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Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

Article about: by dastier PPsh 41 in use during the Warsaw Uprising. Where would AK battle group "GURT" have sourced these Russian weapons? During the Rising or earlier from Russian partisan grou

  1. #1
    3mk
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    Default Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    After the September Campaign Poland did not give up its fight. There was resistance as early as October 1939 there were resistance movements such as men under the command of Major Henryk Dobrzański and the ZWZ.
    Some of the groups included:

    Armia Krajowa (AK)
    Service for Poland's Victory (SZP)
    Armed Struggle (ZWZ)
    Szare Szeregi
    National Security Corps (PKB)

    Mostly integrated
    with ZWZ-AK:
    Gwardia Ludowa WRN
    Bataliony Chłopskie

    Partially integrated
    with ZWZ-AK:
    National Military Organization
    National Armed Forces
    Camp of Fighting Poland
    Pomeranian Griffin
    Konfederacja Narodu

    Non-integrated but recognizing authority of ZWZ-AK:
    Jewish Combat Organization
    Jewish Military Union

    Opposition:
    Military Lizard Union
    Armia Ludowa

    Most groups had no distinctive uniform and wore whatever they could get their hands on, this included civilian clothing & equipment and pre-war Polish, British, German, Soviet and Resistance manufactured military uniforms and equipment.

    Please post photos of resistance soldiers using/wearing these items and photos of items in your collection or that you found on the web.

  2. #2
    3mk
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    Default Re: Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    The iconic resistance armband, this one belonging to Tadeusz Komorowski the deputy commander of the Armia Krajowa, who commanded the Warsaw Uprising.

    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

  3. #3
    3mk
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    Default Re: Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    Photo of soldiers from the 27 Wołyńska Dywizja Piechoty AK. Mix of gear. Polish pre-war greatcoats, pre-war wz.37 field rogatywki and even a wz.27 rogatywka, German belt, m43 field cap and boots, civilian breeches boots and scarfs, and a AK produced tunic in the style of a Polish wz.36 tunic (The dark tunic on the picture).

    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

  4. #4
    3mk
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    Default Re: Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    A Polish wz.31 helmet with a German camouflage cover attached, used in the Warsaw Uprising & shoulder boards made by an Insurgent during the Warsaw Uprising, with the pre-war style braid around it.

    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State
    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

  5. #5
    3mk
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    Default Re: Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    Cross of Valor made by the Armia Krajowa. Note the wz.27 National Eagle and the 1939 date.
    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State
    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

  6. #6

    Default Re: Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    Quote by 3mk View Post
    Cross of Valor made by the Armia Krajowa. Note the wz.27 National Eagle and the 1939 date.
    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State
    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State
    Great thread Emil

    Do you know if this cross of valour was actually made specifically by the AK or was it awarded by AK? If made by AK any ideas who maker was? Are there any book/references to AK badge/insignia makers within its ranks? Often insignia is just described as being AK, WiN, NSZ etc but with no information as to who and which workshops actually produced them, maybe the information is now lost to history.

    Is there general consensus as to when the Polish Underground State was actually dissolved (if that is the correct terminology)?
    I collect, therefore I am.

    Nothing in science can explain how consciousness arose from matter.

  7. #7

    Default Re: Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    Polish underground state was an extension of London government so it technically existed until 1989.
    Realistically, by late 1944, it was pretty much finished.

  8. #8

    Default Re: Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    With its last partisan member "Lalek" killed in 1963.

  9. #9
    3mk
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    Default Re: Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    Thanks Stephan!
    The cross was most likely awarded and made by the Home Army, as the style of the cross has many differences than the pre-war, Exile versions and post-war versions. Sadly I don't know of any such books, most likely all that information is lost in history.

    Yes while most of the Polish underground was loyal to the Exile government (hence why the Soviets stopped at the Vistula during the Warsaw Uprising, did not airdrop any supplies or and did not let Allied bombers refuel in Soviet controlled territory) there were groups such as the Armia Ludowa which was the Communist resistance group. The Armia Ludowa produced many eagles and patches that I'll post shortly.

    I disagree that it was pretty much finished by 1944, 1944 was when it was at its peak during Operation Tempest. The average estimate of AK members alone in the summer of 1944 is around 400,000, but some estimates say over 600,000. That doesn't include other groups such as NSZ, BcH, AL etc..

    As to when it dissolved, In my opinion it did not start dissolving up until late 1948. There was still active Anti-Communist and Anti UPA resistance up until this time. Some of these groups were fighting the Soviets as early as 1943.

    Although many soldiers and small groups continued fighting through the 50's.

    Andrzej Kiszka evaded arrest and hid in the forest until December 30th 1961. Jozef Franczak betrayed by a relative of his mistress and on October 21st 1963, the barn which he was hiding in was surrounded by ZOMO members. He came out acting like a regular peasant, but when they asked for his documents he opened fire on them. He was killed in the firefight, he is considered the last Cursed Soldier.Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    - - Updated - -

    Itakdalej, beat me to it!

  10. #10
    3mk
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    Default Re: Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

    2 beautifully crafted insignia's, 1 of the Peasant Battalions in wood and an embroidered NSZ patch.

    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State
    Uniforms and Insignia of the Polish Underground State

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