required to be worn on the uniform at all times, and these officers were captured in full uniform, they were wearing their medals. During the years 1939-1945 six million Poles were killed; a con- siderable number were soldiers. After the war returning veterans were unable to obtain replacement decorations, since the post-war Polish Government became a People’s Republic. They, were forbidden to wear pre-~II decorations because the new government did not recognize the military contributions of pre-WWII soldiers or those who fought in the West during ~¢II. During the last twenty years the politics have changed and veterans of ~I and ~II who have their old decorations can now wear them. Those who do not,~u~-chase jewelers copies or originals from collectors. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRE-WWII POLISH DECORATIONS AND BADGES ARE EX- TREMELY RARE. They are found only in Polish museums or in the hands of collectors who started collecting just after the war, and the persons to whom the decorations were awarded. During the years 1925-1935, the height of badge production and award, the Polish Armed Forces consisted of only 280,000 soldiers assigned to about i00 regiments. Each regiment had about 50 to 250 sol- diers. In order to qualify for a regimental badge, a soldier had to earn it. Just being assigned to a regiment did not qualify him for the badge. They were considered badges of honor and some had long traditions, since some regiments had several hundred years of history. A minimum of one to three years of almost perfect service was required to earn the regimental badge in peacetime, and three months’ service at the front was required in wartime. Badges were awarded once or twice a year during the regiment’s holiday or a national holiday. Not every soldier was awarded a badge. Misconduct or short service in the regiment disqualified many candidates. Pre-WWII badges are almost as rare as those of Imperial Russia. Decorations made for the Polish Armed Forces in the West during the Second World War are still available in limited numbers. These decorations were made in England, Italy, France, and the Middle East. Collectors are not aware of their origin or value. For example, a badge of the 2rid Artillery Group, made in Italy in sterling silver, hallmarked and numbered, was recently sold for $15. A numbered silver cross of the Virtuti Militari recently sold for $150. They are considerably undervalued because not many persons are familiar with their true value and historical impor- tance. Popularity of collecting Polish militaria, especially badges, has grown during the last twenty years. With veterans now able to wear their old decorations, as well as the growth of collecting of Polish militaria on both sides of the Atlantic, the result has been scarcity. Rarity of Polish decorations is a fact. Collectors should remember that Polish decorations were made and awarded in lots of tens and hundreds, not in the millions, as in the case of Nazi Germany and some other nations. Of Nazi Germany or Poland, whose decorations have more historical and numismatic value; those produced by the millions, or those awarded in limited numbers and with a limited supply available? The rarity and valuation scale that I have developed does not take into consideration the economic forces of supply and demand of today’s collectors market in determining the price. The index is presented to you based upon several major factors: The number of awards made, the era of their issue, the historical period they represent, and their metallic value. The sum total of these fac- tors resulted in the determination of the rarity scale and valua- tion. The listing of documented awarded decorations will give you 28 a true indication of the number of awards made of each decoration and their true value. The current market prices are not taken into consideration, because Polish decorations are undervalued due to lack of information about them. The value of a World War I Cross of Valor is inelastic from the historical point of view. It is elastic in terms of value over the years, which has resulted in an increase in price over time. Please use the rarity and valua- tion scale as a guide, not the final answer to your collecting needs. The Polish Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest decoration, can be considered equivalent in importance to the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. Its rarity falls in the same category. The Order of the Virtuti Militari can be compared to our Medal of Honor or the British Victoria Cross in rarity and purpose. In pre-WWII Poland the Order of the Virtuti Militari and the Cross of Valor were the only two official awards for bravery on the battlefield. The Cross of Valor is comparable to our Distinguished Service Cross, and the Cross of Merit is comparable to our Distinguished Service Medal. Should you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to write to me at anytime. Good luck and good hunting. RARITY SCALE INDEX 1 - Extremely rare, found only in major Polish museums. 2 - Very rare, found in ~ few collections and museums. 3 - Rare, examples available in very limited number. 4 - Scarce, examples on the market in limited supply. 5 - Currently available on the market in ample supply. PRICE VALUATION 1 - Examples are beyond the traditional price system. 2 - $25,000 to $1,500. 3 - $1,500 to $SO0. 4 $500 to $2S0. S - $250 to $SO. POLISH ARMED FORCES, 1 AUGUST 1939 Army 193,700 (16,300 officers; 30,000 NCOs) Army Air Force 6,300 Navy 3,100 Merchant Marine 1,500 GRAND TOTAL 204,600 POLISH STANDDOWN ARMED FORCES IN THE WEST, i NOVEMBER 1945 Army 196,810 Air Force 19,400 Women’s Corps 6,700 Navy 3,840 Merchant Marine 1,250 GRAND TOTAL 228,000 EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally presented as a speech by Dr. Wesolowski at the OMSA Convention in Cleveland in 1987. 29 OMSA LONG RANGE PLANNING EFFORT The OMSA Board ef Directors has established a committee to study where OMSA should be headed ever the next five, ten, and twenty years with regard to all aspects of its activities. The preduct ef this effert will be a report submitted to the board prior to next summer’s meeting with an analysis of all major areas ef cur- rent and potential Society activity with specific recommendations on future goals and objectives. The cemmittee chairman is Albert F. Gleim, with Paul T. Kaparoff, Paul H. Till, Treasurer Cornelius B. Tyson, and S. G. Yasinitsky as members. All OMSA members are invited to submit cemments and suggestions. There is no particu- lar fermat for input, but it weuld be mest helpful if comments could be as succinct and structured as possible, with each idea supported by brief statements explaining "what", "why", "how", and "when." The primary purpese fs to look te the future and lay out a readmap fer actions that might take some time to realize. Cem- ments that invelve very near term actions can certainly be submit- ted to the committee, but these could probably be better dealt with if submitted to the OMSA President or other current officers. Sug- gestions should be forwarded re: OMSA Long Range Planning Cemmittee, c/o Paul H. Till, 60 Gill Lane 2-H, Iselin, NJ 08830, er to any ether member as listed abeve. REQUEST FOR RESEARCH ASSISTANCE BRITISH ARCTIC MEDAL 1876 & HONG KONG PLAGUE MEDAL 1894 I am attempting to determine the survival rate of the abeve medals. If you have one in your cellectien, I would like to have the fol- lewing information: I). Name ef the recipient and any ether rim data. 2). Style ef engraving or impressing. 3). If the medal is a single, er in a greup; if in a group, what other medals are pre- sent. All replies will be strictly cenfidential. - Alfred R. Kroulik Jr. (OMSA #3647) 415 Fall River Road, Houston, Texas 77024. A NOTE OF THANKS I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of the members #ho included short notes of thanks and good wishes te me in with their recent electien ballots. All such cerdial and well meant wishes are greatly appreciated. I thank you fellow medal cellecters and OMSA members. Jehn E. Lelle - Secretary 3O .