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The collar could unbutton, but it didn't fold down like that into neat lapels.
That model German tunic was cut to allow the lapels if the collar was unbuttoned. The Polish collar was higher and just spread as unbuttoned.
The Polish Army's Dress and Combat Uniform collars before and into the opening weeks of the Second World War were "stand and fall" collars as seen during the 1920s' and '30s' "dress shirt"-styles. They were meant to be worn "buttoned up". The Polish "Arms of Service" Collar-patch Insignia were attached to the "collar points" of these types of Uniform Collars. My Dad's Insignia on his "Dress Uniform" were Silver Lace, woven in a "tight" zig-zag pattern over quality Forest Green Wool Felt Backings. Being an Officer, there was a little bit of extra Lace sewn into the Forest Green head-band of my Dad's "lancer-style" square-topped "Szapka", (also known as a "Konfederatka"), as well. His Horse Artillery Dress Uniform was nearly identical to the Cavalry uniform, except of course, for the color of the "Arm of Service". Quite dashing, actually. Every bit as impressive and imposing as the German Army's pre-1938 Officers' Uniforms, what with the polished Riding Boots, "mutton-chop" Riding Breeches, and wasp-waisted Officers' Service Coats. "Sam Browne" Belts were required-dress.
Dad's family had always had a lot of experience with and owning numerous horses, which is how he was right from the very beginning of his service, inducted into the Polish Cavalry, and subsequently, into the Polish Horse Artillery...
The Polish Combat Uniforms, necessarily were not much different than the men's, aside of being cut in slightly better quality wool and "toned-down" Rank Insignia. As to color, The Polish Army's Combat Uniforms were similar in shade to the British "Khaki Wool Battledress"; sort of an Olive-Brownish color...
PS- My Dad was popular with his men; he played acoustic guitar and he had a beautiful singing voice, which Eastern European soldiers i.e, Poles, Ukrainians, Russians and others did and still do appreciate- I'm talking about these men getting together for "group songfests", both "impromptu and official", and singing "on the march", or on work parties, and the like. Sometimes local girls showed up as if on cue, as they had heard the singing, whereupon they would be serenaded by the more-than-willing boys. These were different times and customs...
Thanks for the info Dennis and the excellent stories about your Dad.
Yes,it was an entirely different time and outlook on life,all over the world. I always am saddened by the younger folks here because they seem so upset all the time about everything and act "put out" and "oppressed".
Our parents generation actually lived through REAL hardship. Growing up during the Great Worldwide Depression and then going through the biggest war in history just doesn't compare with being told what to wear in school,etc etc.
Your Pop sounds like he was a great guy to have a pint with.
J
Hi Jerry, and Everyone Else!
Thank You Very Much for your acknowledgement of my Parents' and Family Members' various anecdotes of their WWII-experiences in this and the other threads in which I've expounded upon their various wartime experiences.
I've always found it interesting and remarkable that my Family Members came from BOTH sides of that world-wide conflagration known as "the Second World War"...
I have LOADS of these anecdotal "oral histories", passed on to me by my Dad, Mom, "Oma" and my Mom's Onkel Ludwig, Onkel Karl, and Onkel Fritz. It's unfortunate that I am only able to share these stories with ARMORAMA Members "second-hand", as these wonderful people have all "gone on to a better place"...
As to Dad "sharing a pint" with anyone, no, Dad was a "teetotaler". Not through any moralistic beliefs- He just never cared for any kind of alcoholic beverages. A cup of coffee? Sure, ANYTIME. Dad was a great "talker" and he loved "company"...
Now,
Yes, I agree completely as regards to the "kids" today. But think about it- We have the elementary and high school school "teachers" and college "professors", and the mainstream & social medias to thank for our kids' attitudes. They're constantly being urged to "rebel", "demand their rights" and to denounce their parents to the various "Social Services organizations" if they are "disciplined" in even the slightest fashion. I'm not going to go into a long diatribe about "how bad" American kids have it in their "deprived lives", as this is neither the time or place to do so. Suffice it to say, THESE KIDS HAVEN'T GOT A SINGLE CLUE...
Yes, the "Great Depression Times" were a very hard and trying epoch for our Parents and Grandparents. My Oma ("Grandma", in German) told me of the hard times when my Mom was just a little girl in the late 1920s and early '30s. Before my Mom was born, Oma and her first Husband. (He died very early in his life of a brain hemorrhage while Mom was still an infant) They went through the immediate post-World War I rioting and street-fighting turmoil in Germany. The inflation was so bad that when one wanted to buy a few items of food (when available), one had to go out with a suitcase full of LITERALLY MILLIONS of Reichsmarks in order to be able to do so.
Let that sink in for a few moments...
Our kids today would NEVER be able to get that "around their heads", what with their very own personal credit cards and "ready cash" falling out of their pockets...
Apologies to everyone that this has gone so far "off topic"...
