Medal Of Rodło.

[Taz]

(Medal Rodla)

The Rodło is a symbol of Poland, used by the Union of Poles in Germany from 1932 to the present. It is a stylised representation of the Vistula river along with Kraków as the source of Polish culture. As the Polish national symbol, the White Eagle, was banned in Prussia, the Rodło was intended as a new symbol that Poles in Germany could rally around. The name "Rodło" is a portmanteau of rodzina (homeland) and godło (symbol).

The Rodło was created by the graphic designer Janina Kłopocka, who made a rough sketch of "the emblem of the Vistula river, cradle of the Polish people, and royal Kraków — the cradle of Polish culture". The white emblem was placed on a red background, the colors of the Polish nation. It was adopted in August 1932 by the leadership of the Union of Poles.

The symbol was inspired by the Nazi swastika, to which it was intended as a patriotic challenge. It has since been used by a number of Polish organizations, notably the Scouts, who used it alongside the fleur de lys.

The medal was instituted by decree act of State Council of April 18, 1985. It was awarded to members of the Polish minority in Germany mainly from the areas which would belong to Poland after WWII and who were working actively on preserving Polish national identity, as well as to the people who worked for the Polish settlement in those areas after the war.

It is a silver medal with a diameter of 38mm. On the obverse is a type a of Polish eagle encountered in the Piast dynasty over the rodlo symbol. The inscription reads NIE RZUCIM ZIEMI : SKAD NASZ ROD (we won't abandon the land that we come from). The background is granular.
On the reverse is a symbolic map of Poland with the letters PRL in the center, and the the coats of arms of the three regions that became Polish after WWII: Pomerania, Varmia and Mazuria, and Silesia. Between the coats of arms is written BOJOWNIKOM :BUDOWNICZYM : POLSKOSCI (to the warriors and builders of Polish identity).

The ribbon is 40mm wide, light blue with white (inner) and red (outer) edge stripes.

Eddie

[d-riemer]

Great background explanation, Eddie.
I could never understand this medal and always assumed it to be a broken swastika.

[Taz]

Thanks Dietrich,

Here is the medal in more detail.

Eddie