A superb period made portrait picture postcard measuring - 8.3cm by 12.7cm - of a (regrettably) un-known Polish żołnierz (soldier) beloning to the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade

This is a neat example of a postcard size (8.3cm by 12.7cm) portrait photograph of a - regrettably - un-known Polish żołnierz (Soldier) beloning to the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade. The 1st (Polish) Independent Parachute Brigade was a parachute infantry brigade of the Polish Armed Forces in the West under the command of Major General Stanisław Sosabowski, created in September 1941 during the Second World War and based in Scotland. Operation Market Garden eventually saw the unit sent into action in support of the British 1st Airborne Division at the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. The Poles were initially landed by glider from 18 September, whilst, due to bad weather over England, the parachute section of the Brigade was held up, and jumped on 21 September at Driel on the South bank of the Rhine. The Poles suffered significant casualties during the next few days of fighting, but still were able, by their presence, to cause around 2,500 German troops to be diverted to deal with them for fear of their supporting the remnants of the 1st Airborne trapped over the lower Rhine in Oosterbeek.

Code: 51931