
''Rogatywka'' (; sometimes translated as ''
peaked cap'') is the Polish generic name for a peaked, four-pointed cap used by various Polish military formations throughout the ages. It is a distant relative of its 18th-century predecessor, the ''konfederatka'' (so-named because of use by members of the
Bar Confederation), although similar caps have been used by light cavalry since the 14th century. It consists of a four-pointed top and a short peak, usually made of black or brown leather. Although rogatywka (derived from ''róg'' which means "horn" or "corner") in English seems to mean the same as
czapka, the word ''czapka'' in Polish designates not only rogatywka, but all caps (not hats).
Konfederatka
The konfederatka was based on the hats of the 18th-century
Lithuanian Tatar National costumes, as the
Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army's Vanguard regiments were heavily influenced by the Lithuanian Tatar dress, among other elements.
Usage
The rogatywka usually comes in two variants: the hardened and soft version.
The hardened model, based on the rogatywka Mk. 1935, olive green with black peak, is used in full gala uniforms, and the rim colour marks unit type (for example, navy blue – typical, scarlet – military police, green – artillery, and so on). It was not worn during most of the
People's Republic of Poland
The Polish People's Republic (1952–1989), formerly the Republic of Poland (1947–1952), and also often simply known as Poland, was a country in Central Europe that existed as the predecessor of the modern-day democratic Republic of Poland. ...
era but was reintroduced for ceremonial wear by the
Honour Guard Company in 1983. The soft version was used before
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and during the People's Republic of Poland period for garrison dress; it was withdrawn after 1990.
Polish soldiers decorate their caps not with the emblem of their corps, but with their service's version of the Polish
military eagle. The military eagle insignia is based on an early 19th-century design, comprising a modified White Eagle (from the
Polish coat of arms) perched atop an "Amazon shield".
Army branches are indicated by the following colored cap bands:
* Navy blue – generals, mechanized troops, National Honour Guard
* Brown – staff officers
* Orange – units dedicated to honour history, armoured troops, scouts
* Dark green – rocket forces, artillery, anti-aircraft units
* Sky blue – army aviation (helicopters)
* Red – intelligence
* Maroon – transportation
* Bronze – civil affairs
* Purple – quartermaster corps, supply and logistics
* Tan – ordnance
* Black – engineering units, chemical corps, cartographic service, technical cadets
* Silver – special forces
* Cornflower – adjutant general corps, radio and communication corps
* White – infantry
* Blue – paratroopers
* Beige- recruit and retention
* Cherry – medical service, medical cadets
* Salmon – legal services
* Mauve – public affairs
* Goldenrod – military bands
* Scarlet – military police
* Gold – accounting and finance
* Violet – chaplains
* Yellow – headquarters of 1st Warsaw Mechanized Division, 1st Warsaw Armoured Division
Others
The rogatywka is used by Polish firefighters (hardened, all navy blue) and
Polish State Railways staff (soft, navy blue or red).
Green rogatywkas with brown leather peak and scout
Fleur-de-lis symbol are traditionally worn by Polish boy scouts, while grey caps are sometimes used by girl guides.
File:Rogatywka design 1919.PNG, Rogatywka design wz.1919
File:Jan_nowak_jezioranski-1936.jpg, Rogatywka design wz.1935
File:Rogatywka.JPG, Młodszy chorąży cap
File:Rogatywka-polowa.JPG, PRL era field cap in wz.68 Camouflage
File:Rogatywka.jpg, A soldier from the Representative Regiment of the Polish Armed Forces
See also
*
List of hat styles
References
{{Hats
Caps
Polish military traditions
Military uniforms
Military hats