Polish Legions in Italy
1797-1803

First Activities

by Jon R. Harrison

When the legion was reorganized into two separate legions the uniforms were also changed. Staff officers wore a czapka of dark blue with crimson piping. The plume, as shown here, is after B. Gembarzewski who illustrates it-as being separated into three vertical sections of red, white, and blue. The kurtka of the staff officers were also dark blue with crimson facings and silver decorations.

The green czapka and red plume of the artillery. The kurtka was changed fr one of green with black piping to one of green with black facings.

Each of the new legions were formed of three battalions, each one having its own facing colors and plumes. In the 1st legion the 1st battalion was distinguished by facings of dark red and a plume of blue, red and white. The 2nd battalion facings were yellow and the plume was white, blue and red.

B. Gembarzewski illustrates red plumes for all grenadiers and green plumes for all chasseurs, regardless of their battalion.

The czapka of a chasseur and fusilier with a side view of the fusiliers kurtka and the kurtka of an artillery officer. The same pom pom as used to illustrate the grenadier czapka has also been used on these. While the grenadier is always shown with epaulettes of red the fusilier and chasseur are usually show, with contra epaulettes of dark blue with piping in green or in yellow.

The czapka and kurtka of a grenadier of the legion from the first period of its existence. The yellow pom pom with a crimson band has been used on illustrations of fusiliers and chasseurs as well as grenadiers. The cut of the kurtka differs somewhat from that of the kurtka used after the formation of the Duchy of Warsaw.


Polish Legions in Italy 1797-1803


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