The Grunwald Badge (Odznaka Grunwaldzka) was founded in 22nd July 1945 and awarded to First Polish Army combatants for participation in the offensive westwards to Berlin. Generals were issued the Badge in silver and all other ranks received bronze.
CtahhR Wrote:Generals were issued the Badge in silver and all other ranks received bronze.
Actually from what I know the all-silver version for officers was never considered an official version. The higher officers received silver-plated version, but it was not treated as a separate class.
Btw. This badge was designed by Marian Spychalski - Later marshal of Poland and Chairman of the State Council, who happened to be an architect by trade (considered a good one before the war)
CtahhR Wrote:I must admit with the very simple and sleek design it is my favourite Polish award. These can still be picked up for $7 or less, which is a steal.
I agree 100% with this, one of the best looking badges of polish militaria and for a great price. Here are my two and the codument of the second one dated in 1946.
Nice doc!
Btw, Your lieutenant is quite easily identifiable based on regiment history books (I don't have the particular one or access to it, but these data is available on the net).
He was the commander of the 2nd platoon of the 1st rifle company, 1st battalion of the 25th Infantry regiment, 10th Infantry division, and he was awarded silver medal "To the meritous on the field of glory"
The regiment history book was "Przez Łużyce i Sudety" by Stanisław Rzepski, but it was published back in 1967 so it is possilble that it falls in to the 1st generation of the books which do not give awarding information other than what awards were given to the soldier like the later ones.
(Janusz Stankiewicz. Genealogia, przodkowie, badania genealogiczne, forum dyskusyjne)
An interesting set to a famale officer - lieutenant Stella Szramik daughter of Leon.
The document is in near perfect condition and shows the stamp of the resupplement commission, so I assume that she was already de-mobilized in 1947, as were the majority of the famale soldiers.
She could have been one of quite many famale soldiers of the 1st or 2nd Army in the East or a partisan. The second case is less likely - not too many famale partisans - of any organisation - had officer rank.
The badge itself is engarver's made - solid brass with flat reverse and was heavily polished at some point.
A large diploma for the badge to a senior officer.
When I saw the surname and a lieutenant colonel rank I was almost 100% sure it was a soviet officer. And I was right - Teodor Kaulin, aka Fyodor Fyodorovich Kaulin, has joined the Red Army in 1924 and was moved to the Polish 1st Army in May 1944.
In the Polish Army he held the position of the deputy chief of the ingeneering troops for supply.
Holding this position, he was awarded a long service ORB and an ORS for "general" merits in supplying the troops and collecting the German equipment during thefights for Kolberg/Kołobrzeg in March 1945.