Pistols, Rifles, Machine Guns and Crew Served Weapons of Partitioned Poland and the Polish 2nd Republic

[dastier]

Chris, try identifying those unknown rifles by the length of the muzzle and position of the front sights. Let us know what you find. Post more photos please.

[Scout]

Polish soldiers used German M16 and M17 helmets at various times. Keep in mind the Wojsko Polskie inherited a lot of various equipment from the partitioning powers. Besides the French Hotchkiss you can see a German MG 08 and the soldiers have German Stielhandgranates.

The 10th Cavalry Brigade (10. Brygada Kawalerii) was famous for using them as late as May, 1939 and I believe even as late as the 1939 Defensive War.

Attachment 417877Attachment 417878

Great pics and info, thanks.

Those black jackets, I wonder if they are rubber rain jackets (though the weather doesnt look inclement, especially not in the first pic) or leather?
They look official, most likely issued.

[dastier]

Hi Scout...

Those coats were leather and were issue. The 10th Cavalry Brigade (10. Brygada Kawalerii) was known as the 'Black Brigade' because of its black leather coats, black boots and black leather gauntlets.

The 10th Cavalry Brigade was Poland's only operational mechanized brigade and was commanded by the then Colonel Maczek, one of the most capable proponents of combined arms and mechanized warfare in the prewar Wojsko Polskie.

Colonel Maczek later became General Maczek, GOC commanding the 1st Polish Armoured Division of the Polskie Siły Zbrojne na Zachodzie. The 1st Armoured was built around the nucleus of the 10th BK and commemorated its lineage by the use of a black epaulette and lanyard on the British BD blouse.


Colonel Maczek, 10. Brygada Kawalerii.


General Maczek as GOC, 1st Polish Armoured Division. If you look close you can make out the black epaulette.


1st Polish Armoured Division reenactor. Note black epaulette and lanyard.

[Scout]

Thanks.
Great pics.
Good thing most quit wearing those helmets or they might have been between a rock and a hard place

[dastier]

Two more photos of the 10th Cavalry Brigade to illustrate the black leather coats as worn by brigade officers and in the motorcycle reconnaissance troop...





...and two more to show that the leather coats were not always universal: 37mm anti tank gun and field kitchen.

[dastier]

Thanks.
Great pics.
Good thing most quit wearing those helmets or they might have been between a rock and a hard place

All Polish soldiers were between a rock and a hard place: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

[dastier]

To end this brief departure from the main theme of this sticky, here are recommended English books on the history of the 10th Cavalry Brigade (10. Brygada Kawalerii) and the 1st Polish Armoured Division...





...and if you read Polish:

Reconnaissance Battalion of the 10th Cavarly Brigade.


plus two volume set on the 10th Dragoons.



All three by Eugeniusz Piotr Nowak.

[ChrisW01]

Chris, try identifying those unknown rifles by the length of the muzzle and position of the front sights. Let us know what you find. Post more photos please.

My best guess based on muzzle lengths and site position is that signals troops in both images are armed with Russian wz.91/98/25 rifles. In particular the top image, the two soldiers in the rear have rifle stocks with a scalloped grip.

Chris......

[Scout]

All Polish soldiers were between a rock and a hard place: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

True. Talk about unfortunate neighbours - not just a freak occcurrance either. Poor Poland got trampled from one side or the other during a long time.

Good info.

Wonder which the motorbikes were......

[dastier]

The motorcycles were Polish made 'Sokol' bikes. Both 600cc and 1000cc.

Restored 1000cc version.

10th Cavalry Brigade (10. Brygada Kawalerii) motorcycles enroute.


Motorcycle/sidecar combination with wz.30 MMG in AA configuration

Deployed for action.


This last one is actually a model you can buy. It shows the motorcycle/sidecar combination nicely and is armed with a rkm wz.28.