Pamětní odznaky československé armády v zahraničí

The Czechoslovak army in France, made up of brave patriots, loyal to the democratic legacy of the Republic, had some interesting badges, which we take the liberty to present. These are badges that are not official, but as a phallic commemoration of a time when several thousand brave Czechs, Moravians and Slovaks demonstrated their will to fight Nazism, the badges are a reminder of the bravery and heroism of the Czechoslovaks.


In 1941, the Czechoslovak army's economic administration had commemorative badges minted for participants in the French campaign of 1940. Other badges that we know of were minted for the needs of the army's medical unit, which helped to liquidate damage during air raids, and commemorative badges. The aviation badges were minted by Spink London. Others, however, were struck by H. W. MILLER, LTD BRANSTON ST. B. HAM. 18.


The first badge in the sequence is the interesting SPO - (Mixed Pre-Scout Troop) badge. This specialised reconnaissance unit of the Czechoslovakian Division from France has the badge shown in the picture.


The badge is stamped in base metal and is patinated in the colour of old silver. The size of the badge is 55 cm x 45 cm. The badge itself is similar to the graduation badge of the Czechoslovak war school, as it is an oval badge with a horseshoe in a lime wreath, two crossed cavalry sabres covered with a Czech lion, which has the emblem of Slovakia in its centre. Below this national emblem is the French tricolour. On the upper edge of the badge are the letters 'SPO' and at the bottom near the edge is the year '1940'.


On the back, which is smooth, there is a screw with a nut for attaching it to the uniform. Each copy is numbered.


Picture inserted with the permission of the owner.


Stamper's note: given the form of the unit's name, which is found in both contemporary documents and in contemporary works by historians, it was a Mixed Reconnaissance Detachment (verified according to the contemporary dictionary reconnoitre - to reconnoitre/conduct reconnaissance)


Literature :
Dr. Roman Jedlička : Signum , Zpravodaj faleristů v Brně , issue 1 , III. row , March 1998 .
Pavel Patejdl :Commemorative badges of the Czechoslovakia. army abroad ( lecture by ČNS Cheb branch )
Archive : Faleristics
Archive : Alt.

Economic governance has commissioned a firm order with the fact that the badges will always be a double execution, and in the enamel and in the general metal without enameling. Today already nobody is able to substantiate why this occurred, and so, when they are no longer direct witnesses to multiply conjectures of the type :

Enamel for officers, not enamelled for men
Enamel on walking uniforms, not enamelled of a uniform field
Enamel for the allies, not enamelled, for the soldiers of the czechoslovak. of the army abroad

It seems pretty logical that in the joint actions of the soldiers of the czechoslovak. army and other allies it was necessary to have some appreciation for the allies. The army had a tradition in the award of commemorative badges and so here she offers this explanation. Yet, we're just like, if you hear from a colleague and help with the clarification and the inclusion of a badge .

All badges are originals, and with their representation of the agrees the prague collector and a colleague, who does not wish to be named .Another source are the badges from the personal collection of a friend Medals .

Badge 2. infantry regiment Agde 1940 :

The badge is a massive excavation in the general metal. At the bottom of the badge from the left side is the czechoslovak and from the right side of the French flag .
In the middle of the badge is a Czech national character and the next character we see the symbol of the army, two swords. France presented the French brick towers and the date 1940 .

In the upper part of the badge on the metal tape is decomposed inscription :

2 - infantry -2

An enamel badge is flat, embossing, again, general metal, but plated, the symbolism is the same ( see picture )

The back is smooth and carries a clasp for attachment to the uniform. Furthermore, there is the logo of the manufacturer, which is in all cases the company H. W. Miller, LTD., Brensten

Badges are used also as a souvenir, we find them on the tabatěrkách. Metal badges of this type, but also the English badges worn by soldiers on the belts of trousers..

This badge we know (so far) only as the excavation in the general metal. It's about the memorial and the memorial badge of the czechoslovak. the army in France.

Description of the badge:
Going by the massive minting of base metal in the shape of a rectangle built on a height. The size of the badge, 37 mm x 28 mm. The badge is modified to old silver look to the color of old silver. At the bottom of the decoration, lies on a laurel snítkách French military helmet. Above the helmet is czechoslovak national emblem and the upper edge of the inscription: CZECHOSLOVAK ARMY.

The back side of the badge is smooth, provided with a vertical clasp to fasten badge on uniform. The brand manufacturer is once again the H. W. Miller .

The badge exists in the massive minting and furthermore, it is known badge of a thin lightweight střižku..

Another badge bears the marking "we march on".

The badge is struck from patinovaného bronze, which has the dimensions of 48 mm x 22 mm. In the middle part of the badge, while the right side is located the czechoslovak national emblem and in the upper part the inscription: "We march on".

On the left side of the čs. the state emblem and beneath them is the inscription:
28. IX. 1940 / Faithful / it / ourselves Faithful that Britain

bottom inscription: Czechoslovak army

On the back side of the badge are vertical spikes (clips) for attachment to the uniform (which was impractical), but the badge was worn both the belts, and further used as a gift to the allies, especially the English soldiers.

This badge is also known as one-sided plaque, which was handed down in the blue etui. This was awarded as a commemorative medal of the czechoslovak. the army of mostly foreigners.

Note :
Translation of the inscription - the March - believing yourself, believing Britain.

Badge of czechoslovak. artillery in England in 1940
Badge England - Czechoslovak Artillery 1940

Badge in the shape of a French shield is a large 35 cm x 28 cm. It's about the excavation of solid sheet metal. The badge was silver plated, but all of these metal badges for such a long time silvering no longer have .

The czechoslovak state flag are two crossed cannon barrel overlaid czechoslovak state coat of arms. Czech lion carries on a fair the center of the label character of Slovakia .

On the badge is in the upper part of the inscription : ENGLAND
At the bottom is the inscription. CZECHOSLOVAK 1940 ARTILLERY

II. type badge is a badge enameled, which is flat ( see picture )

On the back side of the vertical fastening pin for fastening the badge to clothing. Further, it is again a mark of the manufacturer H. W. Miller.

Badge for members of the field ambulance
Badge " England - Czechoslovak Field Ambulance "

Badge has the shape of a French shield and is again struck in the general metal and modified to old silver look to the colors of silver, another type of badge is stříbřený and enameled. The size of the badge is 37 mm x 280 mm .

On the badge is as the central motif of the symbolism of the Red cross on which is laid the czechoslovak national emblem, which is covered by a perpendicular resting eskulapovou stick. On the top of the badge is the inscription :

ENGLAND

At the bottom of the

CZECHOSLOVAK FIELD AMBULANCE

The rear side is provided with a vertical needle ( a pin ) for attachment to the garment. The brand manufacturer is once again the H. W. Miller .

Field ambulance worked in conjunction with the Red cross in London, but also an ambulance such as St. John. The czechoslovak Red cross has a total of three different types of interesting badges, these badges we will inform you in the journal SIGNUM Brno. If someone of the readers can supplement issues of CC London, write to us, send a PM ( private message ).

Another badge of the czechoslovak. of the army abroad is the badge, which we generally call :
"Loyalty for loyalty "

The badge has a special shape, size 380 mm x 25 mm. It's basically the symbol of the wheel of the armored car or tank. In hoirní part of this round is the inscription :

LOYALTY FOR LOYALTY

At the bottom is the inscription : FAITHFULLNESS for FAITHFULNESS

From the centre of the wheel to the right is the "wing" with the inscription :

CZECHO-SLOVAKIA / ENGLAND / 1940'S

Badge in your enamel version is somewhat different in that the above-described badge is embedded in an equilateral triangle ( symbol of the czechoslovak. the state flag ), which is built on a spike. ( see picture ). The size of the badge is 45 cm .

The rear side of the once again smooth with the clamping pin and the logo of the manufacturer H. W. Miller .

Badge from the collection of Medals ..

Badge of Czechoslovakia. Army " Czechoslovakia - V "


This badge of interesting triangular shape is silver plated:
- the badge is 22 mm high
- the badge is 20mm wide


On the badge on the left we can see the Czechoslovak state flag , on the right the English flag , in the middle between the flags there is a blue enamelled letter "V" - (Victory ) and below this letter is the inscription : Czechoslovakia .


The back side has a horizontal clasp ( pin ) . Manufacturer again H . W . Miller .

Badge " Czechoslovakia - It´s my land all Czechs Country "


The badge is oval in shape, embossed in base metal and patinated in the colour of old silver, size 52 mm x 38, 2 mm .
On the linden sprigs on the oval of the badge is a map (border contour) of the Czechoslovakia with the inner inscription " Czechoslovakia ". On this map we can see Hradcany depicted and at the edge is the inscription :


" It´s my land all Czechs Country "


On the back there is a pin and the logo of the manufacturer H. W. Miller


The badge was presented as a commemorative gift in a blue etui measuring 550 mm x 800 mm. The inside of the case was in blue velvet. On the lid, which is made of white silk, is printed ( in gold ) the inscription :


In Memory / of The Czechoslovak Soldier / Great Britain / 1941


Another type of this badge is a single-sided plaque, which was also presented in this etui

Badge " Czechoslovakia - V


The badge is round, flat and enamelled. The diameter of the badge is 22 mm. On the badge, which has a background in Czechoslovak state colours, is a gilded letter " V " ( meaning Victory ). At the top of the white enamel ribbon is the inscription :


CZECHOSLOVAKIA


Reverse side :
Smooth with a pin to attach to the garment. At the edge of the badge there is then an embossed inscription :


ISSUED BY THE CZECHOSLOVAK ARMY


In the centre of the badge is the year ( date ) 1941

Among the interesting badges , about which not much is known , comprise mainly commemorative badge 3 . infantry regiment in France 1940 .

After the start of the German offensive on the Somme in the direction of Paris ( 5 . 6 . 1940 ) was from the ms . troops combat ready 1 . and 2 . infantry regiment deployed to the front .

3 . infantry regiment , which was created largely from mobilized and nevycvičených Slovaks dissolved .

This badge was struck in France , but up to the end of the year 1945 ( 1946 ? ) at a time when even in France it was necessary to demonstrate commitment to the fight against the occupiers . Former soldiers of the 3 . infantry regiment , who after its dissolution, back home in memory of his short " war " activities have established the badge ( see picture ) .

In our conditions is a badge extremely rare , however it appears in France and here it's often the wrong I bear behind the badge čs. his halberd ready in France .

French falerista Gerd Gerdil confirmed to me that the badge in France, the "something" he knows , but the manufacturer , the year of the award and other details figured out.

Note :
This badge was in 2009 sold on Ebay . The picture provided me with to publish the owner and dealer ..

Commemorative plaque " to Our fallen Agde - 2. infantry regiment "

This is one-sided plaque with a diameter of 65 mm. In the middle of this medal is the symbolism of struggle and suffering. A pair of angels takes away from the swastika crucified warrior .

When the edges of the medals are further inscriptions :

MARNE - 1940 - LOIRE in the upper part of the

AGDE - OUR FALLEN 2. P. PL .

Furthermore, there is čs. the national emblem and at the bottom the inscription :

DUM. SACRIS. PATRIAE. AS. OBSEGUIMUR

The bottom left is the name of the author :Szobel

The medal was stored in a simple wooden case ..

Badge of the Czechoslovak troops in the Middle East .


It is not a commemorative badge in the true sense of the word, more precisely it is a marking that our soldiers wore on their uniforms during their combat deployment in the Middle East and in the fighting at Tobruk.


After the end of active combat activity in this area and the move to England, this badge was no longer officially worn on the uniform (or rather, should not have been).


Badge description :


Embossed in brass plate, size 30, 6 mm x 35 mm. There are also 4 holes on the badge which are used for sewing on the uniform. The badge does not bear any manufacturer's logo.


The badge is most commonly found as a new piece. However, the picture of the badge from the Faleristika collection is original ( see picture ) -