Memorial Medal for the War of 1918-1921

Nearly one million soldiers of the Polish Army, including 738,000 reservists, took part in the Polish-Bolshevik war, which lasted from February 14, 1919 to March 18, 1921. For many years after it ended, there was no distinction commemorating the efforts of all those who passed through the front, because the restored highest Polish military distinction, the Order of the Virtutti Militari and the martial cross established in 1920, honoured only the bravest soldiers. The commemorative medal was initiated in 1924 by the Warsaw poet and journalist Artur Oppman (1867–1931), who himself, as a 53-year-old volunteer, joined the infantry in 1920. He indicated the need to honour those who, in the most difficult times for the country, fulfilled their duty as soldiers, and so far did not receive any, even symbolic satisfaction from the state. The Memorial Medal for the War of 1918-1921 was established only in 1928, on the 10th anniversary of Poland regaining its independence. As a military and civilian distinction, which also includes foreigners and civilians, although it was awarded in particular to the dead and wounded on the battlefield and to soldiers of the Polish Army, performing active duty for a period of 5 months. This period was shortened to 3 months for soldiers from the line infantry and to 2 months if they were volunteers. The designer of the artistic medal was captain Antoni Dziedzicki (1877 – after 1933). A crowned eagle with a cross of the Military Order Virtutti Militari is placed on the averse. The colourful tape of the medal referred to the two most important military honours of the period, namely the Military Order of Virtuti Militari and the War Cross. However, a copy from the collection of the Breakthrough Dialogue Centre is presented on a monochrome replacement tape. Paula Sendra