POLISH ARMY UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000900560006-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2003
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: April 30, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
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SUBJECT
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Polish Army Uniforms and Insignia
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
la Moat of the information below conoerns the ithiforans worn by personnel in the
armored branch of service.
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a, Officers and career NCO?s were issued a winter and a summer dress uniform,
both of ! rhioh, ,hdd .etimd p, -ool3,ariibl esb 1,i ab Vihter un ifokm was of:-iwool,g'
Tai the isuminex?s ,:of wo ol-gabawd3 1. I Drafted NCO,ae.and p21vatet-were idtued
. atwinterrdx d.ia, summer dress , iiuaiformj' both;-,Cf,:gh3dh `had ;dtand up_. collar,.
blcdee',: Ths,, fist both was wool . twill,,
b,0 Two winter service uniforms, were issued to officer and career NCO ? a,, both
with a roll collar blouse; one was of wool gabardine, the other of wool.
The summer uniform was of wool twill with a standup collar blouse, The
winter and summer service uniforms for drafted NCO?s and privates had a
stand-up collar blouse and were made of wool,
c. Both officers and EM wore their service uniforms in the field,
do I have no knowledge of Polish military womex? s services or of their uniforms,
STATE I e#x I ARMY 1#x I NAVY
(Notoo Washington Distribution Indicated By "X" l Field Distribution By "#".) I
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30 April 1953
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2. All clothing ".items" were o:'=- medium blue,,
for armored troops.
Officers and-Career NCQ's
Su an,. Item piaterial
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overcoat Wool
Blouse Wool
I pr. Trousers Wool
1 Blouse Wool gabardine
l pr. Trousers Wool gabardine
1 Blouse Wool
1 pr. Trousers Wool
1 Blouse Wool gabardine
1 pr. Trousers Wool gabardine
1 Blouse Wool twill
1 pr. Trousers Wool twill
Dratted E'OO t s anc_Zri7aates
Blouse Wool twill
1~pr.
Trousers Wool twill
1
Blouse
Wool,
1 pr.
Trousers
Wool
1
Blouse ,
Cotton twill
3, pr.
Trousers
Cotton twill
D
unless otherwise noted,
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Description
Full-lengths with fitted waist, two
Pleats In. back, -split in rear, skirt.
Dress;', w nter,, with stand-up collar.
Dress, winter., with black, piping
along outer seams, and. worn fastened
around the ankles.
.Serlioe, Winter, with roll collar.
Service, winter.
Service, winter,, with roll collar.
Service, winter.
Dress, summer, with stand-up
collar.
Dressy summer.
Service, .I ummmer, with stand-Up
collar.
Service, summer, with black piping
along outer seams,,' and worn
fastened around the ankles.
Dress, winter and summer, with
stand--up collar.
Dress, winter and summer, with
black piping along outer seams.
Service, winter.
Service, winter
Service, summer, with stand-up
collar.
Service, summer, with black piping
along outer seams.
e ~r
Both officers and EN were issued one qerwice ca and one garrison cap.
The service cap ?' was round on top bike 'S style with a black or brownish-black visor. Some officers and EM wore a plain visor, while
others wore a visor with a silver metal edge. All caps had a Chin
strap of the same color as the visor, 1 saw 25X1
officers, ranking from lieutenants to majors, ,and EM wearing garrison
caps, mostly for field duty. The cap emblem, worn on both the service
and garrison caps, was of silver of zinc alloy. It ''consisted of an
uncrowned Polish eagle with a star at the base of the wing joints
and the head turned towards the right. The Air Force eagle emblem was
a little larger than that of the Army. I never saw any Polish mili-
tary personnel.wearing helmets or toques.
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Collar Flu bas
Footwear
4. Dffiaers and .career NCO's were issued one pair of black low quarter
Shoes; one pair of service shoes of rough brown leather; one. pair
Of W three-button' leggings, the, same color as the uniform; and one. -..
shoe brush: _ . Drafted ICt's and EM were issued one pair of brownish-
black iervice .,shoes; 'one . pair of leggings; and one shoe brush. I
never saw moccasins' car overshoes worn by Polish military personnel.
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Accessories
Officers and career NCO's were issued one steel gray shirt; one gray
tie; one brown or black leather belt with buckle; one web belt for
1,tx6uSers; one pair white flannel footwraps; two pair footwraps of
coarse white cloth; and one pair wool long underwear. Drafted NCO'a
and privates were issued one collarless linen shirt; one brown or
black leather belt with buckle; one pair gloves; two pair white
flannel -footwraps; two pair footwraps of coarse white cloth;, two
pair white cotton drawers; two white cotton undershirts; and olne
pair 'long wool underwear. I never saw or heard of armored personnel
having any wearing apparel or accessories issued especially to
armored troops.
EQUipment
6.' Officers and EM were issued the following equipment: two white linen
bed sheets; two white coarse cloth pillow oases; two white linen
p llo* slips; one wool blanket; one straw mattress; one mess kit; one
knapsack; and one gas mask. In the winter they received an additional;
wool blahket. Officers and career NCO's were also issued the
following items; one brown leather field pouch; one brown leather
field bag; one 7.62 TT magazine pistol; one pistol, TT or a PPSh; and
one green canvas shelter half. Drafted NCO's, and privates were issued
one carbine or PPSh. .
Color
7. I can give the following information on color of the various items
of the uniform;
Branch,',
of Service
Infantry
Infantry
Xosciuszko
unit
uBW
WOP,
Armor
Air Force
Shirt ROfl ap . Hat. Band &
MAIfo 8a,_ Tie calla Crow ripina
Greenish Light
OD green
Greenish Light
'OP green
-3_
Red Red Red
Yellow Yellow Yellow
Greenish Light Blue Unk? Blue
OD green
Greenish Light Dark Unk. Dark green
OD green green
Jed. blue Gray Black Black Black
(steel)
Med. blue Mod. Dark Unk. Unk,
blue blue
As to design of blouses, there were two slit packets and two patch
packets. Officer blouses had a split in the bottom skirt of the
blouses.
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Insignia and Buttons
9. Clore identified the branch of service and were worn at all times.
I presume that the colors would be worn into battle. The significance
of piping and braid lay in identification of branch of servjee by
color and, in the case`of braid, to aid in determining rank. Buttons
on uniform clothing and overcoats were of zinc alloy. On blouses,'
roll-collar and stand-up collar , and overcoats there were five
buttons for coat fastening, one on each sleeve cuff, and one for each
shoulder loop. There was a stamped Palish uncrowned eagle on each
button. I have no information'on description, significance, and
samples of accessories other than items of clothing. I have never
seen or heard of distinctive decalcomania or stickers on military
vehicles. ZZ drawing of shoulder loops, rank insignia, and service
and garrison r ; is attached as Annexes A and B
Regent Changes in Uniform
ilr-I~IAAI~1~~~ ,
10. From personal observation I can state definitely 25X1
25X1 the uniform clothing and equipment of Polish officers,
NCO's, and. EM in the Infantry Sa er-En ineer, KBW, STOP, and Air
Fares was of".-,the same style. I noticed certain changes 25X1
in uniforms and equipment.. The Air Force personnel hsd :a gold-
color metal edge on the service cap visor. Sapper-Engineer personnel
wore black leather knee-length boots, and in their field. equipment
they had either a hatchet or an entrenching shovel. I have no
further information on recent changes 'in -uniform and equipiAent.
11 laav.:,to information on,uniform material shortages or material
substitutes.
Changes from Summer to Winter uniform ,
^MwwrM~~lrr~lrl~ -
112o, ~ The change from winter to summer uniform was made in April. The
change 'from summer,to winter uniform was made in November.
Wearine'.mf Uniforms b7 Civili'&fis
13. The uniforms worn by both officers and EM were-items of issue and
to be turned in; Upon discharge from the lervioe ... A person being
demobilised 1'd to make arrIngaments. with his parents or family to
have oivilie clothing sent to hints.1 do not. recall' seein~i any
former; military personnel wearing a uniform after release from the
'service. ., I
ANNEXMS : A, Polish Service Cap Hat Band ,Insignia
8 'Polish Insignia and Ranks
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grszy Strzelee
Senior Rifleman
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