Polish weapon and eqipment in romanian service

[mietek]

In 1939 Polish army crossed the border with Romania, according to international agreement.
After that most of weapon (tanks, artilery, rifles, etc.) and eqipment were given to Romanian soldiers.
Do you know what types of weapon from Polish army were in service in Romanian Army?
Maybe some examples of weapon and equipment made in Poland, or with Polish markings are in Romanian museums, or private colections? Do you know about it?
What origin were Bofors 37mm at-guns used by Romanian Army - Swedish or Polish, meybe omanian.?

[dragos]

34 Polish R-35 tanks of the 305th Battalion were used by Romanian Army.

[Dénes]

There were over 250 Polish military and civilian aircraft that sought refuge in Rumania in Sept. 1939. Most of them were requisitioned and impressed into ARR service.

[mihai]

QUOTE

34 Polish R-35 tanks of the 305th Battalion were used by Romanian Army.

In Polish studies&Resource,this Polish R-35 tank is belong to the Polish 21st light tank battalion,
This is only the unit with R-35 in Polish Army.

Mihai

[dragos]

mihai, it looks like you are right. The 305th battalion is mentioned in an article on R-35 published in the Top Gun magazine 2/1999, under the siganture of Cornel Scafes, Ioan Scafes and Horia Serbanescu. :roll:

BTW, searching the Polish sites for more info, I came across the following page: http://www.kampania.digimer.pl//uzbrojenie.../r35/index.html where I discovered a photo taken by me a few years ago at the Military Museum
http://www.worldwar2.ro/foto/?id=55&area=2...e=4&language=en

[woj]

In July 1939 252 polish antitank guns (37 mm Bofors) were sold to Romania. Even more Bofors guns were delivered by Germans from the polish booty.
Woj

[mihai]

Hi.Dragos!

QUOTE

mihai, it looks like you are right. The 305th battalion is mentioned in an article on R-35 published in the Top Gun magazine 2/1999, under the siganture of Cornel Scafes, Ioan Scafes and Horia Serbanescu.  :roll:

Thank you for message.
I didn't read this "Top Gun magazine"
I will get and read this magazine.

I will recommended the book about Polish Armoured unit.
"1 Dywizija Pancerna 1939-1944"
Author: Jacek Solarz,Mililtaria,2003,ISBN 83-7219-181-6

Do you know the commorade-circle or veteran-group about Rumnaian Arnoured in Rumania?
I will interviue with the old-veterans about Royal Rumanain Armoured Units.
Mihai

[Dénes]

List of captured Polish bomb types used by ARR: http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/viewtopic.php?t=834

[dragos]

QUOTE

Do you know the commorade-circle or veteran-group about Rumnaian Arnoured in Rumania? I will interviue with the old-veterans about Royal Rumanain Armoured Units.   Mihai

Mihai, you need to check at the ANVR (War Veterans) centers.

[dragos]

QUOTE

In July 1939 252 polish antitank guns (37 mm Bofors) were sold to Romania. Even more Bofors guns were delivered by Germans from the polish booty.   Woj

Thanks for this info. What is your source?

From September 1940 to June 1941, Germany delivered 669 Bofors AT guns.

Source: "Eliberarea Basarabiei si a Nordului Bucovinei, 22 iunie - 26 iulie 1941", Alesandru Dutu, Mihai Retegan, Bucharest, 1999, ISBN 973-577-261-2, cross-reference to MApN Archive, fond 5438, file 53, p. 125-129

[woj]

My sources:
1. Polish archives (a lot of very interesting documents - the book will be ready probably in October, unfortunately in Polish only)
2. M. Axworthy, C. Scafes, C. Craciunoiu, "Third Axis Fourth Ally. Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945", London 1995, p. 30
From 252 Bofors antitank guns only 36 were delivered to Romania by Poles (SEPEWE and the Polish Ministry of the Military Affairs) before 1st September 1939.

Woj

[dragos]

woj, what about the Polish 21st Battalion equipped with R-35 tanks, which sought refuge in Romania ? Any idea why 305th Battalion is mentioned in a Romanian article ?

[woj]

I have never read mentioned article. According to Axworthy, p. 37: "In late September 1939 Romania fortuitously interned 34 ex-Polish R-35s, which allowed the expansion of 2nd Armoured Regiment to 75 R-35s in two battalions." The Polish data are very similiar. 21 Battalion crossed the border 18th September 1939 between 3 pm. - 4.30 pm. I know nothing about 305th Battalion. Is it Polish or Romanian unit?
Woj

[mietek]

Thank you very much for all reply, some information (especially about bomb) are totally new for me.

R-35:
I read that 49 R-35 were delivered to Poland (from ordered 100) in 1939. Additionaly 1 to 3 were bought in 1938 for testing. In july 39 were formed - 12 Tank Battalion in Luck - which include 21 Ligt Tank Battalion(45-46 tanks), other 4 R-35 and 3 Hotchkiss 35 were in Independend Tank Company R-35.
34 tanks crossed the border with Romania.
Additionaly, there in not confirmed information whats happend with other 51 tanks ordered from France. It is possible that later also were in Romanian army. Could you say something about it?

Is it possible to know when was made R-35, which is in museum? Could be ex-polish?

Bofors 37mm.

I'm surprise that so many of them were in service. May some of them survive in Romania and are in museums?

Best regards

mietek

PS Do you know something about polish personal equipement in Romanian army

[woj]

QUOTE

Bofors 37mm. I'm surprise that so many of them were in service. May some of them survive in Romania and are in museums? Best regards   mietek PS Do you know something about polish personal equipement in Romanian army

Polish gas masks - sold in October 1934 or/and produced in Rumania on the Polish licence.
Woj