Green. They found a valuable banner and a pennant. In September 1939, Polish soldiers buried them in the forest

Banner of the 4th Podhale Rifle Regiment and the pennant of the 21st Mountain Infantry Division. These two valuable monuments were found in the forest near Zielone (Lubelskie). Polish soldiers buried them in September 1939.

– It was a pure accident. The last time I was here 25 years ago. We were looking for a collaborator Piotr Szynala artifacts related to World War II, bayonets or scales, and what we found was “a shot of life” – says Maciej Podgórski, owner of a private museum of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Legions in Zamość.

On the May weekend he went with a metal detector near Zielone in the Zwierzyniec Forest District.

Accidentally and “a bit of boredom”

– I followed a different path than I intended. Waiting for Piotr, I heard a light metal detector signal. With such a signal, few people kick, but I- a bit of boredom- started doing it. She was the first “showed” a decaying ribbon – he says.

He immediately called a colleague and together they extracted a real treasure from the ground – first the pennant of the 21st Mountain Infantry Division, and then a banner (included in this division) of the 4th Podhale Rifle Regiment from Cieszyn.

– The pennant was wrapped in a tarpaulin cover, while the banner was hidden in a military schoolbag – says Podgórski.

Artifacts from the 1920s

The explorers secured the artifacts with foil and notified conservation services about the matter.

– Thanks to the use of high quality materials, including gold and silver threads, it is probably the best preserved banner extracted from an earth deposit in Poland. And certainly in recent years – says Wiesław Koman, an archaeologist from the Zamość delegation of the Provincial Conservator of Monuments in Lublin.

The banner was founded by the society of the Cieszyn region. It was made by the Felicjanka sisters from the non-existent monastery in Czechowice-Dziedzice. The dedication and handing of the banner took place in 1924. The sashes found were also an inseparable part of it. On one we see the inscription “Cieszyn land” and on the other “4 P. Strzel. Podhal.”

The pennant was given for the best achievements in the shooting training

The banner was accompanied by a pennant, which was given to the regiments of the 21st Mountain Infantry Division every year for the best achievements in the shooting training.

– It was last handed in 1938 just the 4th Podhale Rifle Regiment from Cieszyn. During parades and ceremony, he was worn right behind the regiment's banner – says Wiesław Koman.

He adds that in September 1939, after the outbreak of the war, the banner and the pennant was stored in a car belonging to the regiment's staff.

– He was under the personal care of the regiment payer, i.e. – you can say – a treasurer or a quartermaster – says the archaeologist.

Zakopane probably on the night of September 20-21, 1939

As the Museum of the 4th Podhale Rifle Regiment in Cieszyn informs on his Facebook profile, the banner and pennant was hidden by a group of soldiers (headed by the said payer) probably on the night of September 20-21, 1939.

“The place of finding coincides with their relationship. In the 1960s, the soldiers of the regiment attempted to find the banner but even participating could not find this place” – we read in the post.

They were perfectly rolled up

In September 1939, the 4th Podhale Rifle Regiment fought in the composition of the 21st Mountain Infantry Division, including in the region of Cieszyn and Bochnia. After on September 16 he ceased to exist, the soldiers went to other units and found themselves, among others In the area of ​​Tomaszów Lubelski, where the first battle of Tomaszów Lubelski took place on 17-20 September. Since the soldiers were to bury artifacts on the night of September 20-21, 1939, they had to do it probably after the battle.

– The banner and pennant were perfectly rolled up and buried. In my opinion, this shows that hiding artifacts was a thoughtful decision, which was made with care and without rush – says the explorer Maciej Podgórski.

They will still look for a head and a tree with an eagle

He adds that he will now be looking for the missing parts of the banner – head and a tree with an eagle.

– I think that they can be found near the place where we kicked – he emphasizes.

Artifacts went to a specialist monument conservation lab. – The banner and the pennant do not require too many conservation work. They have survived in very good condition – emphasizes Podgórski.

From the Monument Conservation Laboratory, they are to be sent to the Regional Museum Janusz Peter in Tomaszów Lubelski, where they will be presented to visitors.