submachineguns made by Polish resistance in WW2

[bluered12]

This seems to be a quite forgotten part of WW2 firearms history

Pistolet Maszynowy Błyskawica:

http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/niemiecka_bron_strzelecka_pliki/blyskawica_bt.gif

http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/ak/blysk_3.jpg

http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/aa3/blyskaw_kil.jpg

sources: http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/blyskawica.htm
http://hem.passagen.se/dadkri/Blyskawica.htm

There were two other homemade submachineguns:

Pistolet Maszynowy "Choroszmanów"
PPSh-41 or PPD-40 copy

It was made by a gunsmith named Grzegorz Choroszman and his sons, hence the name.
Manufactured in the "Polesie" region of Poland, apparently only made in very small numbers (as low as 22) during the winter of '43-'44 and used by the "Tadeusz Kosciuszko" resistance unit.

source: http://63.99.108.76/ubb/Forum2/HTML/004740.html

Pistolet Maszynowy Bechowiec-1
unfortunately no information

Does anyone have pictures and additional information of these smgs?
thx in advance

[TR]

Sure, you can find some additional information here, ironic as there is information but no picture. This is the first pics of the weapon I have seen so thanks for that. I would check with the site below and see if the owner has any additional information. There are so few websites that deal with just Polish small arms as it is.


Blyskawica

Specifications
Maker: Made by resistance workshops during WW II
Caliber: 9 mm Parabellum
Action type: Blowback
Capacity: 32
Length (stock folded): 430 mm (16.9")
Length (stock extended): 630 mm (24.8")
Barrel length: ca 200 mm (7.87")
Weight: 2.8 kg (6.17 lb)

History Top
Blyskawica submachine gun was designed and produced by the Polish resistance during the WW II. It was technologically related to the British Sten. A limited number was made between 1943-44.

Description Top
Blyskawica was blowback operated. It fired from open bolt and was fed from a 32 round box magazine (interchangeable with Sten magazines). Blyskawica could only be fired in full auto. Sights had two setting: 100 and 200 meters. Despite being made by underground armories it was very well made and finished.

Users Top
Blyskawica was used by the Polish resistance.

The Website Is
http://hem.passagen.se/dadkri/Blyskawica.htm



TR

[Herrmannek]

Here is some fine replica:
http://fk1.webpark.pl/blysk1.gif

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

Ironically I heard that a certain washing machine and dryer could be turned into a fully automatic weapon (mind you this is in WW2 era).
If anyone can shed some light on this it would be greatly appericiated.

[Marmot1]

http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/aa1/mpl_ak.gif
Home-made Flametrower yused in Warsaw Uprising
http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/niemiecka_bron_strzelecka_pliki/vis_czesci_bt.gif
VIS pistol - produced before war then production was continued from parts stolen in factory (germans continued production to suyply it to wermacht -it was realy good weapon much better than P-08) but germans moved production of barrels to another country so polish underground opened production of them :-)
http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/niemiecka_bron_strzelecka_pliki/viskrieg3.jpg
VIS with both germann and polish marks ( in german army it was used as P-35(p) - p=polnishe)
VIS is still produced for colectioners by FB Radom
http://pl.wikipedia.org/upload/2/2d/Barykada.jpg
Captured Hetzer
http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/aa3/kubus_jan.jpg
Homemade armoured car "Kubus"
http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/aa1/kubus_schem.jpg
"Kubus" was armed with MG flamethrower and granades also it transpoted 8 soldiers so it was rather APC than Armoured car... it was used in 2 raids on german held University in Warsaw, survived war and is displayed in Warsaw Military Museum

[Rantanplan]

Interesting stuff. Do you know on wich civil car the Kubus was based?

[Herrmannek]

Chevrolet model 157 from car manufacture "Lilpop, Rau i Loewenstein" from Warsaw.
http://www.republika.pl/panzer10/panzer10/polska/kubus1.jpg

Sorry Rant :)
http://www.zskol.szczecin.pl/dane_pl/ak/grafika/kazdy_pocisk.gif
Every bullet one German

[Rantanplan]

well I half polish and my grandfather (Moms side) thought on the polish side.

[Herrmannek]

well I half polish and my grandfather (Moms side) thought on the polish side.
I know :)....I didn't meant this to offend anybody just poster from the event...

[Chris O`Crooh]

Pistolet Maszynowy Bechowiec-1
unfortunately no information

Made by Henryk Strąpoć, Bechowiec fired with a closed bolt, had no stock, but was a surpisingly well-thought construction. 22 were made in 9 mm Para, and three in 7,62x25.

I read an article in an old magazine, Colt, maaaany years ago.

[snake_eater]

Here is some fine replica:
http://fk1.webpark.pl/blysk1.gif

Does it work?

[Herrmannek]

Dunno, but rather not, I think everything is made with high detail excluding barrel probably without bore and lock without extractor pin and ?case hole?..but if you want be sure you can ask guy who makes them. http://fk1.webpark.pl/index.html, he has also fine non shooting stens...

[REMOV]

http://secondww.republika.pl/html/bron/604.gif
Bechowiec-1 (ca. 11 were produced) made by Hendryk Strapoc (Strąpoć = Stra,poc')

http://secondww.republika.pl/html/bron/601.gif
Choroszmanów (22 were produced) copy of Russian PPD SMG, made in Grzegorz Choroszman's workshop.

http://secondww.republika.pl/html/bron/602.gif
http://secondww.republika.pl/html/bron/605.gif
Other self-made submachineguns or even machinegun (sic!)

[Porta_jon]

i have a home made flame thrower. it used regular gas though, not jellied gas, so it was only good for show. but i mean, i didnt really need it for anything else.

[Marmot1]

Homemade pistol...
http://secondww.republika.pl/html/bron/603.gif
6.35mm ammo (Browning?)


You mised this one REMOV.. ;)

[mustamato]

http://secondww.republika.pl/html/bron/601.gif
Choroszmanów (22 were produced) copy of Russian PPD SMG, made in Grzegorz Choroszman's workshop.

http://secondww.republika.pl/html/bron/602.gif

Is it just me, or does one of them lack a barrel? Hmhm wouldn´t that kind
of make the bullet have no power at all more or less, not to mention accuracy
beyond 5 meters? The one on top, (PPD copy) looks a little like a...

http://ankkurinvarsi.com/jaeger/kp_PPD40.jpg
... PPD-40

http://ankkurinvarsi.com/jaeger/kp_PPD34.jpg
And just as a sidenote, original PPD-34

http://ankkurinvarsi.com/jaeger/kp_PPD3438.jpg
PPD-34/38

[bluered12]

Found a new working link with the drawings of homemade weapons:

http://modeleww2.blog.onet.pl/1,CT62325,index.html

and a site with more technical details:

http://www.jurek.com.pl/bron2ws/index2.php?kraj=pl&rodzaj=bs

Both links are in Polish, but unterstandable with the help of an online translator.

Especially the homemade machinegun seems to be an interesting device

http://republika.pl/blog_wo_74672/80765/tr/rkm.jpg


RĘCZNY KARABIN MASZYNOWY. Wykonany przez Franciszka Teteryka jesienią 1942 we wsi Rachodoszyce w okolicach Zamościa. Broń była używana przez żołnierzy miejscowego oddziału ZWZ-AK.
Kaliber 7,92 mm, długość 106,5 cm, magazynek 20 naboi.

[wicio]

RĘCZNY KARABIN MASZYNOWY. Wykonany przez Franciszka Teteryka jesienią 1942 we wsi Rachodoszyce w okolicach Zamościa. Broń była używana przez żołnierzy miejscowego oddziału ZWZ-AK.
Kaliber 7,92 mm, długość 106,5 cm, magazynek 20 naboi.


Light Machine Gun made by Franciszek Teteryk in autumn 1942 in Rachodoszyce village near Zamosc (city in Poland). The weapon was used by soldiers of local Home (Underground) Army unit. Calibre 7,92 mm, lenght 106,5 mm, Magazine 20 rounds

regards

V