Podhale rifles
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Podhale rifles (Polish: Strzelcy podhalańscy) is a traditional name of the mountain infantry units of the Polish Army. Formed in 1918 out of volunteers of the region of Podhale, in 1919 the smaller detachments of Podhale rifles were pressed into two mountain infantry divisions, the 21st Mountain Infantry and 22nd Mountain Infantry Divisions, as well as into three brigades of mountain infantry. Considered an elite of the Polish Army, the units were roughly equivalent to the German Gebirgsjäger troops. After the Polish defeat in the Polish September Campaign, the Podhale units were recreated in France as Polish Independent Highland Brigade, had seen some action at Narvik, and later fought in the Battle of France and fled into Switzerland upon the French defeat. Some units were also created in the underground as part of the partisan forces of the Armia Krajowa. The traditions of the Podhale rifles are continued by the modern 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade.
The traditional symbols of the Podhale rifles include the edelweiss flower and the Mountain Cross, a symbol of swastika popular in folk culture of the Polish mountainous regions. The units of Podhale rifles, both historical and modern, are notable for their high morale and distinctive uniforms. Prior to World War II the mountain units were one of only two infantry units wearing non-standard uniforms based on Mountaneer folk garment rather than military uniforms. This tradition is continued.
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[edit] Units and their badges
The table below shows the allegiance of the regiments of Podhale Rifles as of September 1, 1939.
| Regiment | Sub-unit | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21st Mountain Infantry Division Kustroń |
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| 3rd Podhale Rifles Regiment Czubryt |
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Bielsko-Biała | ||
| 4rd Podhale Rifles Regiment Warzybok |
 |
Cieszyn | ||
| 22nd Mountain Infantry Division Engel-Ragis |
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| 2nd Podhale Rifles Regiment Szlaszewski |
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Sanok | ||
| 5th Podhale Rifles Regiment Żółkiewski |
 |
Przemyśl | ||
| 6th Podhale Rifles Regiment Dobrzański |
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Sambor | ||
| 2nd Mountain Brigade Stawarz |
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| 1st Podhale Rifles Regiment Krajewski |
Image:1psp.jpg | Nowy Sącz | ||
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| This article is part of the series: Polish Podhale Rifles  History of Poland |
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| 2nd Mountain Bde |
| 21st Mountain Div |
| 22nd Mountain Div |
| Carpathian Bde |
| 3rd Carpathian Div |
| 21st Podhale Brigade |
