Photographs Of Polish Awards In Wear/Polish Service Personnel

[Al-muell]

A nice pic showing a Polish officer in typical uniform of that period and ORS.
Note the characteristical wool shoulderboards contrasting with much lighter and brighter material of his jacket.

[Al-muell]

So let's start a twin thread to the Soviet one here with this interesting shot:

Unfortunately unidentified veteran of Polish Armed Forces in the West and a party member at the same time (quite rare thing to happen) wearing full set of awards: Polonia Restituta Cavalier's Cross (PRP), Monte Cassino Cross (Government in Exile), Cross of Merit with Swords (bronze, Government in Exile), For Warsaw (PRP; probably the man took part in the defese of Warsaw in 1939), Military Medal (Government in Exile), Victory and Freedom Medal (PRP) and 2 British campaign stars.

Also a PZPR membership pin, a ZBoWiD membership pin and one more badge Ican't identify are seen on his lapels.

[Al-muell]

A professional insurgent - veteran of both Greater Poland and Silesian uprising, wearing also something that at the first glance looks like the Cross of the Brave, but is more likely the pre-war "Cross on the Silesian Ribbon of Bravery" He is wearing a post-1960 military uniform, but not a type typical for the veterans of either of the Uprisings.

[Al-muell]

An interesting photograph of a sr. sgt. of the Polish Army in the East (most likely 1st army judging from the eagle) with a Soviet Red Cross/Crescent badge and a Soviet style wound stripe.

[charlet]

Originally Posted by Al-muell

Also a PZPR membership pin, a ZBoWiD membership pin and one more badge Ican't identify are seen on his lapels.

I you speak about the white greek cross on his right lapel, I believe it's a badge for sovieto-polish friendship. I must find out mine in a box.

[Al-muell]

The one with the cross and flags is ZBoWiD pin. Polo-Soviet friendship Society had flags in a circle.

[Al-muell]

A militia NCO - veteran of the 1st Infantry Division. With WW2 military service and 20 (or more) state security service this man must have had an interesting biography.

[Al-muell]

Captain Mikołaj Simon (Nikolai Iosifovich Simon) must have heard that there are some regulations describing the proper way to wear awards in both Red and Polish Armies. He just didn't care to read them...

The photograph comes from his personnel file and shows him already as a reservist back in USSR.

1921-born, Polish, teacher by trade, he joined the red army in august 1941, served in veterinary hospital, than in the anti tank artillery unit. In november 1942, after finishing officer school in Kirovokan he worked in th HQ of 400 rifle regiment, than of a batallion of 265th rifle division. In september 1943 he was moved to the Polish Army, to the HQ of the 2nd batallion of the 4th infantry regiment, withwhich he served untill the end of war.

He got his silver "Meritorous on the Field of Glory in January 1945 for excellent execution of commander's order resultingin flanking German Forces near Kępa Kampinoska.

Than he got his ORS in March 1945 for his actions during the fights for Friedrichshorst (?) near Maerkisch Friedland (Mirosławiec) in Western Pomerania. His short experience from the anti-tank artillery helpe him, because the citation mentions him manning an anti-tank cannon and destroying a tank and machinegun nest.

He was also to receive OPW1, but itis not known if he ever got it. No idea what hegot the silver Cross of Merit for.
He worked for a short time in the HQ of the Warsaw Military District, than in july 1946 released to the reserves, returned to the USSR and worked as a maths teacher in a railway school untill at least 1969.

[Al-muell]

Two photographs of Marian Wedman from the time of his service in the 5th Regiment of the KBW 1949-1952.
The first one shows him as a private, surrisingly still in an M45 uniform (two-color collar tabs - dark blue with yellow piping at the end), even though in october 1949 he should have already received an M48 one.
The second one shows him already in M48 uniform with dark blue collar tabs and with corporal rank. He finished his service as a "platoon corporal" with function of rifleman/squad leader and in 1983 was promoted to sgt., which may indicate that, as many other former KBW servicemen, he was mobilised during the martial law.

[Al-muell]

Two photographs of militiamen around 1948. Wedman's father or brother is supposed to be on one of them (they are from the same group, one is captioned "Daddy" and Wedman's older brother Józef served in the MO from 1945 to 1985).
I am not sure when these uniforms were exactly introduced, but it was probably around 1948, and the photographs were taken after 1946 as one of the militiamen has a Gunwald Badge.