Medal For Our And Your Freedom.

[Ed_Haynes]

Medal Za Wasza Wolnosc i Nasza / Medal for Your Liberty and Ours

Instituted by the Polish State Council on 18 October 1956 and awarded to Polish volunteers who participated in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 on side of the Spanish Republic. The medal is silver and 35 mm in diameter.

On the obverse is the portrait of General Swierczewski in profile. Gen. Swierczewski served as one of International Brigade commanders. There is the inscription "ZA WASZA WOLNOSC I NASZA" (FOR YOUR LIBERTY AND OURS).

The reverse has the three-pointed star of the Republican troops. The star lies on a laurel wreath, and within the star is the inscription "XIII / BI / 1936-1939" in three lines. This represents the 13th International Battalion and the years of the Spanish Civil War. The 13th International Battalion was named after Polish General Dabrowski and held most of the Polish volunteers. At the center bottom of the Reverse is the year of institution "1956." Around the outer edge runs the inscription "DABROWSZCZAKOM" (TO MEMBERS OF THE DABROWSKI BATTALION).

The ribbon is in red with a white central stripe.

[Christophe]

Ed,

Excellent to share with us some of your treasures !!

Cheers.

Ch.

[Taz]

(Medal Za Wasza Wolnosc i Nasza)

The Medal for Your Liberty and Ours was instituted by decree of the State Council of October 18, 1956. It was awarded to Polish volunteers who participated in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 on side of the Republic.
It is a silver medal, 35 mm in diameter.
On the obverse is the head of one of the International Brigade commanders Gen. Swierczewski, on the outside is writen ZA WASZA WOLNOSC I NASZA (for your liberty and ours).
On the reverse is a three pointed star, this was worn by the Republican troops, it was red in colour as a device on uniform headgear and sleeve cuffs to differentiate them as serving on the Republican side, surrounded by a laurel wreath, and with the inscription: XII / B I / 1936-1939 on it (13th International Battalion, named after Polish general Dabrowski, in which Polish volunteeers fought), and with the year of institution1956 below; and the wording DABROWSZCZAKOM (to members of the Dabrowski battalion).

The ribbon is in the colours of the Spanish Military Order of Merit, red with a white central stripe.


The International Brigades were Republican military units in the Spanish Civil War, formed of many non-state sponsored volunteers of different countries who traveled to Spain, to fight for the democratic government in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939. They fought against Spanish Nationalist forces, who were led by General Francisco Franco and assisted by Nazi German and fascist Italian forces.
The Dombrowski Battalion was mainly made up of Polish and Hungarian troops. Also Czechoslovakian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Palestinian Jews. 5,000 Poles were involed in the Spanish civil War.
General Karol Świerczewski, (callsign Walter) (22 February 1897 in Warsaw – 28 March 1947 at Jabłonki near Baligród) was a communist, military officer and a general in service of Bolshevist Russia, Soviet Union, Republican Spain and Polish post-War government.
General Dabrowski fought with his Polish corps in italy for revolutionary France and later Napoleon and he is part of the Polish national hymne.

March! March, Dabrowski!
March from Italy to Poland!
Under your command
We shall reach our land.
Cross the Vistula and Warta
And Poles we shall be;
We've been shown by Bonaparte
Ways to victory.

Eddie.

[Taz]

The Dombrowski Battalion Banner used in the Spanish Civil War.

See also

http://soviet-awards.com/forum/soviet-bl...-ours.html

Eddie.