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This is an incredibly rare and historically significant commemorative badge issued to the soldiers of the Polish Second Rifle Division who were interned in Switzerland during the Second World War. The badge is beautifully designed in the form of a cross, featuring the openwork letters DSP representing the unit name on three of its arms, while the bottom arm displays the historic operational years of nineteen forty and nineteen forty-one. The arms of the cross are gracefully linked by four infantry horn symbols, adding a unique military flair and an elegant aesthetic balance to the entire design. At the very center of the cross sits a meticulously struck Polish military eagle in a crown, dominating the composition with superb detail. The piece is finished with a stunning dark grey oxidized coating, creating a beautiful contrast against the silver-finished elements of the eagle's crown, talons, and infantry horns.
The reverse side of the badge features a fine texture from the manufacturing process and bears the official, clearly stamped maker mark of the famous Swiss company Huguenin Le Locle on the lower arm. The badge comes fully complete with its original threaded attachment post and its authentic period brass backing nut, which is officially stamped with the words Huguenin Depose. The entire item is in excellent condition, boasting a light layer of natural age patina that confirms its historic authenticity and underscores its genuine wartime provenance.
The Polish 2nd Rifle Division under the command of General Bronislaw Prugar-Ketling fought bravely during the nineteen forty French Campaign, engaged in heavy rearguard battles in the Clos du Doubs region. To escape German captivity and total destruction, the entire division crossed into Swiss territory where they were officially interned for the remainder of the war, keeping their military structure intact while contributing significantly to local academic and social life. The badge was originally designed by Lieutenant Bohdan Garlinski and produced by the world-renowned Swiss medalists Huguenin Freres, making this fine piece an extraordinary phaleristic artifact that keeps the memory of Polish soldiers in wartime exile alive.