Řád sokola [1919]

Both types of decorations can be seen together in a photograph of the command corps of probably the 2nd Light Artillery Regiment, which was separated from the 2nd Artillery Brigade at the end of April 1919. [url] forum.valka.cz RL.jpg[/url] The officer in the middle of the lower row (probably Col. V. Melichar) is decorated Order of the Falcon with swords, officers to his right and above his head [b ] Order of the Falcon for non-military merit - without swords and with an asterisk on the ribbon. The film first dates from the first half of 1919.

Order of the Falcon with Swords in Nature ...

The distinction of this order is simple at first glance.
(S) - With swords - military group
(B) - Without swords - civilian group
Furthermore, the group without swords is with
(H) - star and without star.
But how to recognize at first glance the time of issue?
1-1918 Tokyo
2-1920 Prague
3-1945 Prague
There are many differences, just like in the game "look for 10 differences" but we do not always have our piece at hand, or the more we already have.
Differences:
1-Outer center circle
2-Digit of the digit 9
3-CZ combination of letters
4-Shapes of hills
5-Falcon wings shapes


So far, I have only the beginning of differences on my website www.OLDS.cz, I will publish more later and with many photos.


vyznamenani.olds.cz


I would like to point out that even Mr. Měřička did not have a perfect description in his last amazing publication Hradec 1990.
Perhaps it will be put in order and it will enrich everyone.

Order of the Falcon without Swords in the Prague edition (1918 - 1920).
An asterisk on the ribbon indicates praise.





Source: http://www.aurea.cz/Katalog20/20kat0251.htm

We must approach the issue of the problematic order of Sokol cautiously and with knowledge of the overall issues of Czechoslovakia. troops in Russia, their commanders and ordinary soldiers. I will try to outline some problems that the literature does not cite too much, but which the witnesses independently confirm. So whoever wants to believe, whoever does not believe has the right to doubt.
The Order of the Falcon was founded for a simple reason, it was necessary to appreciate some higher decoration brave soldiers, especially for the battle of Zborov. The idea is certainly commendable. In the Russian environment, the legionaries clearly realized that the order was intended for officers, decorations for low-ranking soldiers, partial correction brings a short period of the Provisional Government in 1917, when, on the contrary, as a high honor for officers was the opportunity to award the Cross of St. George 4th degree. The cross could be awarded only at the suggestion of soldiers of the unit. Such a cross was complemented by a laurel twig attached to a ribbon. The basic idea, then, was: “To establish and grant an order that a soldier and a non-commissioned officer, as well as an officer, could receive (at the lowest level). So the idea was really progressive and won the whole army sympathy.
The ideological creator of the draft of this order was General Štefanik, who took care of the establishment of the order, according to the statutes and customs valid for the French Order of the Legion of Honor. However, the principle known from the Legion of Honor did not apply, when the Order's jewel without swords could be received by brave soldiers for bravery and courage and ordinary citizens for merits for their homeland. It was also General Štefanik who first granted the order within the "Russian Legion". Perhaps personal antipathy between Stefanik and the highest military leadership of the Czechoslovak. legionaries was marked by another fate of this order. The first specimens are made in Tokyo and only with swords. Among the distinguished soldiers are warriors from Zborov, brave soldiers from Bachmač, but also legionnaires bravely fighting in the area of Baikal, Samara, Yakaterinoslav and all local encounters with the Bolsheviks or ordinary marauding troops. However, the order was also given to soldiers (officers) who did not participate in these battles, but had great merits in the logistical support of the army. Therefore, the order of the Sokol I. type made in Tokyo appears in our collections (very rarely), which has professionally removed swords. There are only a few pieces or dozens of pieces, because there were protests from senior soldiers and especially soldiers from the ranks of the Old Soldiers that soldiers who were not even on the battlefield actually gained order with swords. This fact was confirmed to me by an old gentleman, a member of the train workshop, who personally performed this cutting of swords. However, this fact cannot be confused with the fraudulent trimming of swords of the Sokol order of other editions, especially after 1945.
Therefore, the most valued are the orders of type I in wooden balsa made of wood and black lacquered etudes supplemented by the necessary decree.
Another problem or question is why the order was made and awarded only in one, lowest class or degree. The order had to be made quickly and cheaply. Certainly, a jewelry workshop would be found in Vladivostok, which would be able to produce quality decorations that meet the conditions for the appearance of the order's decoration. However, it would not be fast or cheap. Today, we will no longer find out the name of the officer who decided on production in Japan. However, the final product, which we call the order, did not convince anyone, because its appearance made it clear that it was a very cheap product and even an etude, made of balsa, was not one of the wonders of Japanese handicrafts. Perhaps it was here that General Štefanik realized that the draft order simply did not succeed. Only a great optimist can imagine the arm of a cross or starfish as a Hussite chalice. The order is generally flat, indistinct, just for little money…, it is interesting that the money to make the order was and was enough. But probably the biggest obstacle was General Štefanik himself, an honest and direct man, but very unpopular with both Masaryk and especially Beneš.It is therefore not surprising that the actual production of higher degrees was delayed or even sabotaged, and after the death of General Stefanik, the idea of this order is quickly forgotten and the order itself becomes a torso valid only within the Czechoslovak Republic. troops in Russia (Act No. 243 of 10 April 1920).
Another specific feature of this order is still the search for deviations, editions, embossing, finishing, etc. It is interesting and several fellow specialists own even more types of crosses in their collection than Mr. Václav Měřička mentions in his work:
"Czechoslovak decorations part I 1918-1938"
Here, too, the situation is easy to understand and explain.
The first edition talks about the decoration (order) made in Tokyo. Here, too, there are a few deviations that are given more to the almost handicraft work of Japanese techniques than to the extraordinary finishing touches.
II. The issue is about excavations after 1920, for several reasons. Some legionnaires did not want to damage their original order granted in Vladivostok and are buying this so-called Prague specimen for everyday wear. Just look in the offer catalog of a manufacturing company offering accessories for Czechoslovak officers and non-commissioned officers. post-war army.Another reason is that the order was in several cases granted additionally in the period 1920-1938.
III. The issue after 1945 is quite debatable, but we will try to explain the reasons for this minting. After 1945, soldiers from all battlefields, not only in Europe, returned home, and most of them rightly wore decorations for their merits and bravery gained in battle. A group of former legionnaires would also like to present themselves at military festivities with their decorations obtained in combat in the years 1914-1919. However, the problem was, among other things, that many brave legionnaires preferred to discard their decorations after 1939 for fear of the occupiers and bought them after 1945. I don't know how to evaluate such a decoration morally. Many just lost it. The fact that this is not a small group of people was first understood by companies engaged in the production of these orders and medals. It's not the best rating, but none of us know how to behave in a similar situation.
I have mentioned a total of 3rd substantial excavations of this order, but each group offers several possibilities and differences in the excavation itself. For comparison, it will be good to follow Mr. Primak's website.
Conclusion:
I have only tried to take a lay look at the issue of the Sokol order and I believe that we will prove some ideas, others may be damned by a colleague.

Order of the Falcon:
It is certain and quite right if we return to the history of this order, to reminisce, to present new knowledge or simply to discuss. I would like to make a few remarks about this order, which were pointed out by Mr. Václav Měřička or Mr. Kopecký long ago.
After the Battle of Zborov, the Czechoslovak troops are on their own, and in the resulting chaos and general disintegration of the front, there is only one way left, an organized retreat to central Russia, a move by rail to Vladivostok, and sea transport to France to the western battlefield. However, the situation of the troops was complicated by the Great Socialist October Revolution, the Bolshevik efforts to disarm the legions, and ultimately the fight against all with the sole aim of breaking through to Vladivostok.
To clarify. Already on 17 July 1918 it is proposed to establish a new decoration which would have all the requisites of an order, and on 29 July 1918 such an order is approved. It is the Order of Freedom, but the idea of producing an order that would have the shape and form of the five-pointed star in Bolshevik Russia was not exactly a happy idea.
However, the main enemy of this decoration was Milan Rastislav Stefanik. In fact, during this turbulent time for the future republic, TGM was living in the USA and here he learned that he had been elected president of the new state formation of Czechoslovakia. In Paris, Dr. E. Beneš was the great organizer of this idea, but at the same time Milan R. Štefanik, both of different temperament, temperament and character, worked there. On October 28, 1918, the Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed, but before that date Štefanik left for Russia in the borrowed rank of a French general and in the capacity of Minister of War of the new yet non-existent republic. Štefanik was convinced that his presence would bring order and discipline, but at the same time there was a certain rivalry to the generalship of the Czechoslovak Legion, with the young ensigns and lieutenants of 1915 becoming generals with their own troops in 1917-18. It must be remembered that Stefanik had the rank of French general only on loan. It is not my purpose to evaluate the personality of Gen. Štefanik, nor his efforts to "organize" the legionnaires on the model of the French army with rigid, often senseless discipline, but as the main fact we can allow ourselves to state that Štefanik did not understand the pure inner idea of the legionnaires and their motives of the fight for freedom and that Štefanik himself by his attitudes among the "generals" caused more confusion bordering on hatred ( see the evaluation of Generals Syr, Cheček, etc.). So it is not true that it was he who established order and discipline in the Legionary units.
One of the objectives to which he personally paid the utmost attention was to prevent the awarding of the Order of Freedom, but he was also aware that he had to offer another military order that would satisfy his brother legionaries.
Stefanik takes the only possible route from Europe to the USA, then to Canada, and leaves this country on St. Wenceslas Day ( 28 September 1918) on the Japanese ship Korea Maru. With a stop in Honolulu he arrived in Japan ( Tokyo) and his journey leads to Siberia to the Czechoslovak Legion troops.
Throughout his journey, Stefanik worked to implement the new order. On October 5, 1918, he drew a watercolor, which has been preserved, showing the design of the new order. However, this design of Stefanik's had only three degrees, which differed from each other is a gold, silver and bronze star fixed on a ribbon. The ribbon was designed by the Czech painter Vojtěch Preissig. However, the statutes in their final form were approved only in Paris in the spring of 1919. The statutes state that this decoration is intended for all those who have contributed to the establishment and building of a democratic and free Czechoslovakia.
Everything was done in euphoric times, the order was produced very quickly and it seems that the speed of production and delivery was the main reason for the production, which was done in a more artisanal rather than fine jewellery manner. The result was that the Stefanik arrived with the Czechoslovak troops in Russia and the first award of the Order took place in November 1918, probably in Omsk.
Of interest to us is Order No. 60 of 29 September 1919 ( while the Czechoslovak troops were still in Russia), confirming the complete award of the Order to members of the Czechoslovak troops in Russia:
287 pcs of orders with swords
86 orders without swords but with a star on the ribbon
21 orders without swords and without a star on the ribbon
It is interesting that there is a star on the ribbon, which reminds us of General Stefanik's original design, but in this case the star only expresses a special commendation.
Part l.

Order of the Falcon Supplement:
Act No. 243 of 10 April 1920 approved "Honorary Badges, if they were established (established) for the Czechoslovak Army in Russia, Siberia, a branch of the Czech National Council for Russia." The order is not quite correctly quoted in the sense of:
"ORDER OF MILAN RASTISLAV ŠTEFANIK - SOKOL"
After returning to France, the current order of Sokol is assessed, and it is determined that this order will be reworked completely following the example of the order of the Legion of Honor. Only here is it decided on the main features of the order's decoration. The idea of decoration without swords did not win, but on the contrary, the Sokol order was to be awarded gradually from its lowest level, ie exactly as in the French Order of the Legion of Honor.
Based on the approved Paris Statutes, the order is divided into five classes:
- Grand Cross, a jewel of the order worn on a large scale and complemented by a star.
- The second degree as a classic Grand Officer, ie a jewel worn around the neck and complemented by a star
- Third degree or perhaps commander, worn on the neck, without a star
- Fourth degree (officer) with a bronze and gilded "Falcon" on a ribbon.
- Fifth degree, bronze "Sokol" on a ribbon
In his lectures at the ČSPDP in Prague or the CNS in Hradec Králové, Mr. Měřička liked to talk about this order, but he was not able to answer questions such as what a star complementing its own gem would look like, why such an atypical bird as the predatory falcon was chosen. Whether the gem is made up of just this predator. Interestingly, no proposals have been preserved to clarify this issue. Perhaps this problem will be solved by a young generation of historians dealing with our foreign resistance in the years 1914-1918.
RIBBON:
In my opinion, unnecessarily much attention is paid to the issue of ribbons. We find the order of the Sokol Tokyo edition on a ribbon, which is clearly made after 1945. We find ribbons that are slightly wider, or have a slightly different color, width of the strip, etc. It is nothing more than the fact that each manufacturer used different colors , other material. We can again discuss the issue of "RIBBON" on this issue.
Excavation after 1945:
Why the excavations take place after 1945 is clear, it was necessary to make them for the needs of Czechoslovakia. legionary veterans who "lost" them during the "Protectorate". For this reason, a larger number of War Crosses of 1918, Revolutionary Medals and even the Crosses of St. Jiří. Mr Měřička states:
"After returning from Russia, a small number of orders still had to be produced in Prague and after 1945 a small number of these orders. I myself bought this order in 1945 at the then factory in Žižkov for the price of 280 CZK "
Here, however, there is a fundamental discrepancy between what Mr. Měřička says and the number of orders that has appeared and is appearing on our faleristic market. In the fifties a certain ND worker? He sold back labels with the inscription Czechoslovakia, which he issued for very old football badges, which at that time were sought after and expensive (100 and more CZK). According to the number of badges sold, the stock of stored Sokol orders must have been very large, which is why today we still find these orders without back medallions.
Conclusion:
We must thank Mr. Primak for his efforts to discover new findings related to the Sokol order.

Pro doplnění ukázka zajímavé dobové etuje Ř. Sokola.

Different boxes Tokyo with swords and without swords[/heading]
Here on the photo are two japanese boxes of balsa painted black on the Order of the Falcon, and this version with swords and without swords. There is a noticeable difference in the recesses on the hinge honours above a circular medallion, clearly the original original from japan factory.
Here it is evident that already in the production of both variants, because there are two boxes.
However, the question is whether the curtain without swords was minted, or sword severed.
More pictures of the boxes and the source can be found here:

olds.cz alpinist-tokyo

More detail is in the category here:
[url=]olds.cz].

As the Altmann contributor has said in the past, this issue really needs to be approached with caution. But mainly to its historical background. E.g. this order has nothing to do with the battle of Zborov. It was purely Štefánik's initiative, when he tried to unite the naturally emerging decorations in the Russian Legion (Hussite Cross, which is currently related to Zborov!), The Order for Freedom, the Medal of Jan Žižka of Trocnov) and hard-pressed his position as Minister of War. Therefore, he also created this decoration in the fall of 1918, somewhat based on Russian patterns (according to the St. George's Cross, but only three steps on the same chest ribbon), but after returning to France took over the French pattern according to the Order of the Legion of Honor. At that time, however, the decoration already lived its own life in the Russian Legion, the presumed lowest degree was made and quite often awarded. Although Štefánik's new project was codified, it was abandoned after his death, while the Siberian reality became binding.

Můj prastrýc Otakar Sviták byl v československých legiích vyznamenán vyznamenáním "Sokola s meči". V jeho deníku je napsáno, že byl vyznamenán v říjnu 1918. Vyznamenání bylo založeno však až v roce 1919. Bylo to nějaké jiné vyznamenání Sokola s meči nebo už bylo dříve než v roce 1919?

Řád Sokola vymyslel/vytvořil generál Štefánik počátkem října 1918 na cestě z Honolulu do Tokia během své inspekční cesty za legiemi. V Tokiu zadal u odborné firmy jeho výrobu a záhy po příjezdu do Vladivostoku (17.11.1918) ho uděloval (dal udělovat). Dne 17.1.1919 odjel ze Sibiře a po návratu do Paříže se podílel na vypracování stanov tohoto řádu, které byly publikovány na jaře 1919.

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