The badge of the Federation of Polish Associations of Defenders of the Fatherland, the so-called Gold Federation Cross of the First Degree.
It was approved along with the regulations probably after 1928 (the correct and exact date of its approval by the Minister of Military Affairs is currently unknown).
The badge was awarded from the first half of the 1930s until 1939.
Badge of the 1st degree (these were as a rule larger - 41 x 41 mm - than badges of the 2nd degree - about 31 x 31 mm), with No. 1635 (stamped with a numerator), two-piece, gilded tombac (standard gilding was given to badges of the 1st degree, and badges of the 2nd degree were silvered), enamel.
Made by K. J. Szurmak - Warsaw.
Pre-war cap consistent with the maker of the badge.
Measures 32 x 32 mm - understated for a 1st degree badge, evidently gold.
Badge with beautiful light patina and shine, excellent state of preservation - badge used very little.
The First Degree badge was referred to by members of the organization as the Large Gold Federation Badge or the Large Gold Federation Cross. It was awarded to honorary members, both Polish citizens and foreigners, for special merits in such areas as the propagation of the principles of savings and insurance, for advocacy of savings action, on the occasion of Savings Day, or for promoting the ideas and work of the Federation.
The Federation of Polish Associations of Defenders of the Fatherland was established on February 9, 1928, as an overarching institution to coordinate the activities of veterans' organizations and those of reservists. As part of the work of overseeing the federated organizations, they were assisted in the efficient implementation of their statutory objectives, and worked on the patriotic attitude of citizens towards the homeland. Through the establishment of cooperatives, welfare institutions or relief funds, they supported their members, also helped them with access to medical care and legal aid, represented them in state, military and other institutions, carried out: educational and publishing activities, military training and physical education, built their own facilities, including sports facilities, took care of invalids, widows and orphans of soldiers, as well as graves of defenders of the fatherland. The Federation, by design, was to be an apolitical organization. Despite this principle, the Federation's authorities did not abide by it, declaring themselves to be the political base of the ruling Piłsudski camp.
Literature: Z. Kiełb, Polish and foreign honorary insignia of the soldiers of the 2nd Kaniowski Sapper Regiment, Puławy 2021
