Berets

[Sarmatia]

Thank you Tony for sharing such a fantastic piece! I have never seen such a beautiful pre-WW2 Polish beret.
Comming back to my beret - has anyone came across a beret withouth the liner and a sweatband? Mine appears to never have a liner inside...

[A.J. Zawadzki]

Miko, yeah, that is an amazing survivor. Without a doubt one of the rarer IIRP headwear.

As to your question, I can’t say I’ve ever seen a legitimate military issue beret without liner. I’m not sure about the Polish worn 1939-40 French issue berets though. More research required here. I do know that removal of date marked liners on post war issue berets is a trick used on “składaki”. Always a warning sign.

Regards,
Tony

[cichociemny]

This is not a pre-war Polish Armoured beret, if original I would lean towards Polish Armoured Brigade in France. The berets the Poles wore in France were bigger in shape then the pre-war ones which were meant to fit the head tight, just like in the photo Tony posted, the tight berets were also worn by the Polish Air Force.
There was a pre-war black beret which was a bigger one and this was worn by Anti-Aircraft units.

I know some boys discussed this beret on the Polish militaria Facebook page and they agreed the eagle is a English made one, which begs to ask why on earth would a high ranking officer do this in England if you are being issued British Armoured berets.
Without a makers mark inside the beret I would lean towards it being a made up beret sorry to say.

[Tomek]

I have only two berets PSZ .
This is first, in my collection around 5-7 years

[Krakow1]

Here is one i picked up from a Friend and a Forum member. It belonged to Rtm Gajewski, who fought in Warsaw Uprising in Battalion Kilinski.
It has his initials inside. Rtm Gajewski ended up in II Corps in 25th Uhlan Regiment.

[Krakow1]

[Krakow1]

[prosty zolnierz]

post war RAF beret. the metal grommets and stiffener for the badge have been removed. couple of quick pics to show an unadulterated example.

[Krakow1]

Here is one that sold on EMedals.com .
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[Krakow1]

Advertised as Polish Paratrooper Beret. I was not aware of British Beret Basque LTD made a beret that was used by Polish Paratroopers. To top it off the Eagle has blue background...
Totally wrong for Paratrooper.