Żurawiejka

Żurawiejka was a short, two-line facetious couplet, written specifically for cavalry regiments of the Polish Army in the interwar period.

Following the Polish–Soviet War, the couplets quickly gained popularity among cavalry regiments of the Polish Army.

Some historians trace back Polish żurawiejkas to the "Uhlan March", written in 1863, during the January Uprising.

Odznaczył się szwadron drugi, Wrażej krwi on przelał strugi."

English translation: "Our Wąsowicz, a great guy, Beat up the Moskals in Cucylowa.

Second squadron distinguished itself, By shedding streams of enemy blood" Originally, every uhlan regiment of the Polish Army had its żurawiejka.

Later on, the tradition was adopted by regiments of mounted rifles - even though, as one couplet said: "To tell the truth among ourselves - riflemen are not uhlans" ("Prawdę mówiąc między nami – strzelcy nie są ułanami").

Furthermore, there were żurawiejkas of units of infantry, artillery, armored troops, navy and airforce.

Pomną sotnie Budionnego Pułk ułanów Dwernickiego" English translation: "Uhlan Regiment of Grochow, Tends to its problems with a shot-glass.

Jedzie ułan z dziesiątego, wyją psy na widok jego.

English translation: "From Lithuania's forests, fields and cornfields, This is the 10th Uhlan Regiment.

Lepiej zginąć na dnie sracza, Niźli służyć u Kiedacza.