A collection of wartime objects, including a Polish cavalry sabre, has been found in Ryki County in eastern Poland.
The discovery was made during a field survey conducted by members of the Historical and Exploration Association “Nadwiślańskie Urzecze.”
The group was surveying in areas connected to the 1939 movements of the Independent Operational Group Polesie, a formation led by Franciszek Kleeberg during the early phase of World War II. The searches were conducted with permission from the regional heritage authorities.
Participants returned to a site that had already been explored. According to members of the team, earlier work suggested the presence of Polish cavalry units, but the finds were scattered and incomplete.
The most notable object recovered during the search is a Polish cavalry sabre, the wz. 34 model, often called the “Ludwikówka.” This type of sabre was used by Polish cavalry during the September 1939 campaign. It was found by one of the participants, Robert Keler.
Several smaller items were also recovered. These include a Polish military eagle emblem from a forage cap, fragments of equipment, and a blade that may be a “Perkun” bayonet, though this has not yet been confirmed. Part of a Polish military dog tag was also found, along with uniform buttons linked to the 1939 period.
Team members said earlier searches in the same area had already produced other finds. Among them were coins from Riga and silver wire coins known as “Tsar’s teardrops,” dated to the 14th and 15th centuries. These were found in small clusters, unlike the scattered military items.
The mix of objects from different periods suggests the site may have been used more than once. The earlier coins could point to a campsite or stopping place used long before the Second World War. The later military items appear to relate to troop movement through the area in 1939.
Work at the site is still ongoing. Some of the objects require cleaning and conservation before they can be fully identified. The team is also mapping where each item was found to better understand how the area was used.
Finds like the wz. 34 saber are not common. Items of this type are closely tied to the Polish cavalry units that operated during the opening phase of the war. Objects such as uniform parts and personal equipment can help build a clearer picture of how soldiers moved and what they carried.
Poland has seen continued interest in sites connected to the 1939 campaign. Volunteer groups and local researchers often carry out surveys in cooperation with heritage officials. For now, the discovery adds another set of material remains linked to the early days of World War II in Poland. The objects are being documented as work continues in the field.
Sources : Zwiadowca Historii
