Military Records
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Home Army (Armia Krajowa) Records: Researching the Underground
Researching a relative who served in the Home Army (Armia Krajowa, AK) is one of the most rewarding—and most complex—areas of Polish genealogy. The underground operated under occupation, used pseudonyms, and often left fragmented paper trails that were later dispersed,…
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Searching for Service Records of the Polish Navy in Great Britain
Many Polish sailors served at sea while Poland’s naval forces operated from Britain during the Second World War. For family historians, this often creates a paper trail split between Polish and UK institutions, with different access rules, catalogues, and levels…
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Polish Air Force in the UK: How to Find Personnel and Squadron Files
Researching Polish Air Force (Polskie Siły Powietrzne) service in the United Kingdom can be hugely rewarding, but it is rarely as simple as “find a medal record and you’re done”. Files are split across British and Polish institutions, access rules…
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General Haller’s Blue Army: Tracing Polish Volunteers from WWI
General Józef Haller’s “Blue Army” is one of the most rewarding—yet frequently misunderstood—paths for people researching Polish ancestors who volunteered during the First World War. The paper trail is genuinely international (France, the USA, Canada, and later Poland), and the…
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Anders’ Army Records: How to Trace Your Ancestor in the 2nd Polish Corps
Tracing a relative who served in Anders’ Army (the Polish Armed Forces formed in the USSR and later reorganised as the Polish II Corps) can be hugely rewarding — but it is rarely straightforward. The key is to understand what…
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German World War II Service Records – How to Find and Request Them
For many families researching their Polish or Central European heritage, World War II can be the most complicated and emotionally sensitive part of family history. One of the most surprising discoveries for some descendants is that a relative served in…
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Austrian Military Records – Tracing Galician Ancestors in the Austro-Hungarian Army
When researching ancestors from southern Poland, western Ukraine or other parts of the former Habsburg Empire, Austrian military records are often the most informative and best-preserved documents you can find. Between the mid-1800s and 1918, every man in the crown…
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Polish Prisoner of War Records – How to obtain WW2 POW Documents
For those researching Polish ancestors who served in the military during World War II, Polish Prisoner of War records can provide critical insights into their experiences, fate, and post-war movements. Thousands of Polish soldiers were captured by both German and…
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Polish Military Decorations and Medals
Military medals and decorations are not only symbols of bravery and service but also invaluable sources of information for genealogists tracing their ancestors’ military history. Many descendants of Polish soldiers seek to uncover details about their forebears’ service records, units,…
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Polish Military Identity Cards
For those researching their Polish ancestors’ military history, Polish Military Identity Cards (Legitymacja Wojskowa) are an invaluable source of information. These documents, issued to soldiers serving in the Polish Armed Forces, served as official proof of military identity and contained…
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Ministry of Defence (MOD) – Polish service records
For many people researching their Polish ancestry, uncovering military service records can provide invaluable insights into their family’s history. This is particularly true for those whose relatives served in the Polish Armed Forces during World War II, especially under British…
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Polish Army in France
When discussing World War II, the contribution of the Polish Army in France is an important and often overlooked chapter. This article delves into the formation, deployment and significant roles of this army, shedding light on its valuable role during…
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Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain stands as a significant milestone in the course of World War II. It was not only the first major defeat for the Nazi war machine but also a turning point that signalled the resilience and determination…
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No. 303 Squadron RAF – The Story of Poland’s Finest Fighter Pilots
No. 303 (Polish) Fighter Squadron RAF, known as the Kościuszko Squadron, has become one of the best-known Polish wartime stories in Britain and abroad. For many families with Polish roots, it is not only a chapter of aviation history, but…
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Polish Military Records: How to Obtain Copies (Complete WW2 & Archive Search Guide)
Polish military records can reveal far more than a uniformed ancestor’s name. Depending on the period and the army they served with, you may find documents confirming rank, unit, service route, campaigns, capture or POW status, decorations, and sometimes highly…
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Polish Resettlement Corps
The Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC) is a unique part of Polish-British history, marking a significant phase of immigration and integration of Poles into British society after World War II. This article offers a factual and comprehensive insight into the PRC,…
