Polish Military Medals, WWI era found in Detroit

Hello everyone,

I am new to the site. I found it by researching Polish history, in particular some old Polish Military medals i found at an estate in Detroit, Michigan, USA. I will post a link to pictures. There are several documents with them also, i have pictured them as well. Maybe someone can translate? My great Grandmother came over to the US from Poland, but sadly noone in my family can speak the language or read it.

Here is a link to what I have found, any info is appreciated. I cannot post a link here yet, but go to webshots.com and look up username Jaybone449. Look at the album titled Polish medals. When allowed, I will post a direct link.

try this in a google search
good-times.webshots.com/album/580723766HdYbKX

Przez ocean do Legionów - through the ocean to the legions - given to American volunteers to the Piłsudski Legions?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Legions_in_World_War_I

To the soldiers of America from liberated Poland. Lwów, Pomerania, Volhynia, Champagne - medal from 1920.

A souvenir for the 25th anniversary of establishment of Sokół (in Chicago?)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokol_in_Poland

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YMCA

Probably says Józef Haller
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B3zef_Haller

Look like eagle of the Legions.

Y.M.C.A. regional command - Lesser Poland / Podole - it's like a military railway ticket for Jan Pniewski from Lwów to Równe - May 1920, so the heat of Polish-Bolshevik war

other military railway tickets follow

thank you so much for the info! it is appreciated!

I am a historian, I bought in Poland, a few of these items. if you sold them all, or gave someone please write to me? or Jan Pniewski was your family? I am waiting to contact

krzysztof.slesicki@gmail

AirCorps, are you interested in selling this item?

good-times.webshots.com/photo/2573308420060718861BNJjCR

I have no idea how much it's worth but if you're interested please let me know.

You had a hero in your family, be proud! ..... let them rest in peace, brave men they were including your Pniewski dziadek!

AirCorps (which unit btw?) - was this your family's estate or someone else's?

This is my understanding of what this cross represents; to those who have more info please advice if my findings are incorrect.

The inscription reads ""Swoim Żołnierzom z Ameryki Oswobodzona Polska" followed by Szampania, Lwów, Wołyn, Pomorze. Something like "[To] Our Own (Our) Soldiers from America [From] Liberated (Reborn) Poland". Words in brackets [ ] are my own to simplify the meaning of the inscription. There are also 4 important regions for this particular army, Chapaigne (France), Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine), Wołyń (now Volhynia, Ukraine) and Pomorze (Pomerania).

The cross was given to Americans who volunteered to fight for Poland. They were primarily Poles (and Lithuanians) who lived in America or were of Polish/Lithuanian heritage.

Below is a short history of "Blue Army" which had it's beginnings in France. Remember that Poland was reborn in 1918 after a 123 year long hiatus from the world map, during all those years the country was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. Thousands and thousands of Poles had escaped the occupation and lived literally all over the world. In 1917 the US entered WWII and many Poles or Americans of Polish heritage volunteered and joined the newly former army commanded by the General Józef Haller. The army was located in the Champagne region of France (Szampania in Polish just as the inscription reads) and wore blue uniforms.

Haller's Army (Blue Army)

The Blue Army, or Haller's Army, are informal names given to the Polish Army units formed in France during the later stages of World War I. The army was created in June 1917 as part of the Polish units allied to the Entente. After the Great War ended, the units were transferred to Poland, where they took part in the Polish-Ukrainian War and the Polish-Bolshevik War. The nicknames come from the soldier's French blue uniforms and the name of the army's commander, General Józef Haller de Hallenburg.

US recruitment poster for the Polish Army in France

en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blue_Army_(Poland)

Meant to say "In 1917 the US entered WWI" and "...Champagne region of France (Szampanja in Polish just as the inscription reads)..."

Sure would be nice with a longer "edit post" time... ;)

Are you an expert in Polish militaria, skysoulmate?
If yes, what is your opinion on the statements like this:


home.golden.net/~medals/stopfakes.html

or this, coming from user group Getleman's Millitary Interest Club


gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/49866-fakes/

Not an expert whatsoever. I'm aware of the many fakes which is why something from an estate in the US appealed to me. The "fake" market is something more common in Poland proper, the market for Polish medals here in the US simply isn't very large, at least that's my perception. Again, not an expert.