Polish Army Uniform Links 1919-1921?

[trev]

One of my club mates has done some Nationalist forces for our RCW/Bob games and was thinking of adding some Poles.  I don't think we're talking a labour of love recreation of the period aiuthentic army here but something that can passibly stand in for Haller's Blue Army using the victrix French plastics as a base.  Any suggestions of vital characteristics to include or really jarring faux pas to avoid would be appreciated.

I've dug up these links to help him with Polish uniforms, so I thought I'd post them here and if people have other links or pictures of troops they have done they can add them as inspiration or help for others either now or in the future.

https://www.pygmywars.com/rcw/nationalists/poles/polandpages.html

http://siberia-miniatures.ru/forum/showthread.php?fid=12&tid=332

https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=198085

https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/polish-armed-forces-second-republic-si-y-zbrojne-ii-rzeczypospolitej-polskiej-1918-1939/polish-uniforms-militaria-pictures-1919-1921-shortly-after-13263/

Cheers,

Trev

[Mark Plant]

For me the big issue with using WWI figures for RCW is the packs and the uniformity.

You do see 1920 Poles with packs sometimes, but they mostly didn't wear them to march, let alone fight. (They followed on carts generally.)

Whole units in the same hats (generally helmets if WWI figures) can at least be fixed by some converting, and most people won't notice that everyone has the same shoes (footwear was a major issue in 1920, so that by the end some men were barefooted).

[trev]

Thanks Mark.  I wrote Victrix before but I actually meant Wargames Atlantic figures will be the base.  They're plastics, so the packs can be left off or piled in carts and some different headgear kitbashed or scuplted.

https://wargamesatlantic.com/blogs/news/plastic-french-for-ww1-and-2

Bare feet will be harder but some alternative footway might be possible.

[Mark Plant]

I wouldn't bother with the feet. No-one ever looks.

It's impressive how even a couple of those square Polish style caps will change the look (not too hard from the kepis, I imagine). Then presumably he can round up one or two English or Russian caps.

Those multi-pose are cool, with the ability to change the look.

The 1920 Poles used the Chauchat too.

[cuprum]

The Polish army used four types of uniforms during this period:
- the units that came from the Austro-Hungarian service had a uniform based on the Austrian service (this is especially noticeable among the cavalrymen). But the hats were different - "macievka" (a kind of peaked cap)
- "Poznan" units actually wore German uniforms, but, again, with Polish headdresses - "rogatyvka". Moreover, the "Poznans" had a rather high headdress.
- The units that arrived from France had French uniforms. But they did not usually wear an overcoat at any time, as the French did.
- The Polish troops began to introduce their own mustard-colored uniform M.1919, but not all military units managed to get it.

In units that came from the Russian service, elements of the Russian uniform (blue trousers in the cavalry, Russian overcoats) could be used. In parts of the reserve, American uniforms (with a side cap) were often used.
And over time, all this could be mixed in very bizarre combinations.

[Mark Plant]

I've changed my mind about the packs. Some units never wore them, some photos show them clearly.

[trev]

Thanks for the comments.

I found this additional web site that has some detail on the Blue army.

http://www.hallersarmy.com/index.php

- The units that arrived from France had French uniforms. But they did not usually wear an overcoat at any time, as the French did.

If the French Wargames Atlantic figures are the base for the kitbash they will have to be wearing great coats.  There are photos of troops in greatcoats and without on the link above so hopefully greatcoats aren't wrong even if not as ubiquitous as with the French army.

[Kourtchatovium104]

And if you want more variousness, you can add a few french officers with white gloves, especially for the battle of Warsaw also called the Miracle on the Vistula.

[Mark Plant]

The 1920 campaign was largely a spring and summer affair, just shading into autumn for the Battle of the Neman. Hence the lack of greatcoats.

[cuprum]

I got the impression that the French preferred to wear greatcoats all year round.

[Wookington]

Since I had had the same idea, is the consensus that the WA French wouldn't easily pass for the Blue Army (with perhaps some head swaps)?  My reading comprehension is clearly letting me down 

[Pan Marek]

Wookington-

A Google Images search "Polish blue army" results in photos showing the rank and file in greatcoats.
That's good enough for me.