Podhale Rifles

Podhale Rifles (Polish: Strzelcy podhalańscy) is the 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 and were considered elite units of the Polish Army.

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 retreated 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 swastika symbol 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 Mountaineer folk garment rather than military uniforms. This tradition is continued.

Units and their badges

The present Edelweiss insignia
The Highlander Cross badge worn on the collars of the Podhale Rifles Regiment, until 1945
Soldiers of the Polish 2nd Podhale Rifles Regiment in full gala dress-suit, Sanok, 1936
Soldiers of the 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade in full gala dress-suit, Warsaw, 2006

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		 3rd Podhale Rifles Regiment
Czubryt		 Bielsko-Biała
4th Podhale Rifles Regiment
Warzybok		 Cieszyn
22nd Mountain Infantry Division (Poland)
Engel-Ragis		 2nd Podhale Rifles Regiment
Szlaszewski		 Sanok
5th Podhale Rifles Regiment
Żółkiewski		 Przemyśl
6th Podhale Rifles Regiment
Dobrzański		 Sambor
2nd Mountain Brigade (Poland)
Stawarz		 1st Podhale Rifles Regiment
Krajewski		 Nowy Sącz

The swastikas which appear in unit's logos have no relation whatsoever to the swastikas used by German Nazi movement. Swastika was a common geometric ornament in the folk culture of Tatra mountains and for that reason it was adopted by highlander units of Polish army. The usage of swastikas by highlander regiments of Polish army predates the rise of NSDAP.

See also

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