Document awarded in 1919 to then-Lieutenant Franciszek Studzinski alias Rawicz - later Colonel and Knight of the Order of Virtuti Militari, Cross of Independence, Cross of Valor or Cross of Merit.
Born on March 10, 1893 in Kotlice, he joined the Riflemen's Association in 1914 and then the 1st Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legions. He received the Order of Vituti Millitari for a combat action on July 9, 1915, involving the kidnapping of a non-commissioned officer of the Fenagorian Grenadier Regiment and the rescue of a wounded comrade-in-arms - a Legionnaire.
For his battles in the defense of Lviv and the Eastern Borderlands, he received the presented diploma and probably an appointment as a lieutenant.
After Poland regained its independence, he joined the 25th Infantry Regiment and fought in the Polish-Bolshevik War. He was also a soldier in the 6th Border Battalion, the 2nd Rifle Battalion and the 12th Infantry Regiment, among others. In 1939 he served in the Sosnowiec Supplementary District Headquarters. He fought in the September campaign in the "Stryi" Operational Group and carried out the "Storm" Operation in subordinate areas still under German occupation.
On the night of August 2 to 3, 1944, he was deceitfully arrested by the Russian command and imprisoned in various camps. He survived the Russian ordeal and returned to Poland on November 4, 1947. Despite an unsuccessful provocation by the Provincial Security Office, he was arrested in 1952 and sentenced in 1953 to 7 years in prison. By way of clemency, he spent 2 years and 8 months in prison. After his sentence, he lived in poverty and did manual labor. He died in 1964.
A more detailed biography, can be read here.
A document after an extremely important figure, for Polish independence.
The diploma itself preserved in very good condition.
Dimensions ~21 x 18,5 cm.
