IrishGunner

Here is my Czechslovak War Cross 1914-18 = Československý válečný kříž A well known award for valor. I always wondered why the ribbon on this one has rust marks. I thought maybe there had a been a device there, but there are no holes in the ribbon.

Not a lot of information out there on this medal. Supposedly created in 1920 for volunteers who fought to protect the the new Czech state created afterWorld War I, especially against the Hungarian Bolsheviks. Not sure of its originality. Thoughts from the Czech experts?

I wish I could show you a nice enameled class of the cross, but all I have is the Commemorative Medal of the Royal Order of George I 3. Class. The Order's cross grades were only awarded to officers; so, NCOs, soldiers, and junior civil officials received the medal in three class (gold, silver, bronze). Associated with the monarchy and first awarded 1915-1924 and then 1935-1973. This is probably a later version.

Here's my 4th Class Soldier's Cross Military Order "For Bravery"

Let's revive this thread with my Medal For Merit Boris III Bronze - no ribbon. Thoughts from the Bulgarian experts?

We see this little Bulgarian WWI commemorative a lot in different threads, but I thought it needed its own topic... Can anyone give the Bulgarian language name of the medal (Google was no help)? And does this one look too "new" to anyone else?

Originally instituted in 1920 for the Polish-Soviet War, the interwar versions have "1920" on the obverse and are numbered on the reverse. In 1940, the Polish Government in Exile - London, reintroduced the award, for members of the Polish Armed Forces in the West. In 1944, the communist government put in place by the Red Army in Poland also started awarding the Cross of Valor; these versions are dated "1944" on the obverse. My piece is a WW2 Exile government version, produced by Spinks in England (dot above the sword tip). Also has a period silk ribbon in the colors of the exile government.

I have no idea on the originality of this one... Only around 50-60,000 awarded; so, I'd probably error on the side of copy (fake), considering the subject matter and simple design.

I obtained this one during my first trip to Poland in 1991... Despite the high number of Polish fakes, I believe this one is original. This one hasn't appeared on GMIC before (at least I didn't find it in a search). The award was originally conceived in the 1930s, but WW2 prevented it from being issued. The Communist regime after WW2 resurrected the award and Instituted February 1, 1957. Awarded to veterans of the Greater Poland uprising (powstanie wielkopolskie) in 1918 against Germany, resulting in the the city of Posen - or in Polish, Poznan, and the area of the former Grand Duchy of Poznan being returned to Poland.

Anyone who collects Polish medals will undoubtedly be aware that they are heavily faked (some claim that 90% of what you see on the market is fake...) So, up front, I'm saying that I have no idea if this is genuine or not. I received this as a "gift" from a collector in Slovenia in 2004. At the time, I knew nothing of Polish medals; so, I accepted it without asking any questions. My feeling, however, is that it's a probably copy ... or fake if you prefer. Less than 8,000 of these were awarded in all three classes, with most of those being 3. Class (5,000-7,000 depending upon your source). There has already been a lengthy discussion about Grunwald Crosses on GMIC.

Badges for the Mountain School of the Slovenian Armed Forces = Gorska šola Slovenske vojske

Here is my documented Order Polonia Restituta 1944, Knight = Krzyż Kawalerski "Order Odrodzenia Polski" ... to a woman in 1980... Krystyna Politowska (a common name)

Sleeve patch from Poland's airborne brigade... this one dates from around 2006. Headquarters in Krakow, Poland. 6. Brygada Desantowo-Szturmowa / 6th Air Assault Brigade (1992-2010) 6. Brygada Powietrznodesantowa / 6th Airborne Brigade (from 2010) im. gen. bryg. Stanisława Sosabowskiego... named in honor of Stanisław Sosabowski, commander of the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade in WW2; famous for Arnhem. The 6th Airborne Brigade traces its lineage from the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade. Other Polish military units have a similar named honorific...

General Staff Slovenia Armed Forces pin

Lapel pin of civilian Slovenian Intelligence and Security Agency = Slovenska obveščevalno-varnostna agencija; SOVA or Sova, which in Slovenian means the bird "Owl" SOVA is Slovenia's CIA...

Flag lapel pins... US and one for the Verification Centre of the Slovenia Ministry of Defense; responsible for arms control agreements. And an EU flag; Slovenia joined the EU in 2004,

Lapel pin for the Slovenian NGO - International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assistance ITF Enhancing Human Security (ITF), previously known as International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assistance, is a humanitarian, non-profit organization devoted to the elimination of threat from post-conflict and disruptive challenges, including landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and the illicit ownership and use of small arms and light weapons (SALW), in South East Europe (SE Europe) and other affected regions in the world.

Lapel pin of ZSČ = Zveza slovenskih častnikov A Slovenian Reserve Officer veterans organization...

Lapel pin of the Zveza veteranov vojne za Slovenijo - ZVVS from the village of Štore This organization is a veterans group from Slovenia's war for independence in 1991...

The first pin...commemorates the move from a conscript Army beginning in 1991 to a professional Army in 2003... Pridruži se nam! was a recruiting slogan when the Slovenian Armed Forces decided to end conscription in 2003 and begin an all professional military. This pin was handed out at recruiting publicity events... (It basically translates as... "Join us!")

Slovenian Air Force... Pilot wings lapel pin and Bell 206 helicopter lapel pin. Slovenian 15th Wing Command (previously 15th Air Brigade) has at least 4 Bell 206 airframes...

This is a lapel pin which represents the 1. Brigade insignia from about 2003 onwards. This is also appears as the brigade's beret badge.

Logistics Command of the Slovenian Armed Forces; patch dates from 2004-05. This formation is now a "Logistična brigada". Located at Kranj, Slovenia.

18. BRKBO = 18. bataljon za jedrsko, radiološko, kemično in biološko obrambo Slovenske vojske ... or in English... 18. NBC Defense Battalion Another deactivated unit; NBC units are now in a special troops formation within each brigade... This patch dates from 2004-2005 when this unit was at the forefront of Slovenia's entry into NATO.. subdued version. Edited to add: Lapel pin

I suspect many of the bidders frequent these pages...