Post by TS Allen on Mar 9, 2006 21:55:51 GMT -5
The Following is information gathered from survivors of the Second World War in Poland on the dress of the period. Many people look at civilian city clothing and think it is correct for most of the guerillas, those in the rural areas. This is not true. Below is the Document.
Guide to a Polish Guerilla Impression
By TS Allen, with information from Wlady Bak
This article discusses the dress of the Polish Civilian of the Second World War. Information comes right from the mouth of Mrs. Wladyslava Bak, who spent here early teenage years in occupied Poland. She had here father killed in Penemunde, and after he was taken away she fled to hide in the woods. The Germans were destroying Rural Villages in retaliation for the reactions of the resistance. She hid for years, coming to the village for food and cloth on occasion. She was a professional seamstress for years afterwards, and thus her insight into materials, fabrics and such is a unique look into the era. I would like to think her for her assistance in this, as without it this article would never have been written. Later this year I hope to interview a man who was in the Polish Resistance, for help on how the Polish Resistance hid and fought. This article will start at the feet and work up. I will finish up with a few brief notes on how she hid from the Germans, as she was in the same woods as the home army and was shot at on several occasions by German soldiers.
It should be noted that Wlady Grew up in a rural village, and not one of the cities. Until the later parts of the war, they would have been very different, but even then, the cities would have had more people in coats and fewer in hats. Here I am not really discussing the more organized and trained forces, but the less organized. Basically, this is a great guide for the regular partisan, but not for the Warsaw Uprising.
First, I will discuss the footwear. In the winter, the Poles would wear tall leather boots. These boots were usually repaired often, as leather did become harder to find. My suggestion would be to take your nice new pair of boots, but up the top a bit, and a patch of leather on one, and belt sand the whole thing.
In the summer a wooden soled cloth strapped sandal was used. The Polish do not use socks, but instead foot wraps in the Russian Style. These would be worn in the place of socks at most times, but not worn at all times.
Next on the list are pants. For the Polish, it is only pants, not shorts. Shorts were an extreme rarity. Normally, these would be made of local materials, heavily patched for most men and boys, and made in a simple style. Back pockets were not common, but were seen. As most of these pants were locally made, I would use buttoned pants rather than those with zippers.
Belts often held up pants, but in rural areas suspenders are more common. Clips are note used, and I would suggest buying a pair made for civil war reenactors, which sells for about $15.00 and is much more effective. Just sew on 6 buttons are your pants wont fall down!!!
Now, I am not sure that they used any captured items, but I am sure some Polish army pants were still used in rural areas, were villages were to small to hide. Thus, it is quite possible that they wore more semi military or captured military items, unlike in the cities were they wore civilian clothes.
I will briefly note that many materials and colors were used on jackets and coats, including wool. Mrs. Bak remembers cutting up Marijuana for use as material, and falling asleep from the fumes. Wool was more predominant, and today hemp fabric is expensive. Of course, it is common for many other materials to be used, and as long as you do not use cotton (as it would have quickly worn out). Of course, colors were usually browns, greens and khakis, although other darker a dull colors were present. Bright Colors were rare, and quickly faded. Almost all fabric was plain, and striped or checkered cloth was very rare.
Now it comes to the shirt. The shirts were usually of cotton of hemp, and with fabric usually in white. The cut was as a modern dress shirt might be, with a pocket. Buttons were usually not the whitish clear they are today, and should be painted one color. Collars would either be in the modern style or be in the style which has a collar which is small and goes straight up. In winter a coat would be worn, and on cooler autumn days a jacket in the cut of a modern sport coat was worn.
And finally the hat. A modern, small brimmed dress hat (of the style common in the 40’s) is the only headgear commonly worn in winter. A fur cap in the Russian style was worn in winter.
For an overcoat, the Poles wore sheepskin coats. These were more common in rural areas, as sheep farms were common, then wool coats, as they are warmer.
Of course, there are other nuances of dress I cannot cover here. This is mostly a guide for the reenactors or air softer wanting to find a second impression in which he can use his MP-40
TS Allen
Guide to a Polish Guerilla Impression
By TS Allen, with information from Wlady Bak
This article discusses the dress of the Polish Civilian of the Second World War. Information comes right from the mouth of Mrs. Wladyslava Bak, who spent here early teenage years in occupied Poland. She had here father killed in Penemunde, and after he was taken away she fled to hide in the woods. The Germans were destroying Rural Villages in retaliation for the reactions of the resistance. She hid for years, coming to the village for food and cloth on occasion. She was a professional seamstress for years afterwards, and thus her insight into materials, fabrics and such is a unique look into the era. I would like to think her for her assistance in this, as without it this article would never have been written. Later this year I hope to interview a man who was in the Polish Resistance, for help on how the Polish Resistance hid and fought. This article will start at the feet and work up. I will finish up with a few brief notes on how she hid from the Germans, as she was in the same woods as the home army and was shot at on several occasions by German soldiers.
It should be noted that Wlady Grew up in a rural village, and not one of the cities. Until the later parts of the war, they would have been very different, but even then, the cities would have had more people in coats and fewer in hats. Here I am not really discussing the more organized and trained forces, but the less organized. Basically, this is a great guide for the regular partisan, but not for the Warsaw Uprising.
First, I will discuss the footwear. In the winter, the Poles would wear tall leather boots. These boots were usually repaired often, as leather did become harder to find. My suggestion would be to take your nice new pair of boots, but up the top a bit, and a patch of leather on one, and belt sand the whole thing.
In the summer a wooden soled cloth strapped sandal was used. The Polish do not use socks, but instead foot wraps in the Russian Style. These would be worn in the place of socks at most times, but not worn at all times.
Next on the list are pants. For the Polish, it is only pants, not shorts. Shorts were an extreme rarity. Normally, these would be made of local materials, heavily patched for most men and boys, and made in a simple style. Back pockets were not common, but were seen. As most of these pants were locally made, I would use buttoned pants rather than those with zippers.
Belts often held up pants, but in rural areas suspenders are more common. Clips are note used, and I would suggest buying a pair made for civil war reenactors, which sells for about $15.00 and is much more effective. Just sew on 6 buttons are your pants wont fall down!!!
Now, I am not sure that they used any captured items, but I am sure some Polish army pants were still used in rural areas, were villages were to small to hide. Thus, it is quite possible that they wore more semi military or captured military items, unlike in the cities were they wore civilian clothes.
I will briefly note that many materials and colors were used on jackets and coats, including wool. Mrs. Bak remembers cutting up Marijuana for use as material, and falling asleep from the fumes. Wool was more predominant, and today hemp fabric is expensive. Of course, it is common for many other materials to be used, and as long as you do not use cotton (as it would have quickly worn out). Of course, colors were usually browns, greens and khakis, although other darker a dull colors were present. Bright Colors were rare, and quickly faded. Almost all fabric was plain, and striped or checkered cloth was very rare.
Now it comes to the shirt. The shirts were usually of cotton of hemp, and with fabric usually in white. The cut was as a modern dress shirt might be, with a pocket. Buttons were usually not the whitish clear they are today, and should be painted one color. Collars would either be in the modern style or be in the style which has a collar which is small and goes straight up. In winter a coat would be worn, and on cooler autumn days a jacket in the cut of a modern sport coat was worn.
And finally the hat. A modern, small brimmed dress hat (of the style common in the 40’s) is the only headgear commonly worn in winter. A fur cap in the Russian style was worn in winter.
For an overcoat, the Poles wore sheepskin coats. These were more common in rural areas, as sheep farms were common, then wool coats, as they are warmer.
Of course, there are other nuances of dress I cannot cover here. This is mostly a guide for the reenactors or air softer wanting to find a second impression in which he can use his MP-40
TS Allen