WW1 CZECHOSLOVAKIA COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL OF LIBERATION ARMY

41mm wide heavy gilt bronze Greek cross with curved arms imposed on a circle, with large suspension ring with foliate decoration; the face with a rider mounted on a winged horse and holding a standard, the encircling ring inscribed ‘YZHURU NA STRAZ SVOBODNY NARODNE’ (mount a vigilant guard, free nations); the reverse with a winged figure of victory holding aloft a tablet inscribed ‘ZA ZVOBODU’ (for liberty) with which she is about to crush the serpents at her feet, the encircling ring with the dates ‘1914’ and ‘1918’ and laurel wreath; on correct ribbon. The medal was created by decree of the new Czechoslovak government on 1st July 1918 to be awarded to all volunteers who enlisted before the proclamation of the Provisional Government in Paris and to nationals of the Allied countries whose acts, whether military or political, during the period from 24 July 1914 to the proclamation of a provisional government, contributed to the establishment of an independent Czechoslovakia. The medal was the work of the influential French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929), assistant to Rodin and tutor to many famous artists such as Giacometti.