Bechowiec: Polish Teenager Makes a Resistance SMG

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The Bechowiec (or Beha) is a fascinating SMG produced in small numbers in southern Poland under German occupation during World War Two. It was made for use by the Bataliony Chłopskie (Peasant Battalions) by a young man named Henryk Strąpoć.
Henryk built his first (quite illegal) gun at the age of 15 in 1937, and was promptly arrested for it. He avoided prison only on account of being a minor, and promised not to do it again. Well, at least he promised not to get caught again - he built three more guns (two semiauto pistols and a revolver) by the time Germany invaded Poland in 1939. During the occupation he joined the the resistance and set to work doing what he must have fantasized about; building clandestine small arms.
Being more or less familiar with pistols but having never handled a submachine gun, he made some creative design choices. His SMG is basically a scaled-up Ruby-type action - chambered for 9x19mm with a simple blowback slide, it is hammer fired from a closed bolt. He designed a complex but effective selective-fire trigger system, complete with a correct auto sear. The first gun was ready in the spring of 1943, and he had a makeshift production going by early 1944. A total of 11 of the guns were made by July 1944, some in 9mm (using bored-out WW1 Mauser barrels) and some in 7.62x25mm Tokarev (using Mosin Nagant barrels).
Only one example survives today, and it is housed in the Polish Army Museum (and sadly, deactivated). Many thanks to the Museum for giving me access to film it for you! Check them out at: www.muzeumwp.pl/?language=EN
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
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[@Jimtheneals]

For a "homemade" gun by a teenager without any formal training and not even seeing the inside of an SMG, and made under enemy occupation, this is a fantastic gun. He deserves to be remembered, quite an accomplishment.

[@radosaworman7628]

if not for circumstances he could create his own Owen gun

[@Jimtheneals]

@@radosaworman7628 True, but, at least to me, this seems to be "higher quality" for lack of a better term or perhaps less kludgy maybe. As I said at least to me. But definitely in the kids saves country realm.

[@vyacheslavgrinko9993]

He was 20 when he designed the Bechowiec. Still young, still a massive feat.

[@randomnobodovsky3692]

"and not even seeing the inside of an SMG" - there are conflicting version on this (and Ian told the most sensational, which is also most popular).

[@Jimtheneals]

@@randomnobodovsky3692 And even if he did, he was still 20, no training and under Nazi occupation, way to shit on the fantastic accomplishment of a youngster. Kids today scream if they get their feelings hurt.

[@d.plaguethedocter8542]

This gun looks extremely good for something built in a shed.

[@notcardlinsytaccount1355]

And yet it looks exactly like something built in a shed. Totally smooth, unembellished, very simple, very effective.

[@Matt-xc6sp]

More refined than a Lutey for sure

[@comradeurod9805]

@@Matt-xc6sp tbf being a refined firearm definitely isn't on the luty's to-do list haha

[@jmi5969]

Indeed. What's crude for Ian is almost perfect for me. Just finished carving a 200-Watt heatsink with supermarket-grade tools. Now that's crude, Mad Max meets Stone Age.

[@Hamun002]

built in a shed, but machined in real shops, as Ian said. I wish there was pictures of the first one he put together. That would reveal the kind of shed borne nature of the design better I think.

[@wadebechtel5757]

Ian: “Someone who doesn’t know the right and wrong way to do a gun” Henrick: ”I don’t know why I’m here, but I know I must build gun”

[@tngtacticalmiata1219]

Indeed. And build it he did. Successfully. Epic.

[@markfergerson2145]

Would bet the Germans it killed didn't care that it wasn't built "right".

[@mapletreepower7038]

As soon as I read this comment that what he said in the video Love when that happens

[@diooverheaven6561]

*Henryk

[@FarmerDrew]

Many are called, few are chosen

[@opridilol]

Ian, another worthwhile part of this story is how actually was more information on Bechowiec obtained by the museum. It was in late 70s (Bataliony Chłopskie and other conspirational armies' members were not very welcome to say the least by government in 50s and 60s) when museum dug out it's example (donated by commander of UB - polish KGB at the time) and started to sniff who has made it and how. Eventually they have got to Henryk, who after war got back to being a farmer. Initially they didn't really believe that he was capable of designing and making such complex firearm, but he just... brought parts for another example of Bechowiec. :)

[@scrappydoo7887]

Need to get this to the top

[@okancanarslan3730]

It seems a great talent was wasted by communist rule

[@randomnobodovsky3692]

"Bataliony Chłopskie and other conspirational armies' members were considered traitors by government in 50s and 60s" - no, they weren't. By the way. Bataliony Chłopskie were THE largest underground partizan groups and a grassroots movement. Created from agrarian movement that was originally somewhat hostile to the pre-war Polish government (only allying itself with government in exile due to 1) necessity; 2) promises of major social changes after the war). When in dount, read up on Wincenty Witos. Anyway, back to BCh: and as such, were mostly left alone by People's Republic.

[@justindunlap1235]

That's awesome.

[@kamilhernandez2543]

my man chilling in his farm till the police arrives asking if he can produce obscure guerrilla guns

[@kw9849]

Somehow, a teenager in a blacksmith shop in the middle of a war managed to create a double-stack, double feed magazine, a feat half the SMG designers of the 1930's couldn't replicate.

[@Fstop313]

People were different then. Their minds were more creative due to no phones. Their thoughts still came from inside of their minds for the most part.

[@starstencahl8985]

⁠​⁠@@Fstop313Then why did he manage to design something like this while official gun designers at the time couldn’t come up with it? If anything, access to the internet and wise, conscious use of it brings us more ideas from around the world to think about and try. What you’re talking about it those mindless doom scrollers on social media

[@manender1020]

​@@Fstop313this guy was literally the only one to design a gun with no idea how to design a gun. Everyone else then was pretty much as smart as the modern gunsmiths are The only thing changed is that you are now able to actually hear the masses

[@manender1020]

​@@Fstop313and yeah, I can also say "TV/radio/news papers brainwash people, they were smarter in the Medieval age" lol The funniest thing is that people do repeat it for every generation of mass media. Are you a neo-luddite?

[@cake_9510]

​@@Fstop313 did you take nothing from this? He literally made something that nobody has been able to replicate. Stop complaining about social media. Get off of it, because you're clearly chronically online and projecting to feel less sad.

[@sebiwiessner]

most normal polish teenage hobby I swear don't you have anything else to do than fight in social media comments 🧑🏻‍🦼

[@TheGayestPersononYouTube]

The rest of the world’s teenagers should take note

[@Matt-xc6sp]

I have very little concept of Eastern Europe and I think that makes the memes better. But I know that calling Poland Eastern Europe is gonna upset people. Lol.

[@blacktiger974]

@@TheGayestPersononKZbin how do you cope with being unable to produce offspring with the person you love? HINT: YOU DONT HAHAHAHA stay losing

[@blacktiger974]

@@TheGayestPersononKZbin imagine being romantically and physically attraced to men. so lame lmao

[@seanflorian4653]

@@Matt-xc6sp not as much as referring to Russia as "Greater Poland"

[@jjforcebreaker]

Considering the circumstances- it does look sleek and weirdly aesthetically pleasing!

[@comradeurod9805]

I kinda dig the giant slide, definitely a good looking firearm

[@radosaworman7628]

@@comradeurod9805 then look up PM-63 for sale

[@comradeurod9805]

@@radosaworman7628 also a gem of polish firearms design, but sadly I'm not American so that's out of the question haha

[@radosaworman7628]

@@comradeurod9805 i'm 90% sure they are on sale in poland under some kind of license. Also i know that there are some stl's of handguard that makes it acutally safe and eotech friendly.

[@jessestreet2549]

definitely more "polished" than the Luty. (ian did a video on one awhile back, might have been the guy at Royal Armories.)

[@Matt-xc6sp]

Ian caught himself real quick after suggesting you sign your name on your illegally built submachine gun.

[@alifr4088]

Lmfao

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

It seems a bit odd stamping any details on it at all

[@jimyeats]

@@Ukraineaissance2014 That was my thought. Seems like something he might have gone back and done after the war was over out of pride for his creation.

[@MrYfrank14]

Some hide from the enemy, some stamp thier name in thier gun and some stand in front of a tank in China.

[@bilbo_gamers6417]

I mean it's not really illegal if you're operating as a guerilla group. You'd be shot anyway if you were found, what's the point in keeping it a secret?

[@juliuszkocinski7478]

What's mind-blowing for me is that despite not having official expertise in the field and not being able to "stand on the shoulders of giants" he created something... pretty revolutionary at the time. Especially unified fire control and safety combined with closed bolt operation in SMG

[@stevenbobbybills]

Selective-fire, too!

[@ArcturusOTE]

I wonder how this would fare against its contemporaries?

[@frankbrowning328]

What if he would have had schooling in firearms, machining and an actual machine shop. Imagine what he would have produced

[@alifr4088]

@@frankbrowning328 boy imagine that

[@madkoala2130]

@@frankbrowning328 he would have became Polish John M. Browning.

[@alexissjc409]

There truly is nothing more dangerous to evil than someone with a shed and a "where there's a will, there's a way" attitude. :)

[@LavetnoSiberiade]

It will either end up a gun or a child

[@ericsfishingadventures4433]

"where there's a mill, there's a way" I really like that one! Never heard of it before.

[@therogers4432]

Yup... ^This^ 😁👍

[@CynicallySarcasticReserves]

THE most efficient fuel for the engine of human race - guys with sheds.

[@Qardo]

Well, if I recall, there was a guy in the UK who literally wrote a DYI book on how to build a gun from common off-the-shelf stuff you can find in a Home Improvement Store. All to spite the government on their gun bans. In an attempt to prove that they can ban guns all they want. Yet, the idea and know-how are still out there. Cannot ban an idea. No, matter how hard you try. If a person really wants to have a gun. They will find a way. Though he lost the case. He made his point. The laws against guns only hurt those who follow the law. Being he was breaking the law by a loophole that didn't make his actions illegal. Though, the government took it as an insult. Thus making it illegal. Just to prove that the "Can Do" attitude is a crime to the governments of the world. And we have here with this gun. That "Can Do" attitude at work. Being this gun was thought up, built, and used against an invading army. Controlled by a government that was run by devils. If course, this was during time of war. Guess it is "justified" to fight an enemy of the world. Kind of hypocritical really, but hey, welcome to Earth, humanity exist is a hypocritical take on life. We just amazingly exist.

[@paulszymanski3091]

As a teen I ran into similar problem at machine class high school in Poland when I was making parts for my Mauser. The teacher caught me making firing pins and he did not believed my explanation that they were pounding pins. He was a former Home Army solider. He ban me from any power tools.

[@reliantncc1864]

That's a shame. He should have encouraged you to keep going. Poles should all know how to make their own firearms and should be extremely suspicious of any attempts to limit firearms.

[@paulszymanski3091]

@@reliantncc1864 Yo have to understand the circumstances. He was protecting me. Yes, he was impressed but this was a different time. It was in a way funny. I still remember his face when I tried to bull shit him. It was like yeah.... keep talking, keep blowing smoke up my ass.

[@pbxn-3rdx-85percent]

"They're knitting needles. It's for my mother. Honest. Me? A good boy making firing pins? Ha ha ha. You are mistaken sir." 😁

[@Icec0ffee]

did you finish the mauser

[@onomatopejaB]

🤯

[@Toxtoxer]

For anyone curious about Henry and being unable to find much info, not much is known about him but he did survive the war and went to a mechanical engineering school in a city called Sławięcice / Slawentzitz. Later in the times of the Polish People's Republic the Bechowiec has found itself in the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, where FW is in this very video, Henry was invited there in order to prove that it was in fact him who designed and produced the weapon, which has been proven true of course.

[@juliuszkocinski7478]

Allegedly pretty badass style, as when asked about how he can prove his involvement he immediately showed parts for never assembled prototypes and tools specifically made to do the rechambering

[@Toxtoxer]

@@juliuszkocinski7478 That is quite badass actually

[@fintherebel5000]

It reminds me of the PA la puty smg also is that a sergal pfp?

[@remko1238]

: Toxy,, that was the main info i was missing,, thanks 🙏🏽

[@TheInsomniaddict]

Did Henry eventually go back to being a farmer? Another comment mentioned above that he was found as a Polish farmer and not in some mechanical engineering profession.

[@wormsdonthaveeyes2888]

“Crudely constructed but intelligently designed” is maybe my favorite way to describe a gun

[@ric270]

It's such a shame that this one is deactivated, they literally drilled holes in a piece of history

[@MrRugbylane]

Yup. Sad

[@williampratt1066]

But at least it isn’t to current EU spec, if it was it would be welded up as well😢.

[@bensmith4563]

Fortunately it looks like to make it functional would be just making a new barrel

[@xxxggthyf]

The fact it's deactivated means it can be on display without the amount of expensive security needed if it wasn't. I don't see how it really matters given that it's literally a museum piece and nobody in their right mind would want to shoot it anyway. Complaining about museum firearms being deactivated is like complaining about a railway museum having steam locos with dangerous boilers. It really doesn't matter for display purposes.

[@sairassiili]

The alternative would have likely been complete destruction of the item. Due to the relative scarcity of modern firearms in Europe, especially fully-automatics, WW2-era weapons are semi-regularly found with organized crime.

[@seizurejames5862]

I swear I can hear the despair in his voice when he mentions the deactivation holes. What a way to destroy priceless artifacts.

[@ArcturusOTE]

It looks like it should be an easy affair to reactivate it

[@melonboi927]

Oh yeah just look at it it's totally destroyed

[@TmSh212]

It’s like grinding the edge off of a medieval sword because it is “too dangerous” it’s not destroying it, but it sure as hell is defiling it

[@Bialy_1]

@@ArcturusOTE It have holes in all the wrong places, it was destroyed by someone who knowed where to put this holes or was instructed by someone like that... Welding it the place where the pressure is the biggest during use is not so easy or safe for the end user...

[@Mesjasz]

For those interested in the creator of that gun, i found couple of things ( like literally "couple" unfortunately) in the Polish sources: Henryk Strąpoć, nom de guerre "Mewa" ( seagull) survived the war, got awarded a Partisan Cross after the war, never got into gun making industry, but he did finished mechanical school. And that's it. No other info. At least he survived, and since he got that medal he apparently wasn't persecuted by the communist regime. Which is a happy end, I guess.

[@roberts1938]

The communists did not persecute him because they knew nothing about him. In addition, the Peasants' Battalions had a slightly different status in the communist state, as they were recruited from the inhabitants of the countryside and were not formally directed from London (to put it bluntly). The political peasant movement was a strong opponent in communizing Poland, which is why the communists could not openly fight it. Officially, there was talk of cooperation, while secretly murdered leaders and rigged elections.

[@carlll6101]

@@roberts1938 yep BCH were basically treated by communist as "their" bois. I learned later that was far from truth and that organisation was way more fractured than AK.

[@tapmcshoe9677]

I mean dude helped keep his people safe, then finished school and chilled for the rest of his life. Pretty great deal imo

[@acomingextinction]

@@tapmcshoe9677 Absolutely. Should call that move the Simo Hayha.

[@NekoColaQ]

I love this gun and everything it stands for. I'm glad we know even the bits we do about the guy who made it. Underground resistance type efforts like this are very easily forgotten but incredibly important. Really living up to your channel name

[@opridilol]

We actually know quite a bit of the constructor - he came to museum himself in 70s, when they were trying to find out who's done a weapon that complex.

[@chrislloyd1505]

@@opridilol Did he ask for it back? It was his after all!

[@reliantncc1864]

Poland was in a tough place, caught between invasions by Germany and the Soviet Union. It says a lot about Poles that they maintained such a large and active resistance in the face of overwhelming force.

[@opridilol]

@@chrislloyd1505 I don't think it was formally his, nor it was legal for him to own it back then. For what we know, it was passed to museum by county commendant of UB (polish KGB back then) - so probably in 70s it was undisputably proprietary to a museum. Also it's not legal to own a full-auto firearm in Poland now - I don't suppose it was any easier back in socialist era.

[@kolosmenus]

I'm polish and I've never even heard about this. Fascinating backstory and gun

[@nilsmadej9091]

@@dr.victorvs It's the opposite my dude... but whatever. This gun is just pretty obscure in comparison to others. When showing the underground fighters they usually have just captured guns like mp40. There is no hidden agenda trying to hide Bechowiec...

[@jakubb6020]

@@dr.victorvs 😆 chill out Poland is not USA

[@radosaworman7628]

then you never browsed polish wikipedia's pages on polish resistance guns

[@rebralhunter6069]

@@dr.victorvs you have no idea what you're talking about. You're too brain rotted from American politics. Also Poland is up there in terms of its gun laws by European standards. None of the stupid BS like a lot of other EU states.

[@alifr4088]

@@radosaworman7628 gib link

[@mateuszgrzyb1181]

My granpa Mieczysław was soldier of Bataliony Chłopskie, I loved his war stories ( especially when he talked about "improvided gunsmithing" with hacksaw performed on rusty Lebel rifle which fell into his hand). This video brought back memories :)

[@frankbrowning328]

Sleek, thin, easier to conceal than most of the others of its day. The man took what he knew and created what was needed.

[@MeFee100]

There is a pretty fun story regarding to, how constructor of B.H. mp was caught with his first pistol. He simply brought his pistol to primary school to show it to his peers to impress them. During show they were cought by teacher who was suppose to, hunt illegal smoking habbits within schoolmates.

[@rogermac358]

That is easily one of the coolest firearms ever covered on the channel! Great back story and very advanced design for an amateur gun designer.

[@Shiruvan]

3:40 'if you want ... anyone else to ever know ... who did it.' gave me some good laughs😂

[@Tunkkis]

Which, one might think, you wouldn't want to do when illegally building firearms in an attempt to expell an occupying force.

[@GazalAlShaqab]

When Ian "goes" Polish, it is always such a GREAT GREAT pleasure!! 🤩

[@maurycygrabara1269]

👍

[@cypressmarch6632]

I was making guns shaped and looked like this in my childhood out of wood. This dude brought it to a higher level.

[@tylerwilliams6022]

Reminds me of those rubberband guns.

[@claymeistereu]

The polish resistance truly is underrated.

[@cetus4449]

...and Polish military intelligence. Even the ground in Africa for Operation Torch was prepared by a Polish spy. It was Mieczysław Słowikowski who organized a 70-person spy network in North Africa, which significantly influenced the success of the Allied invasion. Any mention of Poles was removed from the script of the famous Hollywood film Casablanca. Already in 1942, the Poles, although still very useful, became increasingly inconvenient for the Allies due to the growing importance of Stalinist Russia.

[@vyacheslavgrinko9993]

Given how much attention in popular culture was devoted to the French resistance - yeah, Polish resistance deserve twice as many movies and games. But it's not likely to happen. Reminding the world of Polish heroes of the WW2 era would cause too many people to ask questions, why the Allies sold Poland to Stalin, and how they besmirched an entire nation as fascists to ensure their popular opinion didn't side with that betrayed nation.

[@cetus4449]

@@vyacheslavgrinko9993 Your words are bitter but true..

[@claymeistereu]

@@vyacheslavgrinko9993 Damn right. Damn shame.

[@daviddura1172]

After 1 year of war fighting Germans and Russians 1 million Polish deaths By wars end nearly 5 million deaths

[@yaqppl]

My great grandfather was in BCh. Neighbours denunciated him. He was taken to gestapo in Tarnów, and then to the Gross-Rosen KL. Last letter from him was written in summer '44.

[@P_RO_]

A fate suffered by many. I hope karma fell heavily on those who betrayed him and those like him.

[@patrycjamikoajczak9371]

There are still holding cells of Gestapo in Tarnów, Urszulańska street, in the basement. Chilly, evil place. There is still blood on the walls.

[@Fragger-1]

Ever since seeing this firearm in Call Of Duty WW2, it's become one of my favorite firearm oddities. For something designed to be an underground resistance weapon, it feels fairly ahead of it's time conceptually, and feels like an early version of the CZ75, or Beretta 93R. It's arguably one of the nicer machine pistol style designs for the time too, as most concepts that were explored were simply converting pistol platforms already in use, and usually resulting in something less than ideal for any actual combat use. However, for a resistance fighter, a fairly machine pistol/small form factor SMG could be more than useful, especially when the alternatives that they could potentially get their hands on were much larger despite being compact designs

[@ArcturusOTE]

Didn't realize this was also in COD WW2, kudos to SHG for finding obscuring guns and giving them the spotlight

[@radosaworman7628]

wait what? it was there?

[@ZombieSlayer-dj3wb]

Atleast its not in vangarbage

[@birbohex]

WWII and it's multiplayer was *way* overhated. the historical and less well known firearms they added were always so fun and interesting, and really exposed me to some REALLY cool things!

[@whiteoutTM]

@@birbohex had lots of fun in that one. It’s like a playable museum of cutting edge 1940s gun tech

[@_Wiseguy7]

You know when something looks very funky, weird or ugly. There sometimes is a phrase or saying used to describe said thing. Something along the lines of "The creator has no idea what it is they are supposed to build, but they only have a rough description." This is literally it. But yet, it somehow still seems pretty good.

[@beyondobscure]

I believe what you're looking for is something along the lines of "A blind man is told what a gun is and asked to build one."

[@_Wiseguy7]

@@beyondobscure Basically yes. But there many variations of this phrase to fit the context.

[@alexadamson9959]

I can already picture a meme. The wojac SS man “No YoU cAnT jUsT bUiLd A fUnCtIOnAl SMG wItH nO pRiOr ExPeRiAnCe!!!!” Chad Polish kid “machine pistol go brrrrrr.”

[@GaiusCaligula234]

Why not?

[@johnathansaegal3156]

Full respects to that young man. Absolute brilliance.

[@MaccusFNS]

Gets probation goes home immediately starts doing exactly what he got in trouble for. Sounds like a Polish guy

[@RojastheBlackWolf]

I would love to see the museum commission a functional barrel and set screw for this firearm just so it can see some range time. Preferably a barrel sourced from an old WW1 era firearm like the original, to preserve some authenticity with the newer part. Shoot, it'd be neat if someone were to produce a modern reproduction of it. Looks clean and has a unique beauty to it.

[@ArcturusOTE]

I don't think chopping up a WW1 piece would be a good idea, a repro, maybe, but I think one could source a matching barrel diameter from more modern guns

[@Tacticaviator7]

What I want is a recontruction of the Wz.38M rifle, the original blueprint still exists and it just looks like an amazing construction.

[@misiomor]

@@Tacticaviator7 While the Wz.38M might have shot well, it was a disaster from manufacturing cost point of veiw. Locking of the bolt was far from the chamber, so the whole receiver had to be made of high grade alloy steel, which is costly itself as well as in terms of tooling wear. Maybe this is why it was not produced in significant numbers before the war.

[@charleykeenan6171]

Proof that when your nation calls, every citizen is a soldier and every talent can be used.. Great episode 👏

[@ralfklonowski3740]

Polish inventivness at its best

[@ZarieTudiskava]

This is one of my favorites just because it was made by young engineering talent. Also gotta love the whole making dangerous things in a shed stereotype.

[@whiteeye3453]

All he has was imagination

[@michelguevara151]

my godfather was a polish resistence fighter. I wonder if he ever got to use one of these. I miss him terribly. rest in peace Wladomir 'vladdo' Jannecki

[@Litwinus]

I think polish full name was Włodimierz.Wladomir he used,because is easy to pronauce.

[@weswolever7477]

Here’s to uncle Vladdo. 🥃

[@sir0herrbatka]

The most interesting element of this gun is that it was made by a village blacksmith in his worhshop.

[@Rixoli]

For what it's worth early firearms manufacturers were in fact blacksmiths with a greater knowledge of firearms, thus where we get the term "Gun SMITH" from.

[@seancrumby3241]

That's my thought exactly

[@randomidiot8142]

The village blacksmith stereotype is often a bit inaccurate. We think of a burly brute forcing iron into compliance but the reality is they were some of the most talented artisans. Repairing a clock or a firearm was often their job, besides the usual heavy metal work. Forge welding a wagon wheel band to shrink fit to a wooden wheel? Not exactly easy either.

[@sir0herrbatka]

@@randomidiot8142 I agree completely, but still, I wonder how all those parts were manufactured.

[@rainetolentino4336]

It's truly fascinating how a very young person who is underage of 18 could literally get his hands on making advanced technologies, i mean he probably had a 1000 IQ compare to the other ordinary ones who manufacture in factory, real sick

[@bumckfszful]

Amazing to think that 11 of these were made, and nearly 80 years later one of these found its way to you.

[@pastormarkpowell]

My birth father was born in Kielce in 1928. Not a good time to be born in Poland. I admire his generation greatly. He was 11 when the Germans invaded and 17 when the Russians took control. His story echoes the courage and ingenuity of his generation of how to fight the oppressor and remain true to freedom. He made his way to the USA in 1949 after a few years in the DP camps. Needless to say my generation was blessed because of what his generation endured. 🇵🇱🇺🇲

[@hugebartlett1884]

Few people today can imagine the hellish risk those guys were taking every day,making these weapons. The Nazis fully intended to wipe Poland off the map,and had any Resistance member,actual or suspected,been caught,they would have been killed,along with friends and family. Poland can be very proud of those men and women who earned their nation's gratitude and respect for all time.

[@bratbrata4974]

Many people in the west are not aware of how the Germans treated the Poles during WWII. Many Jews accuse us of collaborating with the Germans, and even that we were co-creators of the Holocaust. Meanwhile, for giving a glass of water to a Jew or a piece of bread, you could get a bullet in the head. No judgment. Nevertheless, in Poland, the only organization in occupied Europe called Żegota was established, which systemically helped Jews. At least 10 people had to be involved to help one Jew. These people risked their lives and the lives of their families. This is how the Ulma family died. 7 people went to the sand for helping their Jewish neighbors. The Germans murdered everyone, children, father and pregnant mother. And, of course, a Jewish family. When I hear Jews from America talking nonsense... a knife in a pocket opens by itself. The first on the list were Jews, second were Poles. Many also do not understand that Jews were citizens of Poland, it was not a separate state within a state. Jews served in the Polish army, were scientists and doctors. It was the same on the Russian side. They were murdered for having a Polish surname.

[@Pracaupodstaw]

Guys and girls. Girls served in the Resistance just as heroically. They smuggled materials, weapons, and were enforcers of traitors and Nazis.

[@kbjerke]

That "kid" was a certified *genius.*

[@GazalAlShaqab]

Even if I am hardly objective here, it is such a CLASSY mp!! :) And BCh, the Peasant Battalions, such an incredible organisation with beautiful history of bravery!! The Polish are strong in IMPROVISATION, as the Germas are strong in craft ("Germany is a working machine and Poland is a living plant", as someone said).

[@johnsanko4136]

That auto sear is a very clever solution for achieving full auto with a closed bolt. Unfortunate that it's deactivated, would love to see it run.

[@dorianosatane7244]

I'm from Poland and never heard of this gun so thank you! it's nice to watch you!

[@ultrajd]

It’s a very simple looking weapon, but I actually like that about it. The simple design has almost a level of elegance to it. And it’s clearly a artifact that has been cared for extremely well. Obviously, given the fact that it belongs to a military museum, it likely has been attended to buy conservators and other individuals. In fact, it probably receives similar treatment to like figurines and wax museum that regularly get touchups over time. One thing that I really like is not only do they have the weapon itself or the even have what I’m assuming is probably the original sling. Honestly, I think this weapon is anyone from either battlefield or call of duty or hell even anyone from rebellion is watching this it should be added to a video game. Specially, since the Polish underground very rarely gets any attention in video games.

[@DafodilWorkshopProductions]

It's in one game that i know of. CoD WWII.

[@ultrajd]

@@justforever96 Stupid auto correct…

[@ericsfishingadventures4433]

Just another great example that Banning anything won't do anything because when you need to build something out of necessity or other reasons people will do it!

[@chuckcochran8599]

Considering what he had to work with, the quality of his metalwork is really quite impressive. I can just imagine what he might have came up with if he'd had access to a machine shop. Thank you Ian and Poland for a look at a fascinating but relatively "Forgotten Weapon."

[@jerzymikucki3778]

Ian, not sure what brought you to Poland, but I love the whole series. Very interesting piece of history!

[@latinojackson9694]

Deactivating a historical firearm is like blunting the edge of a historical sword, having something fully functional is half the charm. One could say it's like censoring a piece of art.

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Fo r a weapon designed by a guy in his twenties, and built in extremely difficult circumstances, at the risk of the designer's life if he was caught by the occupying forces, this thing is amazing. That lad deserves to be much more known, and honoured.

[@Trashcansam123]

And not only him, he was risking his entire family facing reprisal

[@spacewater7]

This is a textbook example (the irony of the wording isn't lost on me;) of how education could have ruined true creativity. Had he known how its supposed to be done, how everyone else was doing it, he wouldn't have done something so original and showed that there are other ways.

[@thunderbeam9166]

I absolutely love things like this. He had an idea, and he made it a reality, and it’s wonderful that he did it for all the right reasons. We need more people with that kind of “go get it done” attitude. Outstanding job, Henryk.

[@edwardloomis887]

Ian doesn't hold back critiques when gun designers lack anything, so the admiration expressed for a young gun designer doing things that could have gotten him killed says a lot.

[@ludercoarms]

I absolutely love guns like this, so much history and 100% proof that you will never be able to disarm a determined people. Thanks Ian!!

[@rdrekin954]

One of The pride and joys of my home country 🇵🇱making weapons in dire times

[@onyx9943]

my heart goes out to the microphone's family RIP...

[@gabriellimson]

Something so badass about the name Peasant Battalions

[@mjriemen]

These clandestine/homemade machine gun type of videos are always some of the best.

[@bigfuzzy84]

Absolutely amazing example of effort and ingenuity.

[@ArcturusOTE]

Wow, 15 year old and made his first gun, truly kids rock

[@72polara]

Guns like this are the reason I love this channel so much. Excellent video!

[@paperman9708]

It's incredibly well built. Almost looks like a full production piece.

[@yesthecrumbs5806]

Very interesting episode Ian! Ever since i saw this smg in a computer game i had always been curious about it. I had never seen it anywhere else and wanted to know more. Thank you! much support

[@Mesjasz]

03:36 "wise to do if you're building something like this" love the flat delivery of that joke 😂

[@roeberdt-bT.1021]

...man, thank you for the post always absolutely appreciated. (These types of posts about unique examples are always my favorite. Would probably have never known about it without your post and presentation. So thanks again for helping history not be lost.)

[@hgill257]

I love the polish resistance logo simplicity defined

[@cleidsonaraujopeixoto163]

Incredible - hammer-fired and closed bolt?

[@lukedowan8608]

Amazing piece of history, really brilliant video 👍

[@thundergod111]

Looks like a double stack, double feed mag. Props to him for improving on the MP40/Sten mags that most cobbled together SMGs use.

[@Tezorus]

I love those unique, weird, and forgotten weapons. Great episode.

[@danielhoadley2679]

Now that's a forgotten weapon 🇺🇲❤️🇵🇱

[@kjote]

Indeed.

[@gijake1989]

I would love to see a competition of resistance designed and manufactured weapons to get a better idea of which designs worked and which did not.

[@farmerboy916]

The mix quality takes me back.

[@Satori-Automotive]

thats insanely complex and well made for the circumstances. most people could not come up with this design if they had to. really talented and smart kid.

[@christinepearson5788]

Very interesting, he found some unique or nearly so ways to do things

[@saneavenue356]

When I was younger we took a trip to Polish Army Museum in my home town in north east Poland. I remmeber they were having one full room full of guerilla weaponry - mostly cut down (Obrez?) versions of Mauser bolt action rifles and mosins to a quite big pistol versions and other german weapons.

[@bratbrata4974]

"Obrzyn" That's what it sounds like in Polish. A weapon with a shortened barrel or stock. Easy to hide when carrying. It lost some properties, but gained new ones.

[@kdoubleg]

This thing is super cool.my two favorite categories of firearms that you cover are ones crudely made or made in a hurry, and conversions

[@patricklonergan3]

I've seen a lot worse from a few major manufacturers. The workmanship on this firearm is amazing, and to make the magazine from scratch rather than use one from another gun is brilliant.

[@CarburetorThompson]

It looks really sleek for a crude homemade gun

[@aaronskuse2207]

While the front sling mount is in a weird spot, this is a really neat design. Wonder how it would handle with a conventional shoulder stock.

[@therogers4432]

I'm guessing that the front sling loop doubled as the charging handle? ie a quick yank on the sling would rack the slide back and chamber a round?

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

I wonder how you would fire that from shoulder. A fast moving slide can't feel good against your face.

[@adamcichon6957]

There ware an big article about that smg in polish gun magazine, couple years ago. It was designed as a conceal carry, "get close, than hit and run" gun. The Steyr MPi 69 smg also had a front sling mount on the bolt, so it was doubling as a bolt charging handle. Ian got a video about Steyr as well.

[@adamcichon6957]

@@XtreeM_FaiL it was probably thought as a conceal carry, hip fired hit and run, resistance gun, not a open carry battlefield ready type of smg...

[@paidwitness797]

@@adamcichon6957 Yep, the gun you use to get more guns.

[@jaromirkrol3950]

Henryk Strąpoć's first self-made weapon was a shotgun, which he had constructed at the age of 13. He followed it at age 15 with the oft-mentioned semi-automatic pistols, which resulted in a visit by a policeman, the confiscation of the constructions, and the promise: "Next time I'll confiscate you as well, boy!". When the war broke out, he actually did not stop at his most famous creation: in addition to bechowiec, he also made grenades and even land mines. Before building the first bechowiec, he would sit down in places where Feldgendarmerie patrols armed with MP-40s would regularly walk, and he would watch their weapons, return home, sketch their details from memory, and attempt to guess by their shapes how they worked. In the 70s, when a reporter for a local periodical from Kielce visited him in his village to seek an interview, Strąpoć, with considerable excitement, told him in detail how to construct those - understandably, the printed article omitted those explanations.

[@JerryEricsson]

I often see guns on your channel that I would love to own. This is one that belongs on that list. I simply love the design, it sort of makes me wish I still had my old gunsmith tools and machines again, I would love to build one but in semi-auto only, of course since any other would be illegal. Like the idea in chambering for the 7.62 round as well, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for that round, ever since I had my first Russian Tokarov that a buddy brought home from Vietnam. He traded it to me for an old Star BKM that I had. Later he wanted it back, and I had to retrade several guns to get it back from the old fart that had purchased it from me later. I got it back for him and purchased several hundred rounds of surplus 7.62 Mauser ammo so he could fire it. He had been trying to fire 30 Luger ammo in it but it didn't function well and really straightened out the brass.

[@filipstaroscinski2697]

Ah Ian! I was waiting for that video! When You have come to Warsaw Army Muzeum I was sure one day You will release episode about that particular piece of underground equipment. And I have a question for You. As, at lest one of those guns have been captured by germans, would You consider it went to some armaments manafactures in germany and they get A BIT inspired by it? Or rather its just a way people would have think about a machine pistol anyway. Great episode, thank You a lot! Greetings :)

[@johnathansaegal3156]

We understand you hit occasional technical difficulties. No need to apologize for the audio. As long as we can hear the details, that's all that matters (I do understand that this was originally filmed a few years ago while you were at the museum showcasing the other resistance sub-gun).

[@jerrysanchez5453]

What a fascinating weapon design.you can tell he never saw the inside of a sub machine gun just by looking at the design.still a noble effort

[@mz6267]

I’ve seen a lot of cool firearms on Forgotten Weapons, but this is one of the coolest.

[@Matt-md5yt]

This is pretty cool SMG you covered

[@RaDeus87]

I was kinda confused as to why the ejection port wasn't opposite to the magazine, which is the normal on SMGs, then the penny dropped 😅

[@williamhewitt476]

I'm a big fan of the channel and have been watching your channel for like 7 years keep up the good work. I can't wait to see more cool guns.

[@LarryDeSilva64]

It never ceases to amaze me how many talented people there are around the world that can build machine guns. This is just one more example of someone who took the idea and made what he thought would work and it did. Thanks for sharing Ian.

[@markkeyser]

Brilliant work!

[@gijake1989]

Didn't the soviets use off spec mosin barrels for smg production? It seems I read that somewhere.

[@erict3728]

I love this fire control system. There is something really crappy about open bolt designs(it's the weight of the bolt and the "shock" of it suddenly beginning to move between pulling the trigger and firing the first round). I really wish we knew the rate of fire... I love seeing the clever solutions people came up with to make these things work. Every time I see a video breakdown of these crude or homemade type of "resistance weapons", I fear KZbin is going to censor and ban these types of videos. They already demonetize content showing the inserting magazines, or threading on a suppressor. I hope KZbin never censors these videos. Knowledge should never be suppressed.

[@Melanie-Shea]

Criminal that they put deactivation holes in that.

[@sokmund1780]

he did mp5 before it was cool, also the gun looks badass, also in my opinion its the most interesting of the homemade guns in the world (barring maybe homemade 50 cal guns from the cartels but i dont think they were more than a bolt action lookalike)

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

Modern video game designers need to put this weapon in their games like an Easter egg. Make it capable of taking down hordes at once. Something like unlimited ammo and 10,000 round per minute cyclic rate….

[@roberts1938]

Ian, thank you very much for the extremely interesting stories about Polish firearms. The simplicity of construction is interesting in this project. Few components, easy to take apart and replace.

[@sierp13pl]

As you've said. It's worth of notice that next MP made in that mechanical design was MP-5. So we can only imagine what Strąpoć could made if his talent would be used to make new guns