06-25-2014, 07:04 PM
Altough calling it a parade uniform is not totally correct - The uniforms in Poland hardly ever had that clear division.
Anyway, this is one of the "Soviet-like" (beacause of the piping around cuffs) M52 officer uniforms that could serve as both parade, walking-out or service uniform. This one is for the lieutenant of the Interior Troops (KBW - identified by the dark blue piping on the cuffs, dark blue collar tabs and dark blue stripes along the parade belt) and has the parade configuration - with awards and parade belt.
As You can see, the bottom of the jacket was attacked by moths at some point.
The left collar tab is areplacement - hard to say if period or not (interestingly on some of the period photographs You may see this uniform without collar tabs - with emblems only or with "empty" collar).
The awards are "space-fillers" - not original to it (Cross of the brave is a modern copy), altough the hole in the left pocket makes me be almost 100% certain that the Grunwald Badge was originally worn on this one. I am not sure if "Armed Forces in the Service to the Motherland" bronze medal is correct here (I was unable to find out if KBW got them or the "In service to the Nation" badges), but is of the correct type for the period (5 years). Unfortunately, it's missing the eagle.
The KBW were more or less an equivalent of Soviet VV NKVD - they were responsible for anti-partisan actions, protection of important buildings and people, convoying prisoners (but not guarding prisons), supressing serious riots etc.
Their colour (later, after disbanding of the KBW adopted by MSW troops - Vistula-side units, BOR etc.) was dark blueand they were under the power of the Ministry of Interior (MSW), however their training was a responsibility of the Ministry of National Defense and they were considered a part of the Armed Forces (first units of the KBW were the units moved directly from the Polish Army).
They are sometimes mistaken with the MBP Troops/UB officers, who on the other hand wore the same uniforms as Infantry of the Polish Army (red at that time) - which changed after the MBP ceased to exist - the newly-formed SB wore MO uniforms.
Anyway, this is one of the "Soviet-like" (beacause of the piping around cuffs) M52 officer uniforms that could serve as both parade, walking-out or service uniform. This one is for the lieutenant of the Interior Troops (KBW - identified by the dark blue piping on the cuffs, dark blue collar tabs and dark blue stripes along the parade belt) and has the parade configuration - with awards and parade belt.
As You can see, the bottom of the jacket was attacked by moths at some point.
The left collar tab is areplacement - hard to say if period or not (interestingly on some of the period photographs You may see this uniform without collar tabs - with emblems only or with "empty" collar).
The awards are "space-fillers" - not original to it (Cross of the brave is a modern copy), altough the hole in the left pocket makes me be almost 100% certain that the Grunwald Badge was originally worn on this one. I am not sure if "Armed Forces in the Service to the Motherland" bronze medal is correct here (I was unable to find out if KBW got them or the "In service to the Nation" badges), but is of the correct type for the period (5 years). Unfortunately, it's missing the eagle.
The KBW were more or less an equivalent of Soviet VV NKVD - they were responsible for anti-partisan actions, protection of important buildings and people, convoying prisoners (but not guarding prisons), supressing serious riots etc.
Their colour (later, after disbanding of the KBW adopted by MSW troops - Vistula-side units, BOR etc.) was dark blueand they were under the power of the Ministry of Interior (MSW), however their training was a responsibility of the Ministry of National Defense and they were considered a part of the Armed Forces (first units of the KBW were the units moved directly from the Polish Army).
They are sometimes mistaken with the MBP Troops/UB officers, who on the other hand wore the same uniforms as Infantry of the Polish Army (red at that time) - which changed after the MBP ceased to exist - the newly-formed SB wore MO uniforms.
