Removing the border post in Zaolzie

In the home garrisons, the brigade units trained soldiers intensively, especially as many reservists who reached a high level of proficiency in summer and autumn left after partial demobilisation.

The last combat mission of 10th Mounted Riflemen Regiment in 1938 was the occupation of Spiš; the regiment operated within the framework of the parent 10th Cavalry Brigade as a part of Operating Group “Podhale”. The photo DRM-967 comes from that period. Immediately after the end of operations in Trans-Olza, an operational group was created based on 10th Brigade, whose task was to incorporate the region into Poland partially, including Jaworzyna Tatrzańska, Leśnica Pienińska and the surrounding areas. The fourth photo in this set also comes from the Spiš region and shows two lieutenants of 10th Mounted Riflemen Regiment during a “manual” border change. Both officers are wearing standard uniforms of the regiment/brigade, i.e. German type helmet model 1916 and black leather jackets of armoured and motorised forces. The officer in front has his monocycle goggles hanging below his neck. Both of them have the holsters of their sidearms placed on the left side (German style). The helmet model 16 (black berets were worn in peacetime), the mid-thigh black leather jacket, high boots for officers and non-commissioned officers and the way the sidearm was worn was characteristic only of 10th Cavalry Brigade. The Germans named the brigade Schwarze Brigade (Black Brigade) after these distinctive uniform elements and in recognition of its bravery in 1939.

Przemysław Kucia