Original Czechoslovak medal group including Volunteer Cross 1918–1919, Military Merit Medal and 20th Anniversary Czechoslovak Legion in Siberia medal.
Key Information:
• Country: Czechoslovakia
• Type: Set of 3 medals
• Period: Interwar period, commemorating World War I service
• Material: Bronze / gilt bronze
• Suspension: Original ribbons present
Medal Design:
Volunteer Cross 1918–1919
Obverse: Cross with the Czechoslovak lion in the central shield.
Reverse inscription: “1918 V TĚŽKÝCH DOBÁCH 1919” – translated as “1918 In Difficult Times 1919.”
Military Merit Medal
Obverse: Czech lion above a star surrounded by branches.
Reverse inscription: “ZA SLUŽBU VLASTI” – translated as “For Service to the Homeland.”
20th Anniversary of the Czechoslovak Legion in Siberia Medal 1918–1938
Obverse: Allegorical female figure holding symbolic attributes.
Reverse inscription: “ZA VĚRNOST A BRANNOST 1918–1938” – translated as “For Loyalty and Defence.”
Ribbon device: Legion emblem mounted on ribbon.
Condition:
• Original ribbons present
• Natural age patina on the medals
• Minor wear consistent with age
• For condition, please refer to the pictures, all dimensions are approx.
Historical and Collectible Significance:
These medals relate to the service and legacy of the Czechoslovak Legion, which played a crucial role during and after World War I in the formation of Czechoslovakia. The Legion’s campaigns in Russia and Siberia became a defining chapter in Czechoslovak military history. Commemorative awards such as these were issued to recognize loyalty, service, and the sacrifices of legionnaires and volunteers during the struggle for independence.
Summary:
A historically connected group of three Czechoslovak medals associated with the First World War era and the Czechoslovak Legion tradition. The set includes the Volunteer Cross 1918–1919, the Military Merit Medal, and the 20th Anniversary Legion in Siberia medal with ribbon device, making it a desirable collectible group for collectors of Central European militaria.