Help Identifying Polish WW1 badges.

cladhunter13

New Member
Hello.

I have an elderly friend who has a small collection of what I believe to be Polish WW1 badges. She found them many years ago while doing renovations in her home. The home itself dates back to at least the early 1900's. It used to be a Farm house but the area has since been built up around it and become a subdivision. The house is located in the older section of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Canada. I know that there was once a large Polish community in the Sault.

The person who is now in possession of the badges is sick with a condition that requires several medications which have been quite costly. She has had the items for many years and would rather see them go to someone who will cherish them and may have a connection to them. She asked me to help her sell them to which I agreed to do what I can for her.

The problem is...I have no knowledge on the subject matter. I'm a coin collector and Metal detecting enthusiast. I will say that I love the badges and if I had the money to purchase them I would. They would make a great start to a collection. I love the look of them and I can just imagine the stories behind them.

What I would like is if anyone here could help me to identify what exactly she has. I have been able to acquire very little information on many of the items. Also...if anyone has an idea of what I could expect the badges to bring in a auction situation. Since the badges were together when she found them I think it would be a great injustice to separate them and I will not do so.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Here is a link to my photobucket album with pictures of each badges front and back. Only a few still have their screw cap (not sure if that is even correct terminology).

I hope someone is able to help. Thank you in advance for any information. Have a great night.

Link to my Photobucket album:
http://s410.beta.photobucket.com/user/mrsg1313/library/Polish WWI Badges
 
Well as a starter I think this one:
PolishBadgeLwow1918Front.jpg


is the Defence of Lwow Cross Type III.

[SIZE=+1]The Defense of Lwow and the War with the Ukraine 1918-1919[/SIZE][SIZE=-1].[/SIZE]
On October 31st and November 1st, 1918 (almost 2 weeks before the WW I armistice) Ukrainian units (Sich Riflemen) of the rapidly disintegrating Austrian Army took advantage of the circumstances and occupied the predominately Polish City of Lwow in Galicia, procaiming it a part of a Socialist Ukrainian Republic. The citizens of Lwow, many of them children, fought off the Ukrainians. Polish army units arrived in a few days to assist the citizens. The fight lasted until November 22nd, when the Ukrainians were repelled. Many school children died in this fight and a cemetery in Lwow was created in their honor. The children are known as Orleta (Eaglets). The fighting against Ukrainian forces continued until July, 1919 when the Polish army finally pushed back the Ukrainians (who were weakened by fighting the Bolsheviks on another front) beyond the Zbrucz River.

So my guess is that they are not WW1 medals as such but rather the 1918-1922 wars of "independance".
 
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Thank you very much for the identification. I will start looking for the "Wars of Independance" as you suggested. Maybe that will shed a lite on the items.

Again. Very much appreciated.
 
This one:
PolishBadge1918KorpusIIFront.jpg


is the “Kaniów Cross”, aka Commemorative Badge of the 2nd Polish Corps 1918

This one:

PolishBadge3PulkFront.jpg


is the 3rd Infantry Legions Regiment badge -Type 1

This one:
PolishBadgeWitkowice1918front.jpg


Is the Witkowice Prisoner of War badge

One thing I would suggest is that if you are intending to sell these items get them appraised as you have some interesting and semi-rare items there (for example I have seen the POW badge in good condition selling for US$250).
 
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WOW...Thank you as well MontyB, Very much appreciated. I would love to have them appraised. As a matter of fact...I'm heading out today to a few location to see if I can find someone qualified to do so. One stop is a Polish Hall. I hope to fid someone there who maybe able to point me in the direction of a qualified individual. Being able to actually state what the items are will hopefully help in finding a expert on the subject matter.

Thank you again to everyone for all the help thus far.
 
No problem but please understand I am no expert on these things I am just reading from a few militaria books I have I cant tell you a lot about them and I certainly cant determine real from fake so appraisal is your best option.

I will continue to look and see what others I can find.
 
Thank you again for the help. I will try and find someone to help authenticate the items. Here is the information that has been gathered from here and other sources thus far.

PolishBadgeWolnose19141918front.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, 2ND LEGION INFANTRY REGIMENT - I.TYPE
Tombak silver plated, one part construction with profile-stamped reverse, size 49,1 x 49,2 mm; screw
on reverse

One like this sold at auction on Sept 26, 2005 for $450 GBP.
Link: http://www.icollector.com/POLAND-MEDAL-2ND-LEGION-INFANTRY-REGIMENT-I-TYPE_i5281882


PolishBadge1JPFront.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, 1ST BRIGADE OF JOZEF PILSUDSKI LEGIONS 1917 (1916) - "FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE"
White metal silver plated and patinated, one part cut out construction with profile-stamped reverse,
diam.: 31,9 mm; screw on reverse with small nut.


PolishBadge1919KersowWschodnichFront.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, ORLETA (= YOUNG EAGLE) HONOUR BADGE 1919
Tombak silver plated and patinated, one part construction with profile-stamped reverse, size 43,3 x
43,1 mm; screw on reverse.
One like this sold at auction on Sept 26, 2005 for $50 GBP
Link: http://www.icollector.com/POLAND-MEDAL-ORLETA-YOUNG-EAGLE-HONOUR-BADGE-1919_i5282548


PolishBadgeMSO19181919Front.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, CITIZENS CITY GUARDS - I.TYPE (FOR MERITS) 1919
Bronze silver plated, one part construction, two tiny holes in the crown on top, size 44,8 x 45,7 mm;
screw on reverse


PolishBadgeLwow1918Front.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, LWOW DEFENSE CROSS - III.TYPE
Bronze Silver plated, one part construction, size 37,9 x 38,0 mm; screw on reverse
The Defense of Lwow and the War with the Ukraine 1918-1919.
On October 31st and November 1st, 1918 (almost 2 weeks before the WW I armistice) Ukrainian units (Sich Riflemen) of the rapidly disintegrating Austrian Army took advantage of the circumstances and occupied the predominately Polish City of Lwow in Galicia, procaiming it a part of a Socialist Ukrainian Republic. The citizens of Lwow, many of them children, fought off the Ukrainians. Polish army units arrived in a few days to assist the citizens. The fight lasted until November 22nd, when the Ukrainians were repelled. Many school children died in this fight and a cemetery in Lwow was created in their honor. The children are known as Orleta (Eaglets). The fighting against Ukrainian forces continued until July, 1919 when the Polish army finally pushed back the Ukrainians (who were weakened by fighting the Bolsheviks on another front) beyond the Zbrucz River.


PolishBadgeEaglewithcrownFront.jpg
PolishBadgeEaglewithcrownBack.jpg
5282602_1m.jpg

I believe this to be part of a particular badge. POLAND, MEDAL, LITHUANIAN - WHITE RUSSIAN FRONT - III.TYPE
Link: http://www.icollector.com/POLAND-MEDAL-LITHUANIAN-WHITE-RUSSIAN-FRONT-III-TYPE_i5282602
Silver, cross obverse black enamelled, no inscription on arms, superimposed large eagle with
enamelled shield (Lith. Cross), three parts construction, size 41,4 x 42,6 mm; screw on reverse, large nut.
The badge is a three part badge and if you look at the picture of the back of my eagle...you can see the two stems where I believe it was attached as the third part of this badge. The red enameling has either been worn off or polished away. I have provided a pic of the badge I believe it is part of for comparison.


PolishBadge1917EaglewithSwordsFront.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, POLISH MILITARY ASSOCIATION IN THE ODESSA DISTRICT 1918 - I.TYPE
Bronze silver plated, partially patinated, small parts gilt, one part cut out construction, size 35,0 x 35,3
mm; screw on reverse,
The screw cap is marked: B. SZULECKI GRAWER WARSZAWA KRAKOWSKIE PRZEDM .21.


PolishBadge1918KorpusIIFront.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, ASSOCIATION OF KANIOWSKI AND ZELIGOWSKI FORMATIONS
Tombak silver plated and patinated, one part construction with profile-stamped reverse, size 41,1 x
42,4 mm; screw on reverse.
The screw cap is marked: B PASZKOWSKI


PolishBadge3PulkFront.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, 3RD LEGION INFANTRY REGIMENT - I.TYPE "STAR OF HONOUR"
White metal patinated, two parts construction, size 41,5 x 42,3 mm; screw on reverse.
One like this sold at auction on Sept 26, 2005 for $50 GBP
Link: http://www.icollector.com/POLAND-MEDAL-3RD-LEGION-INFANTRY-REGIMENT-I-TYPE-STAR-OF-HONOUR_i5281884


PolishBadgeWitkowice1918front.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, WITKOWICE 1918 - PRISONER OF WAR
Tombak silver plated, with dark patina, partially silver polished, one part construction, size 47,1 x 32,5 mm;
vertical pin on reverse.
On my example. The vertical pin had broken off and someone soldered a screw shaft onto it to be secured with a screw cap.
 
Identification Continued from above post.

PolishBadge1918JanowFront.jpg

POLAND, MEDAL, 5TH INFANTRY REGIMENT - 10TH KOMP
Thin tombak sheet, one part construction with profile-stamped reverse, size 33,6 x 58,9 mm; small
homemade screw on reverse.
One like this sold at auction on Sept 26, 2005 for $150 GBP
Link: http://www.icollector.com/POLAND-MEDAL-5TH-INFANTRY-REGIMENT-10TH-KOMP_i5281893


PolishBadge1918CrossFront.jpg

POLISH POLAND 1918 WOLF LWOW CAVALRY REGIMENT MEDAL BADGE
silver plated over base metal 32mm by 42mm


Here are the 3 That are yet to be identified: *POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THEM*

PolishBadge1920KursInstbuktFront.jpg

PolishBadge1920KursInstbuktBack.jpg

1920 Scout Badge (Polish Boy Scouts) - Instructor in the course Rzesna Polska



PolishBadgeCUE1918Front.jpg

PolishBadgeCUE1918Back.jpg

Central Recording Office of the Polish Legions



I completely forgot to add this one into my original post so this is the first time viewing for it.
PolishBadgeZASZCZYFront.jpg

PolishBadgeZASZCZYBack.jpg

SZCZYPIORNO PRISONER OF WAR 1914-1917 medal.
Bronze-alloy silver plated, with dark patina, one part construction with profile-formed reverse, size 50,8 x 51,6 mm; screw on reverse.
 
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Thank you Monty for that Identification.

I have an ID on the other 2 now as well.

The Badge that is shaped like a shield and dated 1920 is actually:
A Scout Badge, Instructors in the Course Rzesna Polska.

The other Badge is:
Centeral Recording Office of the Polish Legions
 
That they are MontyB. Thank you very much for all the help. My next step is to go to my local legion here in Sault Ste Marie and see if they have a Polish chapter. I hope that I can get someone to authenticate them for me. On another forum...Members have stated that all but 5 of them are authenticate but the other 5 will need to have further examination of them to verify. After that...I need to find the correct venue to get them to either an auction or private sale.

This area of collectable items is new to me. I'm more of a Canadian / USA coin guy. I hope I'm able to help the owner realize a fair price for the items. I have been learning alot along the way and I wish I could afford to buy them myself. The would look great on display.
 
Indeed they would, the Poles have made some very nice medals, it would be interesting to see what sort of value they place on them as a few looked to have sold in the past for good prices.
 
I went to local Legion to my area today. They were excited to see them. I talked a bit with the curator for the military museum they have there. He gave me contact info for a local expert and forwarded the link to my photobucket album to the badges to him. Unfortunately he is out of town for the rest of the week but I hope we can connect next week.

I then stopped in to the main pawnshop in the area as I know that the owner has quite a bit of military items in his shop. I talked with him and he referred me to an expert which just happened to be the same person the Legion recommended. It is good to know we have a local expert on the subject matter. I will keep you informed on the progress I make as well as any appraisals if the expert is so inclined to offer his opinions.
 
I can imagine they would be excited to see them as they are not your common WW1 and WW2 badges they are from a fairly turbulent period that is not well known outside the region, in many ways they are like Spanish Civil war decorations.
 
Polish badge collection

Hello,

I have came accross your photographs of the Polish badges lot.
I would like to ask if they have been already sold or maybe are for sale.
I will be gratefull for any info.

Best regards

Tomislaw Paciorek
 
My suggestion would be to send a Private Message to the guy as that should generate an email and give you a greater chance of a reply.
 
Holly smokes -Lwow -that was Polish city taken by Ukrainians after desperate lost battle -huge -huge sentiment in Poland!!!
 
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