UNIFORMS OF THE POLISH ARMED FORCES AND THE SECURITY TROOPS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R011500120002-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 15, 2006
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: April 23, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

82-0048 T5t Ol
Approveg fWdieWW-k
O F ATIO RE
COUNTRY Poland
MI JECT
CD NO.
Uniforms of the -Palish Armed Forces and the
Security Troops
DATE DISTR. 23 April-4952
NO, OF PACES 3
NO. OF ENCL. 3 (Imp. each)
OUSTED BELAY!
2DATE OF
INFO.
SUPPLEMENT TO
July August 1951 REPORT NO.
THIS DOCURSOT COnTAiNS IAFORRATIOA AFFECTtme INS NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF TNT U21110, D STATES. InYRin Tits NEANINS OF TITLE to. $2CTIORS 792
MID 724.0F THE W. S. 9062. AS ANEROID. ITS TRAI*SDISSIOR OR R170i-
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
1. Al]. uniforms of the army, the AAA, the air force and the security troops
were cut along the same pattern. The arnyyexcluding the tank troops and the
AAA,as well as the security troops wore khaki uniforms; the tank troops and
the air force had gray blue uniforms with the blue predominating in the fabric
of the air force uniforms and the gray in the cloth of 'V-aose worn by. the tank
troops. (1) There was no difference between the uniforms of officers and T.
A number of officers and XCOs were still observed to wear the old-style uniform
with patches of the old shape. (2) Once a year, a coupon entitling the bearer
to have an extra uniform and an overcoat riade to order was issued to every
officer. Vhen off duty, :COs also wore extra uniforms.
2. The new style khaki and blue uniforms were seen being worn both as field and
dress uniforms.
3. The headgear was either a round visor type service cap or a field cap. The
visor type service cap had a cap band, piping around the crown, a chin strap
of brown leather and the Polish eagle emblem above the cap band. The eagle
emblem worn on the caps of the air force personnel was bounded by a gold sheet
rats]. device, rtose top was open. The field cap had piping around the crown
and the Polish eagle emblem in the front. TL. and 1 COs on duty wore the field
cap; on guard duty a visor-type service cap or the steel helmet was worn. The
visor type service cap was coin only worn with the dress; unifonla, Officers were
observed wearing only visor type service caps on and off ditty. (3)
4. The blouse had an open collar, four barge patch pockets with button flap
pockets, sleeve cuffs and epaulets made of the same raterial as the uniforms
.The epaulets tapered towards the collar and were rounded at their upper ends.
Five-cornered collar iatches were rrorf above the lapels, and piping was worn
alone the ode of the sleeve cuffs. in surner, the W usually wore shirts
without ties; in winter, 91 wore shirts with ties. Officers were observed
wearing shirts and ties at all times. Khaki shirts and grayish green ties were
worn with the khaki uniforms, and gray shirts with black ties with the blue
uniforms. The belt was made of brown leather.
Combat-type trousers were worn;, t` ose worn with the dress uniform had ;piping
on. the outside seams. Lace shoes were warn, and low puttees fastening with
buckles ";sere worn with the field uniform. Officers on duty were frr,quently
observed wearing breeches and riding boots.
CLASSIFICATION SIMP aT
Approved For Release 20.06/08/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R011500120002-3
 Approved For Release 2006/08/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R011500120002-3
6. The ranks of W. and NCOe were shown by stripes and chevrons mounted on the
visor type service cap below the eagle emblem, on the left side of the field
cap and on the epaulets. Sergeants first class and master sergeants wore
a U-shaped border arotuid their epaulets.
Rank
Insignia
Private first class 1 stripe
Corporal 2 stripes
Sergeant 3 stripes
Sergeant first class 1 chevron
Master sergeant 2 chevrons
7. Officers wore silver stars mounted on the caps and the epaulets as a distinc-
tive insignia. Beeides.,l one narrow silver stripe along the25X1
upper edge of the can band of officers up to the rank of captain, two narrow
silver stripes on the caps of officers holding ranks from major up to colonel
and one aide silver purl on those of generals. Officers holding ranks from
major up to and includin- colonel wore two silver bars, and generals one wide
silver purl,, on their epaulets.
Rank
Insignia
Officer candidate
1 silver star mounted on a short,
(equivalent to staff sergeant)
longitudinal bar
Lieutenant
1 silver star
Senior Lieutenant
2 silver stars
Captain
3 silver stars
Yaj or
1 silver star with
2 bars
Lieutenant colonel
2 silver stars with
2 bars
Colonel
3 silver stars with
2 bars
Brigadier General
1 silver star with a wide purl
Division general
2 silver stars with a wide purl
General of combat forces
3 silver stars with a wide purl
Marshal
2 crossed batons with a wide purl
$. cost army units wore red service color; only the tank troops wore black service
color. All members of the Kosciuski Division wore yellow service color for
reasons of tradition. AAA units wore red, air force units light blue, Inter-
nal Security (KBW) units dark blue, and Border Guard (WOP) units green, se