Circular bronze medal with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a raised fist holding rifle laterally, a five-pointed star centrally, barbed wire to either side being pulled apart by two hands upper left and upper right; the reverse inscribed ‘ČESTNÝ ODZNAK / ČESKÉHO SVAZU / PROTIFAŠISTICKÝCH / BOJOVNÍKŮ’ (Honorary Decoration of the Czech Association of Former Anti-Fascist Fighters), a linden leaf and stalks below, an indistinct maker’s mark at the base; on original enamelled ribbon bar with maker’s mark ‘MK’ mounted for wear, the pin now absent. The Czechoslovak Association of Former Anti-Fascist Fighters was formed by the Communist regime after it had gained power in 1948 in order to bring together and assert control over the then existing associations of former members of the resistance, ex-prisoners of war and the like. After the ‘Prague Spring’ of 1968, the Association was divided into the Czech and Slovak sections and its members are issued by the two types of honorary distinctions, of which the present example is one. The Decoration is rarely seen.
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