A unique badge of Wielkopolska to the Mothers of the Fallen.
It was established, at the request of Gen. Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki, by decree of the Supreme People's Council in Poznań on April 22, 1919.
It is considered the first award of the Greater Poland Uprising, whose originator and advocate was the commander of this national uprising, Gen. Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki.
It was given to mothers of soldiers who lost their sons in this uprising. It was only due to them and could not be inherited. The badge itself was made from silver donated by the people of Greater Poland for the needs of the insurgent army, part of which (especially partition coins) was donated by the general for the purpose of making the badge. It was bestowed on December 1, 1919, along with a diploma, for the so-called. , "memorial cross", which listed the mother's personalities and information about her fallen son. The diploma number corresponding to the badge number was also given.
The badge is modeled on the Cross of the Military Order of the Virtuti Militari, on the reverse of No. 295 (engraved), two-piece, silver, enamel.
Estimated mintage of the badge about 1500 pcs. (however, it is very rare on the collectors' market).
Its making is attributed to Poznan engraver Stefan Zygmaniak. However, given the differences in details of the preserved badges, they could have been made by different engravers.
On the reverse side there is a very well preserved needle clasp.
Dimensions 33 x 33 mm
Badge with beautiful patina, very good minus condition - losses of black enamel in the border - light signs of wear.
Literature: J. Luczak, Insurgent Honors: The homeland to its heroes, [in:] notebook 6 of the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the Wielkopolska Uprising, Gazeta Wyborcza (supplement), 2008; K. Filipow, Merit of the Republic. Ordery, decorations, commemorative and honorary badges of the Second Republic 1919-1939, Warsaw 2019
