Błyskawica: The Polish Home Army's Clandestine SMG

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The Blyskawica ("LIghtning") is an SMG developed in occupied Poland to be issued out to Home Army units during Operation Tempest; the liberation uprisings planned for the advance of the Red Army into Poland.
The gun was developed starting in September 1942 by two engineers, Wacław Zawrotny and Seweryn Wielanier. Both were smart and talented, but neither had previous experience in arms design. The design they created is both innovative in some areas and inferior in others as a result, with major inspiration coming form the Sten and the MP40. Production was undertaken in the harshest conditions of occupied Warsaw, where just possession of cutting tools required German military permission.* It is a credit to the skill and dedication of the Home Army team that some 750 Błyskawica guns were made; the largest mass production of any underground weapon that I am aware of.
Ultimately, Operation Tempest did not come to full fruition, as the NKVD's treatment of Polish fighters as collaborators destroyed Home Army interest in cooperation. The Błyskawica guns were never issued in mass as planned, with only the few dozen last made being used in the Warsaw Uprising. The remaining 700-odd examples have never been found - perhaps they remain in long-forgotten caches still to this day?
For the full story of the Błyskawica, see Leszek Erenfeicht's excellent article:
www.forgottenweapons.com/subm...
Many thanks to the Polish Army Museum for giving me access to film this exceptionally rare item for you! Check them out at: www.muzeumwp.pl/?language=EN
* This created some interesting situations in which a shop might take a contract to make material for the Wehrmacht as a way to get access to the tools needed for Błyskawica component production. To those who did not know the whole story, such a shop was collaborationist.
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle 36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@PlakeFilmmaker]

German officer in shop: "What is this?" "Electric oven handle" "And this?" "Electric oven fire control group"

[@yumtig7444]

This one was good! You, Sir, win the Internets. For a day.

[@khaaaaaaaaaannn]

Highly underrated comment

[@rrolf71]

There is an interesting story about the Polish VIS pistol. The Germans took over the production for their own needs, and of course Polish manufacturers decided it's a good opportunity to make some guns for the Underground. So, now and then they made parts with a duplicate part number, and assembled pistols from them. The Germans could not imagine that anyone could ever make two parts with the same serial number, so it worked for a while. Unfortunately, after ca. 200 guns being made for the Underground, someone blabbed and the workers ended up in concentration camps.

[@Owlpunk]

Ah vell, carry on zen, everzing seems to be in order!

[@muriwatch]

WAS IST DAS?! ;)

[@Aaahrg]

Fun fact: The Polish had a destroyer of the same name (ORP Błyskawica, Grom-Class) wich fought on allied side and survived the war. Its a museum-ship and the oldest destroyer in existence now.

[@deltazero3796]

True, featured in World of Warships Do you think we can convince Ian to visit Błyskawica?

[@avengercannon]

I loved it on World of Warships before they nerfed it

[@Aaahrg]

@@avengercannon Did they nerf it? I thought it just was powercrept. T7 isn't the greatest tier for DD anyway, you have shit concealment and don't get the T8 upgrade yet (exept one or two exceptions)

[@hemaka482]

Currently stationed and opened for visitors in Gdynia!

[@mek1429]

Fun fact again: I think polish destroyer names are really nice Grom = Thunder Blyskawica = Lightning Piorun (The ship that signaled "I am a Pole" to Bismarck) = Thunderbolt

[@TheRogueWolf]

For being a product of the underground Polish branch of Two Blokes in a Shed LLC, this is a pretty good design.

[@tobiasfurderer3390]

You don't really need enemies if you have such good "friends"

[@ipodman1910]

@@handle1603 this! ^^^

[@datamek]

Superb pronunciation of "Blyskawica" . Respect.

[@mirekszreder8324]

"Hm"? blyskavicija.....sounds close...

[@mikoajkarczewski9605]

As a Pole I’d like to thank Ian for first of all for being a such a cool guy, and then for remembering about our firearms and resistance against both Nazi and Soviet rule! It’s an honor to be a Pole, an honor to be able to watch videos on Polish small arms throughout the years. Ian is just based af

[@joe-ob3se]

...resistance against Germans and Soviet Rusians...

[@vic.blaine]

When I first read the story of Witold Pilecki I gained a tremendous respect for Polish soldiers in WWII. And today the Poles honor humanity with their support for Ukrainian refugees. My hat is off to you.

[@SlavicUnionGaming]

@@joe-ob3se racist

[@joe-ob3se]

@@SlavicUnionGaming Who is Nazi? Citizen of Naziland?

[@randomassortmentofthings]

@@joe-ob3se Seethe

[@enricopaolocoronado2511]

The 'dying' microphone audio reminds me of the older Forgotten Weapons videos from way back then. Unexpected nostalgia for the win.

[@grzegorzmaksym462]

Wow Ian how do you pronounce the word "Błyskawica" perfectly!!!

[@jakubr3831]

jak native speaker prawie

[@absolutelybased3251]

Lots of practicing off camera lol

[@robertsmith4681]

Some very "stern" looking Polish dudes behind the camera making sure he doesn't mess it up while handling a literal National Treasure .... ? :P

[@Rose.Of.Hizaki]

@@robertsmith4681 Very sten indeed.

[@deltazero3796]

+1

[@marmooster]

As a Pole I am highly impressed how well you pronounced Błyskawica. And how apropriettly you described the background of conditions in which this gun came to life.

[@fetishartist137]

When I was young, a lot of people told Polish jokes. When I was around 17, I saw a Vis-Random and thought how clever the makers were. Later, as an artist I would find out about the legendary Stanislaw Szukalski and read MAUS. Now it's pretty obvious with the arms development and military that when someone cracks a Polish joke, they don't know jack about Poland.

[@docholiday7975]

Polish jokes largely originated from migrants during the 19th and early 20th C. They were from lower class backgrounds that didn't have or have much access to education, going abroad to look for better opportunities than what existed back home under the Germans or the Russians. Being largely unskilled and uneducated labourers led to them being characterised as being dumb (amongst other things) hence leading to the jokes. Nothing especially new, as they fit the general format of ethnic stupidity jokes.

[@HolahkuTaigiTWFormosanDiplomat]

ＹＥＳ．

[@alias1719]

I remember those jokes. Thankfully, we've come along way since then. Err, most of us have.

[@book3100]

That's exactly why they were jokes. Not because everybody thought they were true, but because of the absurdity. And people had thicker skins about such things. People ask where I'm from. Wales (Cymru). Annnnd the sheep jokes commence. Yes it's tiresome, but sometimes I'll throw in a few they haven't heard before too. Once in a while you'll find somebody that's really trying to hurt your feelings. You either ignore them or give them a sock in the nose. Usually clears things up.

[@admonster11]

Maus is very racist.

[@brandonha]

Its impressive that a group of engineers with little actual gun experience and few direct samples to draw from developed such an overall good product. The modularity is particularly impressive. Seems like the few glaring flaws could be modified out with an experienced hand to make it more serviceable. Heck, it wouldn’t take much to make it take glock mags! A tremendous statement of ingenuity and skill in a literal do or die level of risk. Goes to show that no matter where you go, what bans are in place, people can find a way to defend themselves.

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

I don't think making it fit glock mags was of much practical concern.

[@maotisjan]

In Poland we say: Polak potrafi, Which translates to : Polish Can or Polish knows how

[@jeudieleslavavelasquez8410]

@@maotisjan Beautiful saying.

[@brandonha]

@@maotisjan of the Polish folks I know, lots of truth to this. Much like the Irish, they tended to come to canada and find success in skilled trades. Not just labour, but labour requiring experience and skills. The plumbing industry here is a particularly Polish heavy group.

[@boguslav9502]

@@maotisjan co dużo mówić, lubimy wyzwania

[@MikJ132]

Another unique WWII SMG is the Romanian Orita SMG. It even remained in service post-WWII until it was made obsolete by Romania's AK variants. I only ever saw pictures of it and never saw it fire or disassembled. Would love to see a video on it someday!

[@ForgottenWeapons]

I have a video on the 41/49 Orita coming in late January.

[@MikJ132]

@@ForgottenWeapons Wonderful! Thanks Ian!

[@snepping1885]

@@ForgottenWeapons based

[@JGCR59]

Given how few of those guns are actually around it says a lot about the trust Ian enjoys in the international historical firearms community that the Poles let him disassemble what is basically a national treasure to them. :)

[@ipodman1910]

Exactly my thoughts! I’m Polish and see Ian for the very first time. I was shocked the museum allowed him to touch that piece of history!

[@wukipl]

If the story of Blyskawica is interesting to you, search the story of "Suchedniow Sten" or "Sten suchedniowski". Made in 1943 in German controlled factory, of course in clandestine conditions. More then 50 made, with parts to complete 200, were used immediately to boost local partisan troops (search "Zgrupowanie Ponurego" - awesome story). One still exist. Made with British markings and numbers to pretend they were drooped by SOE.

[@kennydoggins1712]

Fake serialization is a giant brained move actually.

[@ss181292]

Big Thank You, for explaining, what the "liberation by red army" really means.

[@CYBERTRIBAL]

yeah, you can always bet on those russian d@#$^^@*s that they screw you over.

[@Madrider1024]

We felt very “liberated” for a few decades.

[@rekerboi1125]

@Madrider1024 I think it's high time we liberate moscow, it is rightful Polish land, after all. moscow must be freed from the russian occupiers

[@Occurredcord]

When you walk through the museum you can see the sheer amount of historical artifacts that were "liberated" and then kindly returned

[@callmeweaboo6250]

We as Poles and other countries see liberation from perspective of NKVD etc. Russians see only common soldiers. Like Ian said common soldier had a good time with each other, but NKVD is another story

[@taboret3280]

Ian, I am a Pole and I am so grateful that you made a video about this smg. Thanks for contributing to preserving a memory about polish weapons.

[@doraran2138]

Elderly neighbor fought NAZI invaders with Free Polish resistance, only to have NAZI's former ally (1939-41) the Communists, imprison a guy who was part of killing lots of NAZIs to liberate Poland, as a "NAZI collaborator'. He came to US in 1950s under some President Truman displaced persons action. Few in US realize Hitler invaded Poland Sept, 1 1939, with their then ally, Stalin invading Poland 3 weeks later. (Ribentrof-Molotov Treaty).

[@reliantncc1864]

It's not about the weapon, it's about the Pole who wields it. I believe Poles would have fought with garden tools if they had to. Respect for Poles who fought invaders from east and west. Respect for what you still do today for Ukrainian victims.

[@vargmarkussen2137]

@@reliantncc1864 Actually, the Poles did utilize gardening equipment as weapons at a certain point. There are records of modified garden hoses used as makeshift flamethrowers during the Warsaw Uprising. A truly ingenious nation, we are :) As for helping the Ukrainians, I believe we still have a relatively fresh memory of what it's like to be an invaded country. Plus, there's a strong anti-Russian sentiment to throw into the mix

[@rsconrado]

@@reliantncc1864 There is no ukrainian victims. Them are the scum.

[@rsconrado]

@@vargmarkussen2137 You’re making very stupid remarks.

[@Reaperofsouls99]

As a Polish descendant, the story of the Polish Home Army and the Red Army's betrayal still hurts me... 😢

[@pkrtm8222]

thats the cold war myth that Stalin betrayed the Polish home army. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXTPq2Vto8ybf8k

[@5isalivegaming72]

From the onset of the war Poland was attacked from both sides by the Germans and soviets. They literally had an agreement beforehand oh who got what land. I don't understand where you're getting some kinda betrayal from? If anything, England and France actually did flat out betray Poland. They promised aid and then just let the Germans and soviets take the country, trying to buy themselves a couple weeks at the cost of litteraly millions of Poles. Which in turn makes the French administration giving up before the fight even worse ... this is becoming a rant 😂😆 Apologies 🎉

[@tarnvedra9952]

Really good. Now I want to see small motorcycle engine made by gun engineers.

[@LARPing_Services_LLC]

Pistons go boom and engine serves as shrapnel propelling device. But it has a manual safety to prevent undesired ignition and is made of bent sheet metal.

[@handpaper6871]

One of the earliest attempts at an internal combustion engine used small pellets of gunpowder as fuel. It wasn't a success.

[@seanhall5385]

why does Harley have dual belt feeds yet no carburetor?

[@AnimeSunglasses]

@@seanhall5385 It's fuel injected now! ... ...what?

[@martinswiney2192]

Can it run on black powder just to freak out the liberal tree huggers?

[@micahstroope]

11:42 Ian coming through with the period appropriate screwdriver for disassembly 😂

[@edwardwood6532]

The feel of this video feels like some of his early retro videos. I like it Ian.

[@hama.a]

I think that's just from the scuffed audio

[@ToxikDouche]

i thought the same thing. just a nostalgia trip.

[@marshaltito7232]

If you ever can in your life go to Poland and specifically Warsaw. Beautiful country and city with wonderful people and the museums there are incredible. Although the entire city had to be rebuilt there is an incredible amount of history there. What happened during the Occupation and then Uprising is absolutely heartbreaking, the inner city is absolutely full of memorials and reminders of the tragedy. Poland is not yet lost! 🇵🇱

[@marlenakiepinska1190]

There are many other cities in Poland You can go to and they are way better than Warsaw in any way, Wrocław, Toruń, Kraków... I would rather go there than Warsaw o be honest. Warsaw is just overrated :)

[@johnnyenglish583]

@@frederickpallas7130 Like you said, it's OK for a couple of days. The Old Town is a stunning example of reconstructing something that was razed to the ground. There are many beautiful parks in Warsaw, it's a very green city. And a few interesting museums for history nerds, like the Warsaw Uprising Museum and the Polish Army Museum. Other than that, places like Krakow, Zamosc, Wroclaw and Gdansk are definitely more interesting.

[@Mr-Trox]

I'd love to visit European Texas. It's in my top 5 countries to visit.

[@DonksGrooves]

I would imagine that the parts were also disperse-manufactured in a "cell" style so that if they did lose one manufacturing process to the occupying forces that they would only have to replace that process rather than start from scratch.

[@puhtymekMN]

There is very interesting gun called Bechowiec , its a home made SMG shooting from close bolt , something not typical for that time. It was made in small Numbers by a Man who never before seen machine pistol in his life

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yep, I have a video coming next month on that.

[@eizol568]

Always glad to see a new video Ian. Lets hope Poland doesn’t need to make more guns like this and they stay safe in these troubling times.

[@eclip1991]

@@MrSlugny You mean take back Polish land taken by Czechs in 1919.

[@engloute]

@@eclip1991 Just wondering how long a history of annexations and invasions and switching land ownership do you want to take into consideration when it comes to regions throughout Central Europe...

[@eclip1991]

@@engloute After Poland regained its independence, it was invaded by the Russians. Czechs took advantage of the war to seize Polish territory, inhabited to a large extent by Poles. After defeating the Russians, Poland simply regained its lands. I don't know what you're trying to imply, but that's the facts. And tell me, how long a history of annexations and invasions and switching land ownership do you want to take into consideration when it comes to regions throughout any other place in the world?

[@eclip1991]

@@MrSlugny Poland and the Czech Republic are not "two brand new nations". Poland is 1056 years old.

[@engloute]

@@eclip1991 I am aware of many injustices minor as well as major when it comes to the times around the end of the Great War. What I was pointing out was the fact that this general area was sought after by many throughout European history and it switched hands numerous times over the centuries.

[@MrCougarjo]

I had the pleasure of 3D sculpting a lot of weapons and the Kubus for Infamous JT's Warsaw Uprising 28mm range of miniatures. I feel like I know this weapon too much now haha!! A pleasure to see it again in detail with Ian!

[@theprofessor6898]

Your work is fabulous, I can't wait to pick some of those miniatures up to paint when I get the cash. Thank you for helping to bring attention to the heroes who fought in the Uprising. :)

[@ravenslaves]

I geek out at creative, KISS, engineering (among many other things). And this example is just that. Forced to keep it simple, but balanced with some forward thinking design elements at the same time. They went the small, extra, distance to make an underground weapon, that went beyond the "a weapon to get a better weapon" concept.

[@PearlJam2k6]

Makes you wonder what actually happened to the guns that were sent out. Did they get intersepted, stolen, stashed and forgotten? What are the chances one day someone will find a parked, rusted out truck in a cave or fallen-in pit in the woods full of guns?

[@brasstard7.627]

I remember an article about resistance made Sten guns found in Poland in the walls of a building under renovation, this isn't that long ago. They actually found the guy who stashed them in WW2 and put the guns in a museum

[@rogiervis2306]

Here in Holland, it very common to read articles in the news paper, that guns and ammo are found in attics and ceilings during renovation. I found 3 MG34 barrels in the woods years ago, still in there containers. The barrels are actually in goos condition after 70 years.

[@MizantropMan]

@@brasstard7.627 Soviet administration also found a lot of weapon stashes for the Uprising in the buildings that survived the annihilation of Warsaw over the decades following the war, but most, if not all, had been scrapped.

[@thenecromorpher]

I would wager that all 3 are likely, the ratio I don't know (and likely isn't known, experts might have an idea on the ratio though).

[@edim108]

Most were stashed away in secret locations. Only 2-3 people knew the location of a given stash to minimize the risk of such information leaking to the Germans. But being in the Home Army was risky so many of these people died before they could relay the location of their stash, and thus it was never opened. There were dozens of such stashes discovered and probably dozens that are still sealed away. These unaccessed stashes contributed heavily to the fall of the Uprising. Hundreds if not thousands of small arms as well as thousands, tens of thousands of pieced of ammunition, together with other supplies. If all these stashes were accessed it would have been a much more fair fight on the ground...

[@Artur_M.]

I have been waiting for this since your video in the Polish Army Museum (Muzeum Wojska Polskiego)! Very nice pronunciation.

[@Artur_M.]

And a very nice, in-depth video overall, of course. 😀

[@maotisjan]

Ian's pronunciation of Polish is rather nice for someone used to English, also I regret that he visited Warsaw in winter (the City is at it's ugliest during that season) the City is really pretty in summer, still I hope he had good time Also If you ever find yourself in Warsaw please consider visiting Warsaw Uprising Museum where you could learn more about Polish Home Army and Operation "Tempest"

[@NomadicHacker.]

On the barrel nut, aluminum to steel will often get stuck particularly when rapid heating and cooling is involved

[@alastairbarkley6572]

Although, galvanically, the corrosion potential between mild steel (1010) and most aluminium alloys is pretty low.

[@internetbodhi1009]

@@alastairbarkley6572 sure, great, but thermal expansion rates and galling are also at play. I have no interest in continuing this minutiae bushwacking, however.

[@YuureiInu]

It would get stuck and repeated shock could strip the aluminum fine thread

[@dirtfarmer7070]

Just a working gun to get a better gun....sometimes all you need. Stepping stones.

[@NomadicHacker.]

@@dirtfarmer7070 obviously but not the point being made

[@pierluigiadreani2159]

The Italian resistance also made some crude submachine guns, notably the Variara which was a Frankenstein item something between Mab 38 and a Sten with a look similar to the MP40. Maybe one day you will make a video about it. Hopefully

[@theguy9208]

Italy was making crude last ditch machine guns before the war even started.

[@greycatturtle7132]

Lmao

[@Alexcos]

The TZ-45 also

[@georgesmith5708]

@@theguy9208 totally false, ignorant and stupid comment that could have been spared. Not worth the time spent to write it.

[@madmagcat7515]

@@theguy9208 utter bulshit

[@G-Mastah-Fash]

POV: You're sitting in a room with Ian getting a polish gun explained to you but the antibiotics haven't gotten rid of your swimmers ear yet.

[@akaroth7542]

Just don't get swimmers in your ear, Brah!

[@keithlarsen7557]

The acoustics aren't always perfect where he shoots, and it isn't always practical to take the guns to a studio.

[@dinoslavski]

Great vid Ian, as long as you are in Warsaw with the Polish Army Museum can you make a video on the Teterycz machine gun? It's another homemade firearm that I personally adore.

[@comettoPL]

Ian was in Warsaw few months ago...

[@dinoslavski]

@@comettoPL ah, too bad then

[@jeanvonestling7408]

@@dinoslavski I think he also said that he made one about bechowiec. He made videos about a few Polish guns but he uploads them from time to time.

[@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401]

The rise of Uprising Poland

[@oetam8559]

Hey, i search it and its say there only 1 has been made, do you have any idea of how it work? Becouse it look like a 1 barrel shotgun with a pistol grip, straight 20 round magazine, and a tubular action. Its also say that it work with a close bolt. Thank you

[@tonguepunchman1528]

Considering the name and background of the gun, one can't help but wonder that a certain Terror Billy would be really proud and wield one or two of these with great efficiency.

[@aleksanderszablinski6941]

As a pole, I am actually very happy with the way they depicted his roots being a factor but him still being American through and through. Honestly I love those games so much

[@vie_baobab]

I would love to see Headstamp do a book on "SMG's of the Resistance." This is a great example of the interesting role SMG's have played in world history and why their development is so fascinating.

[@dabrovsky2293]

I quite enjoy this little Polish tour. Very informative, very well put together and addition of some Polish history makes it complete first look. Great work

[@mr.apsylone9191]

The Warsaw uprising is the most interesting part of WW2 to me, i'm very happy to see more light put on the Home Army and the "hardware" used by them. Very instructive and clean videa as usual. Bonjour de France, déjà hâte à la prochaine vidéo Ian.

[@ilcattivo13]

This post will probably disappear in the crowd of others, but I have to say, that Ian's version of liberation of Vilnius story was a bit is a bit too short and black and white than it really was. The command of the Home Army and the entire underground state began to prepare the operation too late and not all Polish units managed to reach the grouping sites before the attack. In addition, Soviets were advancing (and Germans were retreating) so fast that there was no waiting for the missing forces. Vilnius could not be recaptured from Germans before the arrival of Soviets, but that does not mean that Soviets themselves liberated it. All available Polish units took part in it. My grandfather, a senior sergeant of the 77th Infantry Regiment of Home Army, received the Virtuti Militari (it's Polish Medal of Honor) for that operation. After all, Soviets first arrested all the officers (or at least those who believed Soviets). Only then were ordinary soldiers arrested, but very few of them ended up in Siberian lagers. Most of them were conscripted by force, threats or leaving no other option to the LWP (Polish People's Army) or Red Army (all born at the Polish territories ocupied by Soviets between September 1939 and June 1941), and most of the remaining group were killed. Grandpa fought with Soviets from September 17, 1939, he survived the fall of their underground unit and the Soviet prison, which he almost cost with his life on June 22, 1941, when Soviets began shooting prisoners, so together with several other soldiers, when it turned out that the officers, after meeting with Soviets disappeared, they decided to go into hiding. He said that when they later traveled towards Grodno, and then central Poland, they found many Home Army POWs murdered by Soviets. Also the reason why Soviets did not help Warsaw during the uprising was not at all the desire for Germans to slaughter Poles, but this post is already too long, so I will end here. Merry Christmas to Ian and all his fallowers :)

[@randomnobodovsky3692]

Don't want to be excessively petty since you wrote some important stuff, but: "Virtuti Militari (it's Polish Medal of Honor)" - it's not. This is only second highest one. And there are several "levels" ("classes") of Virtuti Militari. You may want to take a glance at Ustawa z dnia 16 października 1992 r. o orderach i odznaczeniach. In fact, we don't have any direct equivalent of Medal of Honor.

[@urdnal]

Two finger salute to your dziadek. Mine had a similar experience.

[@ilcattivo13]

@@randomnobodovsky3692 During WW2 Virtuti Militari 5th class, was the only VM medal available to the common soldier and the highest Polish decoration awarded for heroism in combat. So it's definitely the equivalent of the Medal of Honor.

[@Plasmorbital]

Unrelated trivia: The hero in our fond PC gaming classic, Wolfenstein, is William Joseph "B.J." Blazkowicz

[@Chiller01]

Poles are pretty amazing firearms designers. wz38M is my favourite WW2 semiautomatic rifle design. That’s what they did with firearms experience and under relative peace time conditions.

[@tytusdezoo5097]

Is there a video on the Bechowiec clandestine SMG in your works? If so, I'm hoping for a lot of laughs listening to your attempts to pronounce the name

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yes, there is.

[@DeplorableBitterClinger]

Maybe not the best rear sight to use, but a fantastically simply one to make.

[@eksbocks9438]

I also heard that the Polish Underground also had a prototype semi-automatic rifle in 8mm Mauser. It was straight blowback. And meant to be used similar to a Browning BAR.

[@migo5205]

If you are in Warsaw, you should visit the museum of the warsaw uprising. The museum of the polish army has an huge outdoor area (not the one behind the building) where they have lots of big military equipment. They are or were restoring historical tanks there.

[@GazalAlShaqab]

I would dream about an episode the "KIS", the other "Polish STEN". The guy managed actually to simplify STEN gun (!!) and to produce them (and they were EXCELLENT, with modified barrels from Brownings wz. 28): major Piwnik pseudo "Ponury" who died fighting with this gun in hand, with the Nawrocki brothers and all the crew from Suchedniów… Stefan Nawrocki, a real gunsmithing GENIUS… But I imagine it is a too small story, and the guns may be too hard to find… Or, for another Ian's visit to Poland, if someday…

[@maurycygrabara1269]

To wojenne arcydzieło!!!Ile się wiąże z nim Emocji i Polskich Nadziei.Ten kawałek metalu to potężna historia polskiego podziemia.PS W Polsce powstało wtedy kilka takich perełek jak np Bechowiec.

[@SebastianMikulec]

I love these examples of cobbling together something useful while under duress. Really inspirational stuff.

[@saneavenue356]

Seems the screwdriver used is period correct too.

[@Dinstyvmorsa8539]

Love that safety mechanism! And the double recoil spring. Impressed

[@Dinstyvmorsa8539]

And also the bolt and breach grinded to opposing angles for dirt and shit. Smart people

[@keenices1972]

the poor mic quality tickled my 2013 nostalgia bone for some reason

[@paleoph6168]

Liking the new Polish theme Ian. Keep those Polish guns coming! 🇵🇱

[@Kamil987987]

Your pronunciation of "błyskawica" is flawless. Honestly, hats off.

[@TreacherousFennec]

this is a much better case of "SA80 syndrome" where the designers are engineers but not specifically firearm engineers

[@randomnobodovsky3692]

Well, designers of SA80 didn't have to plan for hiding the production of parts among legal-under-german-occupation production.

[@TreacherousFennec]

@@randomnobodovsky3692 they couldnt put together a functional gun in much better conditions which was a bulpupped AR18.

[@CAHelmer]

Ian, enjoy the guns but enjoy the history lessons and the breakdown of the weapons and the explanations to the manufacturing tradeoffs more. Please keep it up.

[@piercetheflesh9085]

Very interesting SMG. When I first saw 1 it instantly drew parrellels with my country’s Owen & Austen SMG’s and no wonder, we also only had a STEN & an MP40 but we weren’t under enemy occupation in clandestine machine shops. Again, the Blyskawica’s a very special, interesting SMG

[@lorando-hx3or]

0:15 i am honestly suprised that someone who is not native polish speaker could pronounce this right

[@datamek]

Btw lower assembly with holds trigger mechanism looks very similiar to old doorlocks when you turn it 90 degrees. A whole idea was to camouflage components as another items. So its hard to criticize how weapon was good or bad when a whole operation was made under the eye of german authoritys and punishment for such activitys was death or concentration camp.

[@MrSoggycat]

Was at the Polish Army Museum just 3 days ago and saw this gem for the first time. Thanks for this christmas present!

[@THE-REAL-DAK]

What a crude, odd and bulky weapon. I love it The history behind it is so fascinating, thanks for making such great videos!

[@janwacawik7432]

I love that Ian keeps some of the best videos for the end of the year. They're like Christmas presents. I've been waiting so much for this one to drop! Hopefully you'll visit Poland again sometime!

[@Casperski1312]

your best episode in a while, this gun and its history is amazing. Thanks for bringing the story to us!

[@saluteadezio7893]

I really enjoyed the video. I was waiting for this one since I heard about your visit in Poland. Thanks for such an amazing christmas present.

[@Slapdash1]

Fantastic pronunciation as well. Much love from Poland.

[@TheTehrozer]

This is not the first Polish rear aperture sight to be used. Józef Maroszek before being involved the wz. 35 or wz. 38M worked on a project of simplifying the wz. 29 carbine and the resulting KP-32 prototype did use a rear aperture sight. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karabinek_KP-32 Apparently the sight had some flaws and was one of the various reasons the project didn’t move forward. I don’t remember any earlier attempt but there might have been one if so it likely would be described in “Polskie konstrukcje broni strzeleckiej.” by Zbigniew Gwóźdź and Piotr Zarzycki.

[@leszekkadelski9569]

Now that's a Xmas gift I didn't even deserve. Thank you and enjoy this special time with your closest :)

[@Bacteriophagebs]

If the safety "trigger" were longer than the real trigger, you wouldn't even need a trigger guard. Pretty neat.

[@Arkticus]

It also shows a great level of care and foresight in the way the designers included all those reliefs and extra spaces to combat fowling and dirt from interfering with the function of the gun. They clearly knew that these guns would get little to no cleaning during their expectedly short service and with everything literally being screwed on, they really prioritized every bit of reliability that they could squeeze out of this thing. Gun-making experience or not, these guys knew what was needed.

[@TheConspirateWarrior]

Long due sir, you certainly waited to do it the right way, in the right setting, I've bee waiting for this video since you mentioned the kit on your website some time ago... much appreciated, big thank you

[@MoldyStir-Fry]

Just imagine what these engineers could have done in a fully unrestricted environment!

[@IgorOzarowski]

Been waiting ages for you to do a video on this gun! Saw it in the Warsaw Uprising museum, and always wanted to know more about it. Thanks Ian.

[@andrewbryant9214]

just love the ingenuity that went into this gun. Love it, keep up the great work. Ian is living my dream.

[@paranoiia8]

Nice that you mentioned what Soviet Army did "before" entering Warsaw, as weirdly not many people knew that they slowed down so Germans could "thin out" Polish resistance... As for gun it self I saw it in museum, crudely made but in the same time it was nice looking. I was just wondering why they choose that big stock instead of using bended metal rods, I know they are not best for cheek support but are easier to make and lighter.

[@jakobd1465]

So the Reds just stopped operation Bagration to "thin out" some boys and girls with guns? wow

[@paranoiia8]

@@jakobd1465 those few boys and girls had probably more balls than your entire family, so yeah it was sad that we lost few of them

[@jakobd1465]

@@paranoiia8 Wow, Insulting cuz your ignorance, is almost funny. 馬鹿 just like them... and you will be forgotten, just like them.

[@miketacos9034]

Amazing how much innovation went into this!

[@rrolf71]

The most impressive part (for me, as an old engineer) is how they managed to make the parts in an inconspicuous way, even if it ended up with a less than perfect design. A buttstock pretending to be an oven handle?

[@spondulixtanstaafl7887]

Thanks for the great content, the abilities of people, in adverse conditions, always amazes me.

[@JakubLorenc]

Well done Ian! While watching i didn't even care about the audio quality. You must have done a lot of research to come up with such acurate gun backgrounds in history. Perfect pronunciation of Błyskawica and the effort to use Ł - letter in the gun name were the cherry on top. It was a joy to watch!

[@chuckcochran8599]

When you consider that the Poles had to do all of this under occupation, it's really quite fascinating and amazing what they came up with. My hats off to the Polish people for their bravery, cleverness and creativity, in doing all of this and more under the very nose of brutal occupation.

[@amhuman5138]

This gun! I was really interested in it a year or so back, but I'm terrible at finding research for stuff like this.

[@pgruszewski]

I can see why do all those people allow you to see all their precious museum exhibits. What other way would I get a chance to see Błyskawica in such close up, and detailed show? Defo, not in Warsaw, even while visiting their museum. You're not just showing them, you are documenting it all. Well done again, Sir!

[@Occurredcord]

Was just back home visiting family not long ago and went to the museum again Hope you enjoyed your stay and all the wonderful aspects of Poland.

[@mortaegul6241]

Thank you Ian for your polish weapons videos, really informative, I love your channel

[@Trumplican]

that buttstock is so badass!!

[@dennisyoung4631]

Casting parts like this is fairly straightforward, given the right kind of tools - sand, (I’d use Petrobond) - furnace, tools, etc…

[@atenachos6282]

@@dennisyoung4631 Ok.

[@Maple-Sizzurp]

Poland has the coolest war museums, I miss Poland. ⚡🇵🇱

[@MichaelDodge27]

That trigger safety is super cool! I wonder how a winter glove would do with that? Otherwise would you freeze your index finger there during a cold Polish winter? Always cool to see the underground and improvised weapons!

[@JOJO-ef4fc]

This weapon wasn’t meant to be used in trenches, but in close combat, city ally’s , later in tunnels, where it could be more concealed.

[@jangrotnik6128]

Gloves were luxury in WW2

[@mickymondo7463]

And again, I like being on holiday I egt to watch forgotten weapons videos

[@Bricuxpl]

🇵🇱 Ian, thank You for a word about WWII Polish resistance history and russian war crimes on Polish defenders. Greetings!

[@dallesamllhals9161]

Just the rest of the Jews or "everyone"?

[@vladcrow4225]

Conserving ammunition is not a war crime.

[@mannywildegibbons1177]

Boohoo, the Russians whom we hate didn't come and save us. War crime!

[@dallesamllhals9161]

@@mannywildegibbons1177 ..define HATE! And you're from?

[@Aliyah_666]

As someone with polish descent this smg makes me proud of my forefathers.

[@mulletjocks]

Amazing history. This is why I keep tuning in. So good to hear the history of this Forgotten Weapon. Cheers

[@jg5737]

Surprisingly, more Germans died of stroke while trying to pronounce the gun's name than were shot by it.

[@polskagurom12345]

Blitzawitza

[@theguy9208]

Thats the whole reason the poles lasted so long. Germans and Soviets alike having strokes and aneurysms trying to pronounce signs on the road

[@tytusdezoo5097]

Hans: Name? Dolas: Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz Hans: dafuq? Later... Hans: Geboren? Dolas: Chrząszczyrzewoszyce, powiat Łękołowy Hans: ah sheiße...

[@janjanczyk1326]

The Germans brutally murdered 200,000 Poles during the Warsaw Uprising alone. How much during the war with all your country?

[@tytusdezoo5097]

@@janjanczyk1326 over 5 million people, from which around 3 milllion were polish Jews. This translates to about 16 percent of Polands' population as of 1939

[@perolavhavik2585]

The Norwegian resistance (MILORG) produced about 800 stenguns during the German occupation. A number of production facility were used to make individual pieces of the SMG. Most of the pieces were produced openly and claimed to be parts for civilian products. Some pieces such as the barrel could not be claimed to be something else, so they had to be produced in secret. Of course the fun also had to be assembled in secret too. The leader of the Norwegian stengun production was a man named Bror With.

[@perolavhavik2585]

"gun", not "fun". 😂

[@whatsmyfuckingname]

The French resistance had more success participating in liberation because their liberators were actual allies not about to shoot them in the back.

[@groundscorecuisine9959]

Ive wanted you to do this gun for years!! Congratulations for finally getting access to this incredible gun made by such heroic underground fighters.

[@Akira_781]

Excellent resourcefulness! Thanks for the knowledgeable breakdown, Ian 🍻

[@sonofliberty92]

Long live a free and prosperous Poland

[@kraxalublin6262]

the episode i've been waiting for for far too long :)

[@jacklukas7910]

Respect for knowledge and research not just about weapons but also history and reality of those times! Dziękuję Ian!👍

[@Gregory_Krivenko]

I saw this submachine gun in the game "Zombie Amy Trilogy".

[@johnym89]

Holy crap, Christmas came earlier in Poland this year

[@jesstreloar7706]

Steel may have been in very short supply. After April 1942 the German war effort was was hobbled by limited raw materials, steel, copper, aluminum and especially coking coal were all needed in every weapon manufacturing plant. They scrounged metals from all the occupied lands. The Poles may have need to use the aluminum they had available for lack of steel.

[@alastairbarkley6572]

I doubt it. Aluminium was very, very scarce in WW2 - particularly for the US and in war production generally. Practically every gramme went into aircraft - as a priority. The US Army Signal Corps desperately wanted to stop using steel in its heavy late-war radio sets. No luck - they could get none. Neither Poland, the UK or the US has much/any workable aluminium (bauxite) resources. Bauxite came from Canada, the USSR and Australia in WW2.

[@amandastevenson4948]

Germany would have had enough available steel until late 46 1944 was the most productive year

[@DZSabre]

I am so glad you finally did this! Thanks for covering the Polish weapons.

[@SimplyJustRed]

That "it went a little better for France" was stone cold, brother.

[@karlbrundage7472]

"why do Lithuanians pour oil onto their flower beds? Answer: To keep the guns from rusting." -Old Russian proverb