WW2 Polish Field Side Cap of General Michał Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz

A field side cap and a pair of general’s braids, reportedly belonging to Division General Michał Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz.

The field cap follows the British desert khaki drill pattern. On the left side, there is a hand-sewn general’s braid made of aluminum, lacquered or painted, with two aluminum stars above it. The fabric under the braid is slightly faded, showing the outline of the braid.

On the front, there are two rare Polish buttons with a stylized 1927 eagle in a crown, made by the Henderson company in Jerusalem. Above the buttons is a cap eagle badge, casted in the Middle East, a variant lacking the “Strzelecki” shield in the center of the Amazon shield.

The set also includes a pair of large general’s braids cut from steel sheet, with three holes for sewing. One of the braids is rusted on one side.

This unique set belonged to one of the most recognizable Polish generals of the Polish Armed Forces in the West.

Michał Tadeusz Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz (1893-1964)

Pseudonyms: Doctor, Stawski, Stolarski, Torwid
Born: January 5, 1893, Lwów
Died: May 22, 1964, Casablanca
Rank: Division General of the Polish Armed Forces, promoted to General of the Army by the émigré authorities in 1964

Significance: Michał Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz was a pivotal figure in the history of the Polish military and resistance movement. During the September Campaign of 1939, he commanded the “Tokarzewski” Operational Group, which was part of the “Pomorze” Army and participated in the Battle of the Bzura.

On September 27, 1939, he founded the Służba Zwycięstwu Polski (Service for Poland’s Victory – SZP), the first underground military organization in occupied Poland. After the formation of the Związek Walki Zbrojnej (Union of Armed Struggle – ZWZ), he became the commander of Area No. 3 Lwów.

In March 1940, while attempting to cross the German-Soviet demarcation line with documents in the name of Tadeusz Mirowy, he was arrested by the NKVD. Initially unidentified, he was sent to a labor camp near Vorkuta. Once his true identity was discovered, he was transferred to the NKVD prison on Lubyanka. Released in August 1941, he joined the Polish Army in the USSR, where he commanded the 6th Infantry Division “Lwów”.

Further Service: On March 16, 1943, he was appointed Deputy Commander of the Polish Army in the East, under Division General Władysław Anders. He also served as the commander of the Military Units in the Middle East and, from August 1944, as the commander of the III Polish Corps.

During General Władysław Sikorski’s final visit to Polish units in the Middle East, which ended with Sikorski’s death in Gibraltar, there were considerations to relieve Tokarzewski of his duties and transfer him to London due to his opposition to Sikorski’s policies.

From December 1944 to August 1946, Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz was at the disposal of the Minister of National Defense, dealing with “special matters.”

Legacy: Michał Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz remains a significant figure in the history of the Polish military and resistance movement. His wartime actions and contributions to the development of the underground military resistance in occupied Poland are unforgettable. His bravery and dedication made him one of the key figures in the struggle for Poland’s independence.