Last modified: 2014-06-28 by andrew weeks
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With this batch I will have posted a good representative selection of
the various designs and colors of the interwar Polish Army's lance pennons.
There are quite a few more but they all follow the patterns, albeit with
different color combinations, illustrated by my pictures.
Tom Gregg, 3 and 4 September 1997
![[Cavalry]](../images/p/pl^cav.gif)
For cavalry brigade staffs, non-regimental cavalry, e.g. squardrons
attached to infantry divisions (except those assigned to the Frontier Defense
Corps), and other organizations such as the Remount Service.
Tom Gregg, 3 September 1997
![[Horse Artillery]](../images/p/pl^har.gif)
For artillery of the cavalry brigades.
Tom Gregg, 3 September 1997
![[Cavalry Squadrons, Frontier Defense Corps]](../images/p/pl^fdccs.gif)
![[3rd Mounted Rifles]](../images/p/pl^3mr.gif)
Green and Polish crimson were typical pennon colors for mounted rifle
regiments.
Tom Gregg, 3 September 1997
![[11th Lancers]](../images/p/pl^11l.gif)
The 27 lancer regiments had pennons in a great variety of colors and
designs; this is one of the simpler ones.
Tom Gregg, 3 September 1997
![[1st Lancers]](../images/p/pl^1l.gif)
Similar to the "classic" style of pennon, but with Polish crimson instead
of red over white.
Tom Gregg, 4 September 1997
![[19th Lancers]](../images/p/pl^19l.gif)
Several other regiments had this style of pennon, with different color
combinations.
Tom Gregg, 4 September 1997
![[1st Light Horse]](../images/p/pl^1lh.gif)
All three light horse regiments had silver gray pennons. That of the
2nd Light Horse was identical to that of the 1st Light Horse (Polish crimson
stripe); the 3rd Light Horse had a golden orange stripe. The miniature
collar-patch versions were worn together with shoulder-strap monograms
(silver metal) as an additional regimental distinction.
Tom Gregg, 4 September 1997
![[Antitank Battalions of Motorized Brigades]](../images/p/pl^atmb.gif)
In 1939, the Polish Army was in the process of converting a number of
its cavalry brigades to motorized brigades. The cavalry regiments (mostly
lancers) were to become motorized rifle regiments, the horse artillery
was to be motorized, and the brigade was also to contain a tank battalion,
a motorized reconnaissance battalion and a motorized antitank battalion.
Only two or three of these brigades existed at the time of the German invasion,
however, and they had little effect on the course of the campaign. As the
motorized brigades derived from the cavalry arm, pennon-style collar patches
were used by all these units except the tank battalion, which had a triangular
black-over-orange patch. I don't know if these existed as actual pennons;
however, the cavalry regiments of the 2nd Polish Armoured Division flew
pennons from their tanks during the 1944-45 European campaign. Perhaps
this was also the practice before the war.
Tom Gregg, 4 September 1997
The two pennons for units of mechanized brigades may not have existed
except in miniature form as collar patches on the uniform. Those units
which actually were horse cavalry did have pennons, but I don't know about
motorized/mechanized units. The reason they had cavalry-type collar patches
is because they derived from the cavalry; in fact, Poland was in the process
of
converting a number of its cavalry brigades into mechanized brigades
when war broke out in 1939. Only two or three mechanized brigades were
operational at the time of the German invasion--too few to have a major
impact on the course of the
campaign.
Given the Polish Army's strong cavalry tradition, it is plausible that
the recon- and anti-tank battalions flew pennons on their vehicles, but
I don't know that for a fact. I have, however, seen photos of the Polish
Armored Division in France (1944) which show the tanks, armored cars, etc.
flying lance pennons. The units raised for this division adopted the badges
and titles of some traditional lancer, light horse, mounted rifle, etc.
regiments.
Tom Gregg, 19 Mar 1999
![[Reconnaissance Battalions of Motorized Brigades]](../images/p/pl^rcnmb.gif)