I propose that we create a Digital Gallery of Polish Regimental Badges of WW2 to commemorate a contribution of Polish Forces to the Victory 45 and share the knowledge on the global basis about this fascinating and still largely open for systematic research subject.
Personally for me, collecting Polish Regimental Badges remains an incredibly rewarding hobby for a few reasons:
• Undoubtedly, original badges are very difficult to find and it usually takes much patience and often global search is required to find genuine ones
• Often a badge holds a story and of a particular person and is a testimony to personal suffering and sacrifice, (September Campaign, Soviet Gulags, Exile, French Campaign, North Africa, No Victory Parade etc)
• Unique opportunity to meet Veterans and hear to and learn from their stories
• International Collectors’ Community is growing both in term of numbers and sophistication of knowledge and preferences
• Finally, Polish Regimental Badges remain a very sound investmento Polish Regimental Badges can only be counted in hundreds and a couple of thousands top – unlike insignias of other Armies
o Members of Polish Free Forces stayed in England, emigrated to Australia, Canada, US, Argentina – therefore, there is no concentration of acquisition opportunities in any location after 65+ years
o Regimental Veterans’ Associations are largely closed-down in London, NY, Toronto and Sidney
o Polish people are often very sentimental and celebrate past therefore “opportunistic” acquisitions from families are very difficult even for big cash
o Subject remain under-research so there are opportunities for pick up relative bargains
I am opening with 1 Krechowiecki Lancers Regiment of 2 Core.
Regiment with great traditions dating back to the Independence War.
For some reason I had missed this thread. Your introductory statement is very good. The regimental badge carries an extra special significance for the Polish soldier, and as you say, they are “a testimony to personal suffering and sacrifice, (September Campaign, Soviet Gulags, Exile, French Campaign, North Africa, No Victory Parade etc)”. And as you hinted, their relative scarcity has resulted in ever increasing demand and prices – all at a time that the militaria collecting hobby has seen a softening in the market due to the global economic recession.
I’m not sure if this is cool to state this here, but the Wehrmacht-Awards Forum has such a thread as you are attempting to start. Actually, it’s two separate threads, with one devoted to Polish Second Republic, and the other to the Polish Armed Forces in the West.
Personally, I’d like to see a dynamic new site devoted to all Polish militaria along the lines of this one and others. Gary Jucha provide a link to a re-enactors site that has the nucleus of good discussion forums, but it seems to be starved of participants. It’s geared more to re-enactors rather than collectors. The word needs to get out somehow.
Your 1st Lancers badge is a beauty. This has always been a personal favorite. Has the 2-part mounting survived intact, or been repaired? Most of the one I have seen (including mine) are repaired due to the weak construction. But apart from that, Picchiani & Barlacchi’s work was of superb quality.
Anyway, enough rambling – here’s another Italian made badges that is a design favorite: 4th Wolyn Infantry Brigade (made by F.M. Lorioli Fratelli – Milano); 45 x 35mm
Here’s another “Znak Pancerny”, although of UK manufacture. There is some uncertainty as to which Edinburgh based firm produced these: Kirkwood & Son or Chisholm and Mackay. In the case of this one I am inclined to think the latter by virtue of the distinctive spinner. It is very possible that Kirkwood produced their own version as well.
And yet another Armoured Corps “Steel Fist”. There is a simmering debate over the issue of field-made badges. The reason, of course, is because crude fakes are often passed off as these “warsztatowki”. This particular badge one belonged to a veteran of the 2nd Motorized Armoured Regiment of the 1st Polish Armoured Division.
Polish Regimental Badges WW2
.
Re: Polish Regimetal Badges WW2
Bookmarks