Established by order of the Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Władysław Sikorski, the 1st Armored Division received a characteristic badge, which was then worn by its soldiers on the left sleeve of their uniform and on each element of their equipment. To this day, it is a symbol of the Division, an element of many monuments and commemorations dedicated to it. A symbol that unites veterans’ communities, veterans’ families and all its lovers.
Commonly called the “squirrel” by the Division’s soldiers, it depicts a black Polish hussar helmet with a visor and a hussar wing. It is placed on an orange dial with a black outline. The colors of the badge referred to the armor of the Second Polish Republic. It was approved by the Commander-in-Chief by order of August 11, 1942.
But who was its author? Unfortunately, this knowledge is not common, so let us remind you:
Its final design was created by Lieutenant Adam Bunsch – in 1942, an educational officer of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade of the Polish Armed Forces stationed in Great Britain. He was born on December 20, 1896 in Cracow (Poland) into a family with artistic roots. During World War I, he served in the Austrian army, and after Poland regained independence, joined the Polish Army and fought in the Polish-Bolshevik war. He was awarded the Cross of Valor twice. In 1921, he completed his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, which he began before the WWI. Respected painter and playwright. He also specialized in stained glass and polychromes for many religious buildings in Poland.
In the September Campaign of 1939, he served as a radio monitoring officer. After crossing the border with Hungary, he was interned, but then he got to France and continued his service in the Polish Army. In the years 1940-1943 in Great Britain, he was assigned as an educational officer to the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade. Promoted in 1943 to the rank of lieutenant. In England, despite his military service, he also continued his artistic work. Among others he created many stained glass windows and paintings for churches of the Polish Catholic Mission in the British Isles. One of his special works was also the badge of the 1st Armored Division.
In 1945, demobilized from the Polish Armed Forces, he returned to Poland. He continued his artistic, literary and scientific work despite the difficulties faced by the communist authorities. Participant of many national and international exhibitions. He died in Cracow on May 15, 1969 and was buried at the Salwator Cemetery (Kraków Salwator parish cemetery, Washington Ave. – sector SC13, row 1, grave 56). Proof of gratitude for his artistic work was, among others, Mass celebrated on May 30, 1969 in the Polish church in London. As the then rector of the Polish Catholic Mission – Fr. Władysłw Staniszewski recalled, it was celebrated “for so many pious works [of Adam Bunsch] left to God for glory and for Polish art to be famous”.
While remembering the 1st Armored Division and its soldiers, it is worth mentioning the author of such a symbolic sign as its badge.
author: Aneta Hoffmann