 The invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, in June 1941 created a need for rear-area security units in Army Group Rear Areas and Police Regiment Kraków provided some of these.They were partially replaced by worn-out units returning from the occupied Soviet Union.When the regiment was redesignated on 9 July 1942 as the 23rd Police Regiment, its I Battalion came from Police Battalion 307, while II and III Battalions were formed from independent police companies scattered throughout occupied Poland, although their headquarters companies were not formed until 23 January 1943.