In 1944, with the Soviet advance into Nazi occupied Poland, the opportunity arose to recruit soldiers from the liberated areas into the People's Army of Poland. The first plans called for formation of Polish Second Army and Polish Third Army, which were to be joined with the Polish First Army into a Polish Front (at that time the Polish forces were part of the 1st Belorussian Front). The early plans called for the Second Army to be ready for combat by the end of September.