post- WW2 Polish Commemorative Medal of 1st Polish Grenadier Division

The Association of Former Grenadiers celebrated the 30th anniversary of the fighting of the 1st Grenadier Division in Lorraine in 1940 under the command of General Bronisław Duch with a commemorative medal.

  Medal on a blue and red ribbon with a white stripe.

  The obverse shows a stylized crowned eagle with a grenadier emblem (lit grenade) on it the inscription 1DG (1st Grenadier Division). Below 4444 WYKONAĆ (4444 Execute). This inscription concerns the secret order of the Division Commander ordering, in the event of the fall of France, to divide the troops into small groups and break through to southern France in order to evacuate to Great Britain and continue the fight.

  On the reverse, the Lorraine Cross with a double crossbar, at the bottom the dates 1940-1970. Medal designed by Jerzy Nowiak.

 Medal belonged to Henryk Spaltenstein.

Colonel Henryk Spaltenstein. (born 13 December 1896, died 1973). Colonel of Artillery of the Polish Army. 

 Born on December 13, 1896. In 1913, he graduated from the 4th grade at the C. K. Department of the Gymnasium in Stryj. After Poland regained independence, he was admitted to the Polish Army. He was promoted to the rank of infantry lieutenant with seniority on June 1, 1919. In 1923 and 1924 he was an officer of the 80th infantry regiment (Słonim garrison), including in 1923 he was assigned to the 1st Staff Division in the Command of Corps District No. III in Grodno. He was transferred to the corps of artillery officers and verified as an artillery lieutenant with seniority on June 1, 1919. In 1928 he was an officer of the 29th field artillery regiment in Grodno. On January 27, 1930, he was promoted to the rank of captain with seniority on January 1, 1930 and 3rd place in the corps of artillery officers. In 1932 he was an officer of the 5th Infantry Division in Lwów. In 1939, as a major, he served in the 19th Light Artillery Regiment in Nowa Wilejka as the commander of the 4th squadron. He fought in this position in the September campaign.

After getting to France, he became an officer of the Polish Army in France. In 1940 he was the commander of the 3rd Division of the 1st Wilno Light Artillery Regiment. Later he became an officer of the Polish Armed Forces.