Haller's Swords organizational and commemorative badge with a set of documents. It is also referred to as the commemorative mark of General Haller's Army. It was established at the Second General Assembly of the Hallerian Union, held in Bydgoszcz on February 16-17, 1924, as a badge of honor for officers and privates of all Hallerian formations who made outstanding contributions to the Polish cause. It was only on the basis of its resolution that the General Board of the Hallerian Association, under the leadership of President Jozef Sierocinski, worked out the regulations of the badge and appointed its Chapter, headed by the former chaplain of the Polish Army in France, Rev. Jan Więckowski.
The diplomas initially awarded for this badge, with the printed signature of General Jozef Haller, were exclusively for war merits from 1918-1920. This led to the misconception that the badge, in 1920, was established by the commander of the Blue Army. In the first period, it was awarded to both officers and other soldiers of the Polish Army in France and Italy who had served no less than a year in it. The badge could also be awarded to another person for work done for the formation of this army or related merits. In that case, she received a diploma with the title Honoris Causa. The badge of the Hallerian Union, or the so-called armed family, was also a commitment of its holder, standing ready, to defend the homeland and its honor.
On August 29, 1924. The Haller Swords Chapter authorized the General Board of the Polish Army Veterans Association of America to present candidates who met the conditions for receiving this badge. Arguably, in the 1930s, the Hallerian Association broadened the criteria of merit for which one could receive its organizational mark. These included not only faithful service to the homeland during the war, but also recognition of persistent union work and cultivation of the spirit and traditions of the Blue Army. The bestowments applied not only to new members, but also to those already affiliated. This led to the possibility of another bestowal of the Haller Swords to a person already holding them.
Subsequent bestowal of this badge, was marked by a silver-plated, five-pointed star placed on the ribbon. The badges were awarded between 1924 and 1939, and the total number of awards is not known. It should also be remembered that at that time the badge was also awarded to members of the Polish Veterans Association in America, whose Board of Directors, after the outbreak of World War II, took over the right to award the badge, and which is still presented to deserving veterans today.
The badge, numbered 11814, in the version with the inscription AMERICA under the Eagle, two-piece, silver-plated tombac, enamel, gilding.
Stanislaw Zygadlewicz was the main maker of the awarding Haller Swords.
The ribbon connector and the ribbon itself for attaching the badge are missing.
Dimensions 40 x 30 mm.
Badge with beautiful patina and luster, good plus condition - minor loss of red enamel, minor scratches and cracking of enamel on Eagle and bumps on sword.
This badge, due to the documents in the set, is unique, as it is known to whom it belonged and, in addition, we know the image of its owner. This happens extremely rarely!
The set includes a diploma of conferral and a card of the Union of Hallerians of the Przemyśl pennant issued to bomb. Antoni Wais. Both documents in good state of preservation. In the latter we will not only see a photo of the badge's owner, but also an entry confirming that the Haller Swords No. 11814 discussed here belonged to Antoni Wais.
Literature: Z. Kiełb, Polskie i obce znaki honorne żołnierzy 2. Pułku Saperów Kaniowskich, Puławy 2021
