banner

1919-1920 Polish Uniforms

in the Warsaw Army Museum

Taken by me at the Warsaw Army Museum back in 2006.

There were loads of uniforms relating to the Soviet-Polish war: unusually for the Poles most of them being infantrymen, which was a nice change. I have no interest in dress uniforms, so those have been omitted.

The intervening glass, awkward positions and what was even then a cheap camera reduce the picture quality. I would appreciate links to better quality versions.

The 1919-1920 uniforms in Warsaw a 3.3 MB .zip file if you want to download all of them.

Uniforms

cabinet for the Poznan army
W20: a cabinet for the Poznan army and the Silesian Uprising, 1919.

Insurgent 3rd Silesian Uprising
W21: insurgent from the time of the 3rd Silesian Uprising.

Insurgent 3rd Silesian Uprising Insurgent 3rd Silesian Uprising
W22: the uniform of General Dowbor-Musnicki.

Officer balloon unit
W23: officer of a ballon unit.

1st Wielkopolski Lancer Regiment 1st Wielkopolski Lancer Regiment
W24: corporal of the 1st Wielkopolski (Great Poland) Lancer Regiment.

cabinet for Russo-Polish War
W25: a cabinet labelled Russo-Polish War.

3rd Infantry regiment 3rd Infantry regiment 3rd Infantry regiment
W26: a private of the 3rd Infantry regiment, with German model tunic and Springfield rifle.

1st Krechowiecki Lancer Regiment 1st Krechowiecki Lancer Regiment 1st Krechowiecki Lancer Regiment
W27: a trooper of the 1st Krechowiecki Lancer Regiment.

uniform of General Szeptycki
W28: uniform of General Szeptycki.

cabinet for Russo-Polish War
W29: a cabinet labelled Battle of Warsaw. Note the lance with pennon in the background. Rifles were a Wernd and a Berthier.

Haller unit Haller unit
W30: a uniform for a Haller unit in "horizon blue" and Adrian helmet.

14th Jazlowiecki Lancer Regiment 14th Jazlowiecki Lancer Regiment
W31: a trooper of the 14th Jazlowiecki Lancer Regiment.

flying officer of the Air Force flying officer of the Air Force
W32: a flying officer of the Air Force.

2nd Lancer Regiment 2nd Lancer Regiment
W33: Captain of the 2nd Lancer Regiment.

Aide de Camp
W34: Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief (a Captain)

Polish caps Polish cap detail Polish cap detail Polish cap detail
W35: three caps (I missed the label).

2nd Battle of Warsaw cabinet
W36: a second cabinet labelled the Battle of Warsaw. The rifles are a Lebel, a Moisin and a Mannlicher.

Polish Legionnaire Polish Legionnaire Polish Legionnaire
W37: a private of the 1st Legion Infantry Division.

Tartar Lancer
W38: Tartar Lancer.

4th Lancer Regiment 4th Lancer Regiment
W39: 4th Lancer Regiment. The fabric for this appears to be German.

Two Budennovkas and a Soviet flag
W40: Two Budennovkas and a Soviet flag (very faded from original red). Only the obverse can be seen. It is a very faded red, with a small white star in the centre with a very rough hammer and sickle on the star. Below that can be seen the unit's name "101ый Стрелковый Ролк".

Also in the background, but not visible in this picture appears to be some captured cap and tunic (judging by the red star on the cap).

Life-Guard of the Commander-in-Chief
W41: Life-Guard of the Commander-in-Chief.

post 1920 infantry
W42: a cabinet labelled "Infantry", which seems to be largely post-1920. This is mostly the official 1919 uniform, which wasn't much worn until after the 1920 campaign.

The cabinet also included at least one Silesian insurgent. This may be the one to the left of the Woman Volunteer.

Volunteer Womens Legion Volunteer Womens Legion Volunteer Womens Legion
W44: a captain of the Volunteer Womens Legion. No indication of if this is from the 1920 period, but the rest of the cabinet is not, so perhaps it is later. (This tunic may be cut from English cloth.)

official 1919 uniform official 1919 uniform official 1919 uniform
W45: the official M1919 uniform for a corporal. (With the little eagles on the buttons, braid around the neck and helmet, it wouldn't have been very common for the 1920 period.)

Podhole Rifle unit Podhole Rifle unit
W46: a lieutenant of a Podhole Rifle unit from the post war period, but kept for the greatcoat and the odd hat. The officer mannekins either side are also post-war.

W47: There was a corresponding "Cavalry" cabinet to the "Infantry" one, but these were largely dress or post-war so I took no photos.

War in the East cabinet
W48: I think this cabinet may have been labelled "The War in the East", but I'm not entirely sure.

private of the Volunteer Army private of the Volunteer Army private of the Volunteer Army private of the Volunteer Army
W49: private of the Volunteer Army. He has an Enfield. The tunic seemed to be almost Russian coloured to me. The cloth strap attaches to a leather bag.

General Sosnikowski's uniform General Sosnikowski's uniform
W50: General Sosnikowski's uniform in German grey, with a slightly greener cap.

Piłsudski's uniform
W51: One of Piłsudski's uniforms in pike grey, though the cap is bluer.

banner