Polish military uniforms - collar markings

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.

Brilliant, thank you.

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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He looks like an uhlan from 1930s. Check this site:
dobroni.pl/post/umundurowanie-kawalerii-ii-rzeczypospolitej-1918-1-f577388

Hard to see anything on that picture. Not much about his position. His rank is somewhat tricky to guess.
I would say - second lieutenant.

or a private.

Thank you pawian and Ironside! You definitely helped.


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?

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.

@Ironside
Thank you. I do appreciate your response.

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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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.

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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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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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.

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!

He was a corporal.

Why not a sergeant??? :)

This thread has some useful discussion:
https://polishforums.com/history/military-uniforms-collar-markings-64704/

If his shoulder insignia was visible, it would be easier of course.

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


Did he take his uniform to the USA?

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

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.

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


Looks like Light Cossack Sabre Cavalry Regiment.

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

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. :):):)

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

Yeah, the photo would help......

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

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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