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Re: Polish peoples army

" We aren't sure whether that was the case in the 1st Polish Army as well but, since they took active part in street fights in Berlin and significant part of them, in fact, were Soviet citizens, it's natural to assume that they had similar incentives."

I,m not sure that You have on mind in these words. So I'd like to explain that 1st polish infantry division, from 1st polish army, was ordered for fights in Berlin, because many soviet units were tanks, and they need more infantry. Indeed in LWP were many soviet officers. Just to control and command. LWP was created by suborordinated for Stalin polish commusnists. But legal polish government was in London.
Poses are nice, and useful in battle, except these man with flag. It looks rather as regimental baner, that ad hoc done national flag. But polish banners were no picked.
I think that cap have little wrong looks, because are is too stiff.
Mamy take a see at these films:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6aywGiWDnc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpRy3CTftRw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4DeVGyOO7E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrQK3BUB8xk

Re: Polish peoples army

Agreed these look good, Strelets is making remarkable progress with much finer detail on the figures now and notably slender weapons.

Were these Polish caps worn in combat all through 1943-1945, or even before?

Re: Polish peoples army

Yes. LWP caps "rogatywka" were based on prewar Polish Army caps. I'm not shure when this soft model was issued. At least at erly 30ties, or even before. During Polish-soviet war 1919-1920, polish soldiers wore some different head caps. Within them more stiff early model of "rogatywka".

Re: Polish peoples army

Thanks for the reply, but are we really talking about wearing caps in combat?

I don't remember having seen this headgear in combat photos, neither from 1939 nor later. Parades yes, combat no. Which makes sense to me.

Re: Polish peoples army

Not wearing helmets it is also interesting for soviets [full summer pegasus set, and some in strelets set] and british paras.

In 1939 all regular units wore helmets in battle. It is seen even in german photos of dead in battle poses. But territorials batalions [Obrona Narodowa] had polish helmets, some had french helmets and some in rear area had no at all.
Also many emeregency created units were lack of helmets. Such biggest formation were three regiment created in depots of Grodno, which finally fought in defence of Lwów.

In LWP '43-45 sitution looks similar to soviets units. Some soldiers even in battle wore soft caps.
Take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcU0cjMNTfw
minute 5 and ff.
If infantry squad in cap on street looks rather posed. firing ligh gun are rather real, quite cloce to first line. There are some photos that even infantry in battle wore "rogatywka", or at lest have mixed headgear.
http://www.militaryimages.net/forums/showthread.php/2087-The-Peoples-Army-of-Poland-%28World-War-II%29 [soldiers in Kołobrzeg / Kolberg, before of railways station with seen artillery fire]
http://warsawid.blogspot.com/2013/09/patrol-berlingowcow-pod-kamienica.html

These polish war films from 60 and 70ties, had military advisors who fight in LWP, so it is really hard to judge, that not waering helmets was propanda [but why?] or just war reality.

So finally I think that some soldiers of LWP for some reasons wore only rogatywka in battle.

Re: Polish peoples army

Thanks again TommyGn. I am unable to decide whether the links you kindly provided show actual combat or not, but I take it some Polish soldiers did wear the cap in battle.

Re: Polish peoples army

I like "national" troops to wear national items of dress for at least a few figures in the package. The Free French troops picked up 1940 French items of kit after D-Day and wore them. They were fully equipped with US Army gear but being French wanted to show they were French. So many obtained Adrian helmets and other bits of gear. I suspect the Polish troops serving with the Soviet Union did the same as they went through Poland.

As for wearing hats in combat, sometimes there is a shortage of helmets. Sometimes troops are caught in rear areas and don't have time to switch from hat to helmet. Sometimes, particularly on a night patrol, noise is important. So troops will wear a cap rather than a helmet, because helmets make loud noises when they scrape a bush or tree limb.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

Re: Polish peoples army

Incidentally - this issue is on that precisely...

By the way "Polish People's Army" or LWP as one of the commentators was mentioning a dozen of times is totally wrong.
they were called "Wojsko Polskie" till 1948.

the looks of the czapka can clearly be seen here:

http://kagero.eu/militaria-xx-w-wydanie-specjalne