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AAR Stonehouse Tactical October 16, 2010 Read article.
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AAR Stonehouse Tactical October 16, 2010
Click here to see event photos...
Just came back from the event and overall it was great.
Pros:
-Place has been cleaned up! No trailers, that is right. None in the area which we were fighting in, and I think I only saw 2-3 left right by the parking lot.
-Great Bunkers and trench line built. They did a really good job building defensive positions.
-Excellent weather.
-Free coffee, tea and cookies...mmmm cookies.
Cons:
-Food, LACK of thereof, I am lazy I need food at the events even if its dry food, I will GLADLY buy it. Unless there was some next to the fridge with the beverages and I totally missed it.
And finally, I came there to have fun, was pleasantly surprised by Stonehouse with the clean up, had some great targets to shoot at and awesome Americans to work with on the Allied side, and lastly a good referee system.
Thumbs Up!
Sgt. Kaczorowski
The 1st Independent Parachute Brigade was formed on October 9, 1941 in Great Britain. The brigade was formed from the former 4th Rifle brigade and II battalion 1st Rifle Brigade.
From the start the brigade faced many obstacles. Major problems included a lack of adequate training facilities, training manuals and proper equipment. Despite all these obstacles, unit commander col. Sosabowski did not give up and continued intensive training. While pursuing his agenda he was guided by a simple motto: ‘The Shortest Way” to the homeland. The unit was formed with the idea that it would be used in a general uprising in occupied Poland. As a result of this mission, the brigade was not under direct command of the British Army and remained directly under control of the Polish government in exile.
However, as the brigade was not under the direct control of the British army, supplies and training facilities were not made readily available to the Poles. Therefore, Sosabowski’s men had to rely on their own ingenuity and make do with whatever was available. For example they built parachute towers which were used in lieu of planes for their parachuting training. The general shortage of Polish soldiers in the UK made organization of the unit difficult. Most of the Polish Army was lost in France in 1940 and only a small fraction made it to the UK. However, with the entry of the Soviet Union into the war and the subsequent release of Polish prisoners from Soviet captivity, the number of men in the Brigade began to grow. By 1944 there were 2200 men in the Brigade.
Due to pressure from the British High Command, the Parachute Brigade was eventually placed under British control and on June 6, 1944 it became part of the 1st Airborne Army. Despite the reluctance of the Polish government in exile the Brigade was transferred from Scotland to England. Here they began training with new equipment and weapons (new radio sets, PIAT’s etc). The Brigade was also finally able to conduct simulated combat jumps in brigade strength.
During August 1944 the brigade finally reached full combat readiness. When the Warsaw Uprising began on August 1st, 1944, the soldiers of the brigade believed they would be dropped into Warsaw. They were not aware that their allies had condemned the future Poland to political subordination by the Soviets. Despite urgent requests from General Bor-Komorowski (Head of the Underground in Poland and loyal to the legitimate government in exile) and General Sosabowski (promoted to General on June 15, 1944) the brigade was not dropped into Poland. Instead it took part in WWIIs largest air landing: Operation Market Garden in Holland.
The first elements of the brigade, the so called air gliding group, was dispatched on September 18, 1944 in 10 gliders. The second group was dispatched on September 19, 1944 in 35 gliders. This part of the brigade was supposed to deliver and crew the heavy weapons (57mm anti-tank guns, jeeps and supplies), and also prepare landing zones for the following troops.
Unfortunately, the second part of the brigade (the actual paratroopers) were delayed due to bad weather (thick fog over the airfields) and their drop was postponed until September 21, 1944. The drop was made over Driel in Holland . Again due to poor reconnaissance the Poles were dropped directly over German defenders and right from the start they were force to fight. Some of the troops were shot dead even before touching the ground. Some of the planes returned to England with paratroopers who then had to wait two more days before being dropped into combat. By September 23, 1944 the third and final part of the brigade was dropped but they were dropped near Grave and had to march to reach Driel where most of the brigade was located.
Upon securing Driel the Poles next made an attempt to secure a crossing over the Rhine River. However, the Germans either destroyed or evacuated all means of crossing the river. To make matters worse the Brigade did not have sufficient quantity of their own crossing equipment. Hence they returned to Driel and took up defensive positions. During first night at Driel contact was made with British 1st Airborne Division when Capt.. Ludwik Zwolanski (a Polish liaison officer with gen. Urquart’s HQ) swam across the Rhine urging immediate help. On September 22nd the Poles were attacked by strong German forces which they repelled.
During the night of 22/23 September Polish troops made an attempt to cross the Rhine on a few small portable rafts. The crossing was very slow and eventually detected by the Germans. After sustaining heavy losses only the 8th company managed to cross. The next night the crossing was attempted again under heavy German fire. Some 250 more troops reached the other side of the river.
In the end the attempts to come to the aid of the 1st Airborne Division were unsuccessful and the entire operation was called off. Polish and British paratroopers were evacuated to the other bank of the Rhine river on 25/26th of September. Soon after, the brigade was withdrawn from the front lines and sent back to England where they remained until the end of the war.
The Brigade finally did reach German soil in May of 1945. Here they performed occupational duties under a new commander (General Sosabowski having been removed due to British pressure). They remained in Germany until 1947.
Our Group has originally been formed in cooperation with polish reenactors from the East Coast. Till this day there is cooperation between the Midwest and East Coast Members. The Midwest group is based in the Chicagoland area but has members in other States such as: Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio.
Our mission goal is to educate the public about the role of the Polish soldier in World War II.
This we do through the portrayal of the 3rd Battalion 8th Company of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade at various public events in and outside of the Midwest.
We do so by thoroughly researching the history of the Brigade which lets us act within the standards of some of the customs, mannerisms and attitudes of the real Brigade as well as correctly inform the public about its history. We have also spent hours researching the correct uniforms, weapons and equipment of the Brigade which gives the public an accurate image of a soldier of the Brigade.
We are here to show respect to our Veterans and inform others about their sacrifices, you will NEVER see a member of the unit wear any medal which might be given for a specific heroic action in combat. The only insignias we wear are the Polish Eagle and the Parachutist Training Badge and Parachute Brigade Collar Insignia.
We are a proud member of the HRS, Historical Reenactment Society. "More Majorum!"
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BY- LAWS
Name of the organization
1.The unit is officially called 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade, 1SBS (Pierwsza Samodzielna Brygada Spadochronowa)
Purpose
1. 1SBS is primarily a means for individuals to explore the life and times of the paratrooper in the Polish Army in the West.
Political Statement
1. The 1SBS is not to be affiliated with any radical or communist political organization.
Membership
1. There are two distinct types of membership in 1SBS:
- Recruit
- Voting Member.
2. A Recruit is a male at least 18 years of age. He has been accepted in to unit structure and is developing his kit. A Recruit can voice his opinions but cannot vote in unit business. He can participate in all unit activities but cannot hold rank.
3. A Voting Member is a male at least 18 years of age. He has completed three combat events. He owns his essential kit. He has been accepted by vote of the membership. He can voice his opinions, vote on unit business and can participate in all unit activities.
4. Any member may lose his membership for serious violations of safety unit policy, or engaging in some activity that threatens the safety of other individuals or the future of WWII living history, such as using illegal drugs at an event, going into combat inebriated or stealing.
Awards
1. None. The only insignia to be worn is the parachutist badge, para collar bulbs and the national Polish Eagle. Recruits cannot wear the badge until their approval into the unit.
Changes to the Bylaws
1. These Bylaws may be amended by a specific proposal given in writing by any Voting Member. The proposal will then discussed in an open forum and voted upon. For a proposed amendment to the Bylaws to be approved, 75 % of the Voting membership must agree.
If you would like to join our Unit please read through our basic requirements, familiarize yourself with our By Laws and Code of Conduct and Equipment requirements. Once you ahve done so and still would like to join please contact us at recruit1sbs_gmail.com
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BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Age
You must be at least 18 years of age.
By-Laws and Code of Conduct
You must fully understand, agree to our By Laws and and adhere to our Code of Conduct at all times.
Physical Condition
You must be in good health and good physical condition, the real brigade went through months of intensive physical training and was not a paper pusher Brigade.
FOID card
You must be eligible and must posses an Illinois or equivalent FOID card (Firearm Owners Identification).
Gear
It is clear not every person who is interested in joining the unit will immediately posses the gear, uniform and weapon required. We have loaner gear and will let you borrow it as you are developing your own gear kit. For specific gear requirements please vitist our Equipment Page.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
When main requirements are satisified and you are ready to join you will be accepted into as a Recruit. A Recruit can voice his opinions but cannot vote in unit business. He can participate in all unit activities but cannot hold rank.
After a probation of two events a unit vote will be taken to see if you are fit and ready to join the unit and become a full member.
Weapons used by Brigade
Giving marching orders.
CO taking notes on company status.
Checking weapons and equipment
A conversation with the Americans.
Last conversations before combat.
![poles[3]](http://static.wix.com/media/25cfdc6f3975132d8b01c82b167cda5d.wix_mp_256)
