Question Cutom modified gymnasterka M43?
Got this interesting piece last week, taken from attic of an old house in South-East Poland, close to Ukrainian border. Surely that’a awartime piece,what’s interesting made from brown-green wool just like some officers M35s. Shape is terrible but there’sa chance of bringing it back to life.
But, what do you think it actually is?
For me "this"used to be officers M43 but at some time was modified by adding pre-war style collar and stitched shoulder boards. Also collar is far from Soviet style, flaps are shorter and lower edge is not straight but slightely bow-shaped. Two things came to my mind- VOHR and Polish army uniform collar. VOHR gymcollar indeed looks similar but still differs, there’s no cut for collar hook like here but collar runs straight to frontal piece at 45 degrees angle, also flaps in VOHR tunic seemsto be shorter and has straight lower edge.
Another thing are shoulder boards.First of all they were stitched, not removable as Soviet.
Second is that both shoulder boards were 5cm wide, regular RKKA pagoni’s were 6cm and 4cm for justice, administration and medical personel.
Here once again came similarity to Polish insignia- Polish shoulder boards were usually 4,5-5cm wide.Also these red stripes with pieces of white thread looks like someone tried to make something similar looking to Polish pre-war NCO rank tape with red edges and white stripe in the middle.
There is also a badge/award hole above right pocket,placed over it’s left corner.Not a award probably as hole it too small and order would be rather worn in the middle but fits for guards badge for example and it’s not one of tens moth holes on this blouse but has been made intetionaly.
To me looks mostly like a gym that at some point was worn by NCO of Polish army formed in USSR,what also would suggest location of being found. Poles who found themselves living in territory occupied bu USSR between september 1939 and June 1941 were often drafted to Red Army (what would suggest trace of a Soviet badge),and then volunteered to 1st Polish Army created in late 1943.
Thought that’s still just my idea,maybe someone else has different idea? Would like to hear if you have some suggestions.
