Polish Military Motorcycles 1918-1939

[sylvieK4]

Does anyone have any information about motorcycles used by the Polish Army during the Second Republic (1918-1939)? What types of motorcycles were used? What companies manufactured them?

Does anyone have any photographs or other good illustrations of Polish Army motorcycles in use or on display?

Thanks.

[daveh]

The Polish Campaign 1939 by S Zaloga and V Madej notes:

The Polish Army used a variety of motorcycles, primarily those manufactures by the PZInz Factory in Warsaw under the Sokol label.

p 94

the most important types include:
Sokol 1000 with a 1000cc engine
Sokol 600 575cc engine
Sokol 200

many of those motorcycles not ordered by the Army were drafted in 1939.

see
http://www.oldtimerclub.riders.pl/stron ... _sokol.htm

where there is an article translated into english on the sokol 1000 inclding pics.

hope this helps
hope this helps

[sylvieK4]

Thanks, Daveh! Great information and site.

[mietek]

Hi, bit more....


http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforum3/sok..jpg
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforu ... 0ebay1.jpg
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforu ... pgmaly.jpg - it's not the final version, that one was shown for discussion.
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforu ... _p_zmn.jpg
http://www.kampania.digimer.pl/g_sprzet.htm

reenacment:

http://www.odkrywca-online.com/galerie/ ... ct7385.jpg
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/galerie/ ... 2_0230.jpg

more:

http://www.motor.pol.pl/retro-sa/sokol/03.htm
http://www.motor.pol.pl/retro-sa/sokol/02.htm
http://www.motor.pol.pl/retro-sa/sokol/01.htm

Best, mietek

[sylvieK4]

Awesome, Mietek! Thank you!

[mietek]

Hi SilvieK4

It is time for some more photos. Till tommorrow I have to finish writing the conference article, but searching for motorbikes it is more funny.

http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforum3/motory.jpg
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforum3/motorek.jpg
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforum3/motorek1.jpg

HD:
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforu ... land_x.jpg
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforu ... n_1931.jpg
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforu ... poland.jpg

http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforu ... 2_copy.jpg
http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforum3/moto7.jpg

Experimental with radio: http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforum5/radio.jpg

http://www.odkrywca-online.com/picsforum5/telef.jpg

From my books, list of motorbikes used by Polish Army pre 1939:

CWS M55, CWS M 111 - Sokół (Falcon) 1000 M 111. 1000cc, with sidecar, for military use (only small number for civilians, post etc.)

Sokół 600 RT M 211
Sokół 200 M 411
MOJ 130 - before war used for training
Podkowa 98 - in teritorial army and for dispach raiders (production stared in 1939, so only small number of them was build)

From civilan market:
Less than 100cc:
Zuch
Perkun 98
Niemen 98

In 1939 company "Podkowa" started production (from imported parts) "Royal Enfield" and BSA 350cc bikes.

Civilians also had many motorbikes mostly French, German and American.

Nearly all bikes from civilans were in the service. Very often owner was also the driver. For example during siege of Warsaw in 1939 students from Technical University served in dispatch riders plooton.

Best, mietek

[sylvieK4]

For example during siege of Warsaw in 1939 students from Technical University served in dispatch riders plooton.

Many thanks again, Mietek, for all that great information and the photo links! 8)

About Dispatch Rider Platoons: Did all infantry regiments have their own platoon - or other small group - of motorcycle dispatch riders?

[sylvieK4]

By the way, what type of motorcycles do the soldiers have in the first photo Mietek linked in his last post (shown below):

[Bill Murray]

mietek:

Thanks from me also for the links to the Polish site.
I was able to find 4 photos that I had not seen before to add to my personal (not commercial) collection of military transport vehicles.

As a favour, could you list some "key words" to search in the archiv section regarding, for example, trucks, cars, transport or whatever other words that would bring up photos in the archiv section of those type of vehicles.

Sad to say, I am pretty good in the English/Scandinavian/Romance languages but my Polish is to be honest really bad.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Bill Murray

[mietek]

Hi.

Good to hear that you like pictures.
I'll search about dispach riders plootons. M-bikes in armoured fources: http://derela.republika.pl/form.htm

mietek

PS Pictures from reenacting, motorbikes plus car - 1939:
http://www.e-sochaczew.pl/news/ewiadomo.php?id_news=773

http://taktykaistrategia.pl/bzura1939/g ... alzalewski

If you have time, it will be again in September

[wildrover]

A Polish friend of mine here in Poland has a 1932 Model 50 Harley Davidson that served in the Polish army....