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Welcome to Poland!
As promised, Tropa Guripa returns to battle.
We have prepared for you a series about reenactment abroad.
For the first chapter we'll go to Przemyśl,
where soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Polish Armia Krajowa are waiting for us.
Ready? Let's go.
We're back in the front.
We leave the historic and charming Przemyśl behind
to visit the fort system surrounding it.
Members of the local group 'X D.O.K.' will show us around the fort XV.
Attention, guripas! This will be a really international day.
We hope there will be more chapters abroad.
But still we can't promise.
So let's see what they've got.
This place is Borek. They'll show us interesting things.
What is this?
Here is the monument dedicated to all Polish soldiers who fought in 1920
during the beginning of the Polish-Soviet war trying to keep the independence.
Is this a popular initiative or was it the government?
It was made by the people, the only who tried to keep this monument here.
What can you tell about this fortress?
This fortress stopped Russian army in the beginning of WWI.
We should visit it, it'll be interesting.
Przemyśl fort system had 15 big fortresses and smaller ones.
Austrians started to build this fort in 1895.
They finished in 1905.
There used to be a hill here.
When Austrians built this fort they burned all villages around.
Because they preferred to see between forts.
So they destroyed all the wood.
- Do we have to salute? - If you want.
The biggest problem is that people don't care about this fortress.
We don't know why the mayor of Przemyśl doesn't help with money.
European Union doesn't give the money to reconstruct the fortress either.
Also after WWI people were so poor.
So they used everything they wanted from the fortress.
Many people took all and built their houses.
Do you see what happened with the second floor?
- Here there were wood. - Yes.
They took and they built their houses.
It's a pity that they don't restore it.
Tropa Guripa have the best wishes for them.
Can you imagine it restored as in 1914 with these people reenacting?
They would deserve the subsidy!
To repair the fortress you must have a lot of money.
You know that we have crisis.
In this place was the artillery.
Two cannons.
The enemy would be in this direction.
Let's go to the top.
Their pace is fast. We don't stop!
WWII reenactors are patiently waiting their turn.
This is a real battlefield.
The Russian siege in WWI was the most significant event.
Remember that this part of Poland was part of Austro-Hungary.
There you see the anachronists again!
They have to wait, we still have a lot to see here.
Don't worry, later we'll be with them.
I give back the floor to Łukasz.
Right now we see the observation tower.
Austrian soldiers used it to observe the front line.
The front line that we see at our 12 O'clock.
They communicate from here with the artillery tower, where we can see the second soldier.
Now we see the frontline where Russians attacked the fortress.
This was a bettlefield.
This white church is in Ukraine.
This is the year Skoda made this tower.
1897.
The well-known Skoda car company built this tower.
This tower used to spin around.
Like a clock.
They used a special tube to communicate.
Very modern for XIX and XX centuries.
Let's review some History.
When WWI broke out Poland was ruled
by Russian, Prussian and Austro-Hungarian empires since the first partition in the end of 18th century.
Przemyśl and its unpronounceable name were under the Austro-Hungarians
until it disappeared in 1918.
Like other border cities Przemyśl was strongly fortified.
We are in the fortress XV, later we'll be in the I.
During WWII, this city was in the border of the German-USSR partition.
San river divided the city: Wehrmacht in the North, Red Army in the South.
The fortresses were not what they used to be.
And had no relevance anymore.
Now the lieutenant will show us these uniforms.
Here we have Austrian uniforms from WWI.
Model 1908.
Pouches for Mannlicher carbine and belt with buckle.
Haversack, shovel and bayonet for the short version of Mannlicher rifle.
Canteen for carrying water or wine.
It was very modern for the beginning of the XX century.
And comfortable, with big pockets.
- This roller... - This is very interesting.
This roller was for holding the riffle on it.
Green badges, symbol of the 10º regiment from Przemyśl.
This infantry regiment fought on this sector in 1914.
Consisting of Polish and Ukranians.
This badge on the cap has the initials of the Austro-Hungarian emperor.
This officer uniform is from an infantry lieutenant.
Regular cap, binocles, belt with officers buckle holster.
Browning FN 1900 holster.
Infantry officer saber model 1863.
On the blade, the stamp of the company Solingen.
Typical uniform of a WWI officer.
The centenary of the beginning of WWI is approaching
so it's good to take a look at these uniforms.
Let's go now to another fortress to talk about WWII.
I don't remember the name of the fortress.
Good!
We're approaching fortress I.
The most important and amazing.
When you pass the gate you know you are in a historical place.
I don't want to bore you with my sensations.
Now we left WWI behind, we're in WWII.
Right now we are on Siedliska in the fortress "Salis Soglio".
We are going to show you something from the WWII.
Specifically from the Armia Krajowa.
Remember that Polish soldiers fought until the end of 1945.
And when the war ended it was another nightmare for Poles.
Because Russian soldiers stopped and killed those who survived.
What is this?
A civil jacket with a belt.
And a British submachine gun 'Sten'.
Other supplies were British, like this.
I wear WWII Polish boots and trousers.
A British jacket 'battledress'.
The holster for Vis.
And submachine gun 'Thompson'.
They were sent to Poland from 1941 to the end of the war.
Let's go for a walk.
This is another example of AK uniforms.
Almost everything is German.
I wear a Polish cap 'rogatywka'.
A stolen German machine gun MG-34.
- Stolen like the jacket. - That's it.
Can I pick it up?
It's very heavy.
Here you are.
We know you'd like to see a battle.
But in winter there is barely reenactment.
It's interesting anyway to know places with history.
To see what's reenacted abroad and meet groups.
By the way, we still didn't introduce the reenactors to you.
There you go.
This is Mirek, from the group 'X D.O.K.'
The name is longer and in Polish.
He will tell us about the group.
'Przemyskie Stowarzyszenie Rekonstrukcji Historycznej X D.O.K.'
was created in 2007.
We have been on reenactment for 5 years.
We try to show different uniforms: Austrohungarian, Armia Krajowa,
Wehrmacht and the People's Army of Poland.
We make different activities.
Reenactment, ceremonies and WWI and WWII dramas.
Reenacting German soldiers isn't a problem.
Each group in Poland which reenacts Wehrmacht or SS
declares in its rules that it's not Nazi apologia.
It's only for historical purpose.
It's about showing the everyday German soldier.
As everyday Polish and Austrian soldiers.
This is the nature of reenactment here in Poland.
We see you reenact with different uniforms. Are you planning something new?
I think we show quite a lot of uniforms right now.
So I think we won't start new projects.
Our present goal is to show this not-very-known historical period.
We've met a new group. Time to meet more.
That has been our first reenacting experience abroad.
We hope you liked it and you don't get annoyed by subtitles!
Next week we will stay in Poland.
We'll be in a training of WWII.
Wrap up warm because it'll be cold.
And don't forget to visit our website and our social networks.
See you next week. Dismissed!