NAM.2022-09-3-3-1

Czechoslovak Military Merit Medal, First Class (Medaila Za zásluhy 1) of Capt Herbert Poláček, Czech Brigade, 1945 (c) White metal medal with crossed swords above suspended from a silver/blue/silver striped ribbon with two sharp pins to reverse for attachment to uniform. Medal obverse depicts three right facing bust of soldiers in Czech uniforms with ZA ZÁSLUHY above and C.S.R. below. Reverse depicts a many segmented circle overlayed with a linden branch. The Za zásluhy was instigated by the Czechoslovak Government in Exile, London, on 20 April 1943 to accommodate these meritorious non-combatant. It was ratified by the Czechoslovak government, Prague, on 5 March 1946. Initially intended for award only to non-combatants for meritorious service, later during the war it was expanded to two grades so that those in combatant roles could also be in receipt of this award.

World War Two (1939-1945)