Polish Military Medals, WWI era found in Detroit

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide

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Aug 15, 11, 23:56 #1

Hello everyone,

I am new to the site. I found it by researching Polish history, in particular some old Polish Military medals i found at an estate in Detroit, Michigan, USA. I will post a link to pictures. There are several documents with them also, i have pictured them as well. Maybe someone can translate? My great Grandmother came over to the US from Poland, but sadly noone in my family can speak the language or read it.

Here is a link to what I have found, any info is appreciated. I cannot post a link here yet, but go to webshots.com and look up username Jaybone449. Look at the album titled Polish medals. When allowed, I will post a direct link.

try this in a google search
good-times.webshots.com/album/580723766HdYbKX

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Edited by: MyMom Aug 16, 11, 01:14 #2

AirCorpsHJSThreads: 1 Posts: 1 Joined: Aug 15, 11 ♂	Aug 16, 11, 12:46 #3
thank you so much for the info! it is appreciated!

KSlesicki	Nov 18, 11, 22:43 #4
I am a historian, I bought in Poland, a few of these items. if you sold them all, or gave someone please write to me? or Jan Pniewski was your family? I am waiting to contact krzysztof.slesicki@gmail.com

skysoulmateThreads: 41 Posts: 3,039 Joined: Jan 10, 10 ♂	Nov 19, 11, 03:51 #5
AirCorps, are you interested in selling this item? http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2573308420060718861BNJjCR I have no idea how much it's worth but if you're interested please let me know.

Zman	Nov 19, 11, 04:02 #6
You had a hero in your family, be proud! ..... let them rest in peace, brave men they were including your Pniewski dziadek!

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Edited by: skysoulmate Nov 19, 11, 05:57 #7

AirCorps (which unit btw?) - was this your family's estate or someone else's?

This is my understanding of what this cross represents; to those who have more info please advice if my findings are incorrect.

The inscription reads ""Swoim Żołnierzom z Ameryki Oswobodzona Polska" followed by Szampania, Lwów, Wołyn, Pomorze. Something like "[To] Our Own (Our) Soldiers from America [From] Liberated (Reborn) Poland". Words in brackets [ ] are my own to simplify the meaning of the inscription. There are also 4 important regions for this particular army, Chapaigne (France), Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine), Wołyń (now Volhynia, Ukraine) and Pomorze (Pomerania).

The cross was given to Americans who volunteered to fight for Poland. They were primarily Poles (and Lithuanians) who lived in America or were of Polish/Lithuanian heritage.

Below is a short history of "Blue Army" which had it's beginnings in France. Remember that Poland was reborn in 1918 after a 123 year long hiatus from the world map, during all those years the country was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. Thousands and thousands of Poles had escaped the occupation and lived literally all over the world. In 1917 the US entered WWII and many Poles or Americans of Polish heritage volunteered and joined the newly former army commanded by the General Józef Haller. The army was located in the Champagne region of France (Szampania in Polish just as the inscription reads) and wore blue uniforms.

Haller's Army (Blue Army)

The Blue Army, or Haller's Army, are informal names given to the Polish Army units formed in France during the later stages of World War I. The army was created in June 1917 as part of the Polish units allied to the Entente. After the Great War ended, the units were transferred to Poland, where they took part in the Polish-Ukrainian War and the Polish-Bolshevik War. The nicknames come from the soldier's French blue uniforms and the name of the army's commander, General Józef Haller de Hallenburg.

US recruitment poster for the Polish Army in France

The first units were formed after the signing of a 1917 alliance by French President Raymond Poincaré and the Polish statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski. A majority of recruits were either Poles serving in the French army, or former prisoners of war from the German and Austro-Hungarian imperial armies (approximately 35,000 men). An additional 23,000 were Polish Americans. Other Poles flocked to the army from all over the world as well — these units included recruits from the former Russian Expeditionary Force in France and the Polish diaspora in Brazil (more than 300 men).
The army was initially under French political control and under the military command of General Louis Archinard. However, on February 23, 1918, political sovereignty was granted to the Polish National Committee and soon other Polish units were formed, most notably the 4th and 5th Rifle Divisions in Russia. On September 28 Russia formally signed an agreement with the Entente that accepted the Polish units in France as the only, independent, allied and co-belligerent Polish army. On October 4, 1918 the National Committee appointed General Józef Haller de Hallenburg as overall commander..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blue_Army_(Poland)

skysoulmateThreads: 41 Posts: 3,039 Joined: Jan 10, 10 ♂	Edited by: skysoulmate Nov 19, 11, 06:12 #8
Meant to say "In 1917 the US entered WWI" and "...Champagne region of France (Szampanja in Polish just as the inscription reads)..." Sure would be nice with a longer "edit post" time... ;)

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Nov 19, 11, 19:41 #9

skysoulmate:

This is my understanding of what this cross represents; to those who have more info please advice if my findings are incorrect.

Are you an expert in Polish militaria, skysoulmate?
If yes, what is your opinion on the statements like this:

On the Polish collectors militaria market today we can find up to 90% of items to be fake or reproductions.

http://home.golden.net/~medals/stopfakes.html

or this, coming from user group Getleman's Millitary Interest Club

FAKES!
As we start out, we can use this thread for Fake or Reproduction Victory Medals, clasps, ribbons, etc.

The Polish medals immediately come to mind but, we see several other areas as well. Let's keep it to the items that are considered FAKE though and not items that are considered re-issues or official restricts.

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/49866-fakes/

skysoulmateThreads: 41 Posts: 3,039 Joined: Jan 10, 10 ♂	Nov 19, 11, 20:34 #10
Not an expert whatsoever. I'm aware of the many fakes which is why something from an estate in the US appealed to me. The "fake" market is something more common in Poland proper, the market for Polish medals here in the US simply isn't very large, at least that's my perception. Again, not an expert.

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