A rare and extensive group of medals and documents to José Luis Polo Garcia, an officer of the Blue Division;
1. A medal bar featuring five decorations, including a Cross of Military Merit with Red Distinction, constructed of gilded bronze with multi-coloured enamels, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a Geneva Cross with red enameled arms, the obverse with a central applique bearing enameled coats of arms of Castile and León, the reverse with a central applique bearing a white enameled disc with initials “MM” for Mérito Militar (Military Merit), the twelve o’clock arm with a swivel crown suspension, unmarked, measuring 39.75 mm (w) x 50.62 mm (h), some chipping of enamels and loss of gilt finish evident, in overall very fine condition; a Medal for the Campaign of 1936-1939, constructed of blackened and gilded bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 36.40 mm in diameter, minor loss of finish evident, in overall near extremely fine condition; a Cross of the Royal Military Order of Saint Hermenegild, constructed of silver with multi-coloured enamels, consisting of a Cross Pattée with white enameled arms, the obverse with a central blue enameled medallion bearing a raised silver depiction of Saint Hermenegild, within a ring of blue enamel bearing a silvered inscription of “PREMIO A LA CONSTANCIA MILITAR” (“AWARD TO MILITARY CONSTANCY”), the reverse with a central silver medallion bearing a raised monogram of King Ferdinand VII, within a ring of blue enamel, the twelve o’clock arm with a silver crown suspension connecting to a period original ribbon, the suspension loop marked with a silver hallmark indicating Madrid manufacture, measuring 36.38 mm (w) x 46.65 mm (h), some flecking of enamels evident, in overall near extremely fine condition; a Medal of the Russian Campaign, Officer’s Grade, constructed of silvered bronze, the obverse consisting of a Spanish imperial eagle overlaid by a central 1939 Iron Cross, the reverse with a raised depiction of the Novgorod Kremlin above an inscription of “RUSIA 1941”, within a circular chain link wreath, topped by a crown suspension connecting to a period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 35.17 mm (w) x 49.96 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition; an Eastern Front Medal, constructed of silvered and patinated zink, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a swastika, the reverse with an inscription of “WINTERSCHLACHT IM OSTEN 1941/42” (“WINTER BATTLE IN THE EAST 1941/42”), above a crossed sword and laurel branch, topped by a Stahlhelm and stick grenade, the suspension loop maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “6” for Fritz Zimmermann, Stuttgart, measuring 35.63 mm (w) x 44.10 mm (h), most of the silver finish has been lost, in overall better than very fine condition, and; a Blue Division Medal, constructed of bronzed zink, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing shields overlaid with Wehrmacht and Falange insignia, on top of a sword and Stahlhelm, above a swastika flanked by laurel branches, the reverse with an inscription of “DIVISIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE VOLUNTARIOS EN RUSIA” (“DIVISION OF SPANISH VOLUNTEERS IN RUSSIA”), above laurel and oak leaf branches joined together by an Iron Cross, unmarked, measuring 32.62 mm in diameter, in near extremely fine condition; all suspended from a bronze bar with a horizontal pinback, measuring 165 mm in length; accompanied by a ribbon bar featuring all aforementioned decorations, the reverse with hollow shafts for pin attachment, unmarked, measuring 125 mm (w) x 30 mm (h), material fatigue evident, in overall very fine condition;
2. An award document for the Blue Division Medal, constructed of off-white paper with multi-coloured ink, named to “OBERARZT DON JOSE LUIS POLO GARCIA”, identified as a doctor in a Spanish military hospital in Hof, Bavaria, dated 22 January 1944, featuring a handwritten signature of Generaloberst and Commander of the 18th Army George Lindemann (Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves), measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), with a central folding crease evident, in overall extremely fine condition.
3. An award document for the Cross of Military Merit with Red Distinction, constructed of off-white paper with multi-coloured ink, dated 4 May 1943 and issued in Russia, featuring a handwritten signature of General Emilio Esteban Infantes, measuring 152 mm (w) x 208 mm (h), some material fatigue evident, in overall better than very fine condition.
4. A Falange Ex-Cautivos Badge, constructed of bronze with multi-coloured enamels, the reverse maker marked “GICAR S.L. BARCELONA”, measuring 19.16 mm (w) x 19.30 mm (h), chipping and loss of enamel evident, in overall very fine condition; a large Falange supporter’s badge, constructed of silvered bronze, horizontal pinback, unmarked, measuring 32.20 mm (w) x 40.30 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition;
5. A Falange supporter’s badge, constructed of gilded magnetic metal, horizontal pinback, unmarked, measuring 20.66 mm (w) x 20.28 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a Blue Division breast insignia, constructed of dark blue rayon, the obverse bearing a red machine-embroidered Falange insignia, unmarked, measuring 42 mm (w) x 105 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.
6. A Heer officer’s breast eagle, constructed of forest-green rayon, the obverse bearing a machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, unmarked, measuring 105 mm (w) x 44 mm (h), in uniform-removed and very fine condition; a Spanish Catholic Action membership card, constructed of card stock, dated “1949” and stamped with membership number “5113”, measuring 70 mm (w) x 90 mm (h) when folded, in extremely fine condition.
7. A postcard, constructed of card stock, the obverse bearing a full-colour painting of Christ and Mary, the reverse with a handwritten inscription and date of 19 March 1955, measuring 85 mm (w) x 135 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a photograph of Blue Division veterans, constructed of card stock the reverse with a handwritten date of July 1958 and a studio mark of “FOTO LUZ, POLO MEDINA, MURICA”, measuring 140 mm (w) x 90 mm (h).
8. A 23 April 1944 edition of Diario Oficial del Ministerio Del Ejército (Official Newspaper of the Ministry of Defence”), measuring 205 mm (w) x 150 mm (h) when folded, with extensive material fatigue evident, in overall very fine condition; a booklet of 50 railway vouchers, constructed of rose-pink paper, issued by the Ministry of Defence, with issue number “139462”, unused, measuring 78 mm (w) x 105 mm (h), minor soiling evident, in overall near extremely fine condition, and; a membership document for the Salesians of Don Bosco, constructed of paper stock with multi-coloured ink, inducting Garcia into the organization on 12 March 1961, measuring 250 mm (w) x 175 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.