To the history of transfer of the Hermitage’s «Szczerbiec» to Poland in 1928: response of the curator А. А. Avtonomov to the articles of Polish memorandum

Abstract

This article is devoted to the transfer of the Polish coronation sword, known as «Szczerbiec» (the Jagged Sword), from the Hermitage to Poland in 1928. The author refers to the facts concerning the XI Article of the Treaty of Riga as well as to the previously unknown document in the historiography of the sword, from the State Hermitage Archive, which is a draft copy of the response of A. A. Аvtonomov, the custodian of the Hermitage’s Arsenal, to the articles of the Polish Memorandum. The document, cited in the article, is an expert assessment of the authenticity of «Szczerbiec», made by the Soviet arms and armor historian. The purpose of the article is to introduce this source into the scholarly use and to fill the gaps in the national historiography.