Medal 1916 Proclamation of a Free and Independent Poland. AU+

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1916, Poland. Proclamation of a Free and Independent Poland. Zinc Medal.

Mint Year: 1916
Mint Place: Vienna
Medallist: J. Raszka.
Condition: A nice AU+
Reference: Strzałkowski 352.
Denomination: Medal - Polish legionnaires in tribute to Archduchess Isabella.
Weight: 61.46gm
Material: Zinc
Diameter: 59mm


Obverse: Female diademed personification of Poland with bowed head, holding sword with left hand while she holds the jewelled crown of Poland high with right hand from which a broken chain is hanging. In background are multiple polish cheering soldiers standing in front of a church and saluting with their swords towards the sky. Medallist´s signature (J. RASZKA) in right field.


Reverse: Legend in six lines around shield with crowned heraldic eagle of Poland.
Legend: PROKLAMACJA / WOLNEJ / I NIEPOD = / LEGLEJ POLSKI / 5. XI. - 1916 W OBO= / ZIE - LEG. / POL.




The Act of 5th November of 1916 was a declaration of Emperors Wilhelm II of Germany and Franz Joseph of Austria. This act promised the creation of the Kingdom of Poland out of territory of Congress Poland, envisioned by its authors as a puppet state controlled by the Central Powers. The origin of that document was the dire need to draft new recruits from German-occupied Poland for the war with Russia. Even though the act itself expressed very little in concrete terms, its declaration is regarded as one of main factors in the Polish efforts to regain independence. Despite official statements, the German Empire really planned to annex up to 30,000 km2 of prewar Congress Poland, with expulsion of between 2 and 3 million Poles and Jews out of these territories to make room for German settlers.

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