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Polish military uniforms - collar markings


G (undercover)
17 Apr 2018   #31
looks like narrow cording on a black collar?

He's a private, most likely a drafted soldier. The cording - that's what everyone had back then. There were 2 (infantry & cavalry) military regiments in Włocławek before WW2.
moshedelstein  - | 3
17 Dec 2020   #33
Hi all, looking for some help in identifying the position and rank of my grandfather who appears to have served in the polish army sometime after ww1. Thanks!


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pawian  221 | 24961
18 Dec 2020   #34
He looks like an uhlan from 1930s. Check this site:
dobroni.pl/post/umundurowanie-kawalerii-ii-rzeczypospolitej-1918-1-f577388
Ironside  50 | 12335
18 Dec 2020   #35
and rank of my grandfather

Hard to see anything on that picture. Not much about his position. His rank is somewhat tricky to guess.
I would say - second lieutenant.
Ironside  50 | 12335
19 Dec 2020   #36
second lieutenant.

or a private.
moshedelstein  - | 3
19 Dec 2020   #37
Thank you pawian and Ironside! You definitely helped.

I would say - second lieutenant

I wonder what makes you guess that.

Hopefully the following question doesn't deviate from the topic of the forum: Would you know if there's a central archive in Poland where you can find a list of recruits from that period?
Ironside  50 | 12335
19 Dec 2020   #38
I wonder what makes you guess that.

Makings on a collar were different for officers, That would mean he was an officer. On the other hand there is no/or is not visible/ indication of his rank on his hat. (there should be two, on a shoulder board/each arm/ and one on a hat) I just don't remember if that ( insignia on a hat)was the requirement for the time period.

You see that photograph is not of the highest quality.
So, IF I'm right about the collar, IF we disregard his hat. Plus there is something barley visible on his shoulder board, It could be a single star (an indication of a rank) or it could be a number of his regiment. So many IFs.

On the other hand if we disregard his collar markings (maybe I don't remember correctly which is which)- he was a private..
Hence I said it was a guess.
moshedelstein  - | 3
20 Dec 2020   #39
@Ironside
Thank you. I do appreciate your response.
Sztarka  - | 1
7 May 2021   #40
I have seen in a number of photos something that looks like a crown or swords on the left sleeve of soldiers. Can anyone explain this please? Also in the photo attached their are 3 buttons/insignia on the right chest, can anyone help with these please. This family member was in 72 pulk piechoty from Radom, part of Division 28. The photo was taken between 1935 when he received his Abselkanty and 1939. Thankyou


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Ironside  50 | 12335
7 May 2021   #41
3 buttons/insignia on the right chest,

Those are insignia I'm not a military geek so won't tell you what they are exactly but those either are regimental insignia or/and some military badges.

That photo was taken between 1935 and 1936.
pawian  221 | 24961
7 May 2021   #42
that looks like a crown or swords on the left sleeve of soldiers.

I had to check my own library to find it - it is a badge of a very good heavy machine gun operator. The badge without a stripe underneath meant good operators.

And they are not swords but bullets.


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Mike_YVR  - | 2
15 Nov 2021   #43
Is there anything in this soldier's uniform that can tell us his rank, service, time frame? From my research he's either an NCO or maybe a private. This uniform could be from drafted soldiers. Any help would be appreciated.


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pawian  221 | 24961
16 Nov 2021   #44
his rank, service, time frame?

Only time frame is hinted: this type of uniform was introduced in 1936. You can try to look for info about the uniform reform of 1936. The chest pockets are plain, without a stripe in the middle, like in previous versions.
Mike_YVR  - | 2
17 Nov 2021   #45
Thank you very much. I was thinking the boy's suit looked more like a 1930's style than 1918...but wasn't sure. Thanks again!
pawian  221 | 24961
17 Nov 2021   #47
corporal.

Why not a sergeant??? :)
PawelGuzek  - | 3
16 Feb 2022   #49
Attached is a foto of my Grandfather....he left Radom, Poland, in 1912 to immigrate to USA. Photo was taken in the USA circa 1920-30. Can anyone help me identify his rank and unit? Any help is much appreciated. Cheers, Bill


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pawian  221 | 24961
16 Feb 2022   #50
.he left Radom, Poland, in 1912 to immigrate to USA.

How could he leave in 1912 when there wasn`t Poland?

Photo was taken in the USA

Did he take his uniform to the USA?
PawelGuzek  - | 3
17 Feb 2022   #51
OK, Congress Poland (Russia).......yes, he took his uniform with him when he immigrated. Any thoughts on his rank or branch of service? Cheers, Bill
pawian  221 | 24961
17 Feb 2022   #52
OK, Congress Poland (Russia)......

But in that case it isn`t the Polish uniform. Poles in Russian partition had to wear tsarist Russian stuff. That`s why I inquired coz it all sounds quite strange. Did he also take his horse to the USA??? :):):) hahaha I hope you don`t mind this innocent joke.
PawelGuzek  - | 3
18 Feb 2022   #53
Yes, his horse was a good swimmer. I've got another photo of him in an entirely different uniform taken before he immigrated.


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pawian  221 | 24961
18 Feb 2022   #54
an entirely different uniform taken before he immigrated.

You need to check at a Russian history forum. We are not experts at tsarist Russian uniforms. :):):)

Any thoughts on his rank or branch of service?

Looks like Light Cossack Sabre Cavalry Regiment.
Oathbreaker  4 | 347
18 Feb 2022   #55
You need to check at a Russian history forum. We are not experts at tsarist Russian uniforms. :):):)

Polish history however - including Polish emigrants, exiles or Polonia is another matter which Russians rather won't help with. Or downright misinforms

@PawelGuzek
Do you know when he possibly acquired that uniform on the horse? He might have voulunteered to join General Haller as American Polonia during ww1 or right after to fight the Bolsheviks, the hat seem to be of Austrian style. But I can be mistaken (I would look up Polish uniforms used during 1918-1921 cause there was a variety depending on equipment aveliable and which former units from which former country he served in)

Could been U.S army in 1917, then Gen. Haller post 1918. Then Polish reborn army post 1920
pawian  221 | 24961
18 Feb 2022   #56
including Polish emigrants, exiles or Polonia is another matter which Russians rather won't help with

Oath, try to be more aware of the topics we discuss coz you repeatedly seem lost - it is the second time you are doing it. When I mentioned a Russian forum, I meant the search for the uniform exclusively, not migrants. :):):)
grandf
22 Mar 2022   #57
Hello - Attached is a photo of my grandfather. Is anyone able to tell me more than the information written on the back? He lived with his family in Wilno, Poland at the time. Thanks very much. - Helen

Please try to upload the photo again
Miloslaw  21 | 4945
22 Mar 2022   #58
Yeah, the photo would help......
LukeATurner
18 Jun 2022   #59
Hi all, I come with a similar request for help with photos of my partner's grandad. He was a Polish Jew who escaped the Holocaust, fled to the USSR and put into a camp before being conscripted to fight by the Soviets. However this uniform looks more Polish, and I was wondering if anyone might be able to help? I can't work out how to post images here but they're on a similar request on twitter here: twitter.com/LukeTurnerEsq/status/1538052130472345600?s=20&t=cWeozO26h2XuN3YvlAqmGg
jon357  73 | 22961
18 Jun 2022   #60
Hello. The cap badge looks very much like this one. It's from the Polish Armia Ludowa (People's Army).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Army_(Poland)


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