Men-at-Arms 497 Author:Nigel ThomasI llustrator:Adam Hook
About this book
In 1917 Poland was recognised as a state by Russia, but the Bolshevik coup threatened this. The Polish leader Marshal Pilsudski hurried to build an army around Polish World War I veterans, and in 1918 war broke out for Poland’s independence, involving the the Poles, the Red and White Russian armies, at least two different Ukrainian forces, and Allied intervention troops. The armies that fought these campaigns were extraordinarily varied in their uniforms and insignia, equipment and weapons, and when peace was signed in 1921, Poland had achieved recognised nationhood for the first time since 1794. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork, this engaging study explains and illustrates the armies that fought in the epic struggle for the rebirth of the independent Polish nation, in the bitter aftermath of World War I.
A2: Komanduyushchiy
frontom Mikhail Tukhachevsky, Red Army; Moscow, April 1920
About this book
In 1917 Poland was recognised as a state by Russia, but the Bolshevik coup threatened this. The Polish leader Marshal Pilsudski hurried to build an army around Polish World War I veterans, and in 1918 war broke out for Poland’s independence, involving the the Poles, the Red and White Russian armies, at least two different Ukrainian forces, and Allied intervention troops. The armies that fought these campaigns were extraordinarily varied in their uniforms and insignia, equipment and weapons, and when peace was signed in 1921, Poland had achieved recognised nationhood for the first time since 1794. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork, this engaging study explains and illustrates the armies that fought in the epic struggle for the rebirth of the independent Polish nation, in the bitter aftermath of World War I.
Contents
- Introduction: historical background
- Brief history of the Russo-Polish War
- The Polish Army: organization, uniforms and insignia
- The Russian Red Army: organization, uniforms and insignia
- Ukrainian armies: the Ukrainian Red Army; UNR (E. Ukrainian), and Galician (W. Ukrainian) armies; Galician Red Army: organization, uniforms and insignia
- Plate commentaries
- Index
Paperback; November 2014; 48 pages; ISBN: 9781472801067
A:
COMMANDERS
A 1: Pierwsy Marzalek
Polski J6zef Pifsudski; Lipsk, September 1920
Here Pilsudski wears the
M1915 green-collared, field-grey greatcoat and the tunic of the Austrian-raised Polish
Legions, with closely tailored black overall trousers. The maciejowka
cap has an M1914 silver uncrowned eagle badge, with
pointed wings and the letter 'S' on the
shield. Promoted first marshal on 19 Mar 1920, Pilsudski first wore his 'pike-grey'
uniform with full insignia on 15 Nov 1920 when he received his marshal's mace.
Despite his defeat at
Warsaw this 27-year-old general earned considerable prestige, and Stalin's envy
would lead to his execution on 12 June 1937. Here he wears the M1919 uniform,
with the second-pattern budenovka and a greatcoat in 'Russian
khaki', with dark khaki-green facings at collar, cuffs
and waist-pocket flaps. The cap star, piping, and collar and breast tabs are in infantry crimson
('raspberry-red'). He displays the M1919 scarlet rank insignia of a
star and four diamonds (one obscured at this angle) on his left sleeve
only, and on his breast the M1918
Red Army membership badge on a rosette. His
holstered revolver is an M1895 Mosin-Nagant.
A3: Polkovnyk Volodymyr
Salskyi, Ukrainian Minister of War, June 1920
Salskyi served as war minister
from 5 Nov 1919 to 10 Feb 1921, being promoted major-general on 5 Oct 1920. The cap of his M1919
service uniform has white piping at the crown seam and both
edges of the crimson branch-colour band; twisted silver button-colour
wire cords; and a gold and blue M 1918 cockade, with a
central gold trident. The unpiped tunic bears the collar patches of his rank;
and on the left sleeve a large red trident badge as introduced on 30 Mar 1920. His blue
officers' breeches have crimson piping.
