LAB, SERV, COMP, (RAMP, GUARD) Polska Kompania Wartownicza

[Thomas the Tank Engine]

Hi guys,
This time I'm posting pics of a Labor Service Ike Jacket used by a guard in 4104th Civilian Support Group (Guard) in the mid-sixties. First guards in this unit were National Armed Forces (NSZ) soldiers who escaped from Poland via Czechoslovakia to West Germany at the end of WW2. Polish national colours on the unit patch derive from its Polish beginnigs. The second badge is a LS patch as worn by all USAREUR LS guards. AFAIK similar uniforms (not blue-dyed but made of blue grey fabric) were issued to LS personnel since the early fifties.
Any comments are very welcome, as always...

Regards,
Tom

[dorava]

another US jacket
I suppose to German Guard unit

[Thomas the Tank Engine]

Nice stuff. Could you send some more pics, please?

Regards,
Tom

[Mariusz]

Nice to see US jacket worn by Polish. It could be worn by Guard unit.
Can we see more pictures?

[dorava]

sorry
other photos have been misplaced
thats it

[StefanM]

another US jacket
I suppose to German Guard unit

I am not sure that Polish Guard units wore the "POLAND" arm flash of this style?

Not wanting to get into the politics of the day I think the rationale for dropping overtly "Polish" national insignia was to show Soviets that the Polish Guard units were part of the US military (or paramilitary) rather than an external Polish national unit which of course they could not be as they were not part of the UN recognised post-war Polish communist state. Soviets propagandists were keen to describe Polish forces still in the West post-war as "Polish Mercenaries".

Hence the Guard insignia is generally montage (for want of a better word) of USA emblems and Polish colours.

But don't quote me as I am certainly no expert on Polish Guard Units

A very overlooked subject though......

[dorava]

well it is a very US jacket with even US buttons on it....very unusual indeed

[StefanM]

well it is a very US jacket with even US buttons on it....very unusual indeed

Did the Holy Cross Mountains Brigade wear the "POLAND" flash on their uniforms? Maybe when Patton adopted them they adopted US issue uniforms before the Polish Guard units were formed? No idea really just guesswork.

I have the document to go with the Guard's badge and will scan later

[dorava]

a holy cross grouping
which included POLAND patches

[dorava]

and a Polish US lobour guard in Germany with POLAND patches as well