioning of the division. For the moment we are content with what we can do, which is to fight on our positions, which, even if it is painful, allows the troops to rest.
Everyone is thinking about permission, especially W. [ But Britain is not here. ]

Kazimierz Duda - Chronicles of war - 7 to 27 October 1944 - Page 86