In December 1941 it was agreed to increase the army size to six divisions and to transfer 25,00 men and their families to the West. The new destination for these Poles was Iran and the first move began on 23^rd March 1942. The remaining contingent was reduced to starvation rations due to Soviet unwillingness to provide supplies. Driven by this and an increasingly poor and uncooperative relationship with the Soviets, a further contingent left the Soviet Union for the Middle East in August 1942.

These contingents were soon designated the Polish Army in the East and were joined by the Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade from the Western Desert which combined with other units to form the 3^rd Carpathian Rifle Division. Also created were the 5^th Kresowa Infantry Division, the 2^nd Armoured Brigade and the 2^nd Artillery Group. A 6^th and 7^th Divisions were also planned but only the 7^th was to continue as a training, reserve and administrative formation. In June 1943 this force was renamed as the 2^nd Polish Corps and by the end of August 1943 had completed a transfer to Palestine. Here units underwent training to prepare for deployment in Italy.