Circular bronze medal with laterally-pierced ball for ribbon suspension; the face with the crowned Polish eagle perched on a sabre; the reverse inscribed ‘POLSKA SWEMU OBROŃCY’ (Poland to her Defender), an oak leaf above and below; bronze hallmark and triangular maker’s mark of Arthus Bertrand of Paris on the edge; on replaced correct ribbon mounted for wear in the French style. The medal was instituted on 3 July 1943 by Decree of President of the Polish Republic in Exile in London. It was awarded to members of the Polish army for a minimum of 6 months active combat service or 12 months with a non-combatant unit. This example must have been made by Arthus Bertrand some time after the liberation of Paris in August 1944 and is rare.
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