Commemorative Badge Of The Dąbrowski Brigade.

[Ed_Haynes]

Thought I'd record some of the non-Soviet awards here --

Odznaka Pamiatkowa Dabrowszczakow / Jaroslaw Dabrowski Brigade Commemorative Decoration

Instituted in 1945 to honor the soldiers of the Jaroslaw Dabrowski XIII International Brigade, which fought on the Republican side during the Spanish civil war of 1936-1939. The brigade was composed mostly of Polish volunteers was named in honor of Gen. Jaroslaw Dabrowski (1836-1871) who fell in defense of Paris during the Paris Commune of 1871.

The badge is 35 mm in diameter, made in white metal. The central part has the form of the three-pointed republican star overlaid with the bust of Gen. Dabrowski. The points of the star there are inscribed XIII / BI : 1936 : 1939. The star is surrounded by a laurel wreath with a scroll containing an inscription in Spanish POR VUESTRA LIBERTAD Y LA NUESTRA (for your liberty and ours). On the reverse there is a threaded post (the censors won't let me say sc**w!) and nut for wearing; the badge is numbered on the reverse (this one is # 330), though I know of no suriving or available rolls.

Most recipients of this badge (those who survived) would be awarded with the Medal Za Wasza Wolnosc i Nasza / Medal for Your Liberty and Ours in 1956. In 1980 a replica of the badge in gilt was conferred on a few bodies, not necessarily connected with the Spanish Cvil War, such as the General Staff, the Political Academy, and the Military History Institute.