Polish awards and decorations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of medals, awards and decorations in use in Poland. Most of them are awarded by the Polish Army, but some of them are civilian decorations that may be worn by the military personnel.
Most of these decorations ceased to be awarded; some were awarded before the World War II only, and some in the People's Republic of Poland only; order of some of them was changed by law. The order of precedence was last reformed in 1992. The order of precedence is: 5 orders (order) in specific order of precedence (see table below); other medals in order they were received; 8 crosses (krzyż) and two awards (medal)s in specific order of precedence; other crosses and awards in order they were received.
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[edit] Currently recognized awards subject to order of precedence
| Award | I class | II class | III class | IV class | V class | Description | Established in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order of the White Eagle Order Orła Białego |
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Poland's highest decoration awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits. | 1705, reactivated in 1921, reinstated in 1992 | ||||
| Virtuti Militari |  |
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Poland's highest military decoration for valor in the face of the enemy | 1792, reactivated in 1919 |
| Order of Polonia Restituta Order Odrodzenia Polski Order of Poland Reborn |
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Awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits. | 1921 |
| Order of Military Cross Order Krzyża Wojskowego |
missing picture | missing picture | missing picture | Awarded to military personnel for actions in peacetime. | 2006 | ||
| Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland Order Zasługi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |
missing picture | missing picture | missing picture | missing picture | missing picture | Awarded to civilians and foreigners for contributing to good foreign relations. | 1974 |
| Other orders in the order they were received. | |||||||
| Cross of Valor Krzyż Walecznych |
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Polish military decoration awarded to a person who "has demonstrated deeds of valor and courage on the battlefield." | 1920 | ||||
| Cross of Merit with Swords Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami |
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Awarded for deeds of bravery and valor not connected with direct fight, as well as for merit rendered in perilous circumstances. | 1942 | ||
| Krzyż Zasługi Cross of Merit |
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Civil state award established to recognize services to the state. | 1923 | ||
| Cross of Merit for Bravery Krzyż Zasługi za Dzielność |
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For recognition of military or police personnel. Worn after Golden but before Silver crosses of Valor. | 1928 | ||||
| Medal for Sacrifice and Courage Medal za Ofiarność i Odwagę |
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Civil award for risking one's life to save another's. | 1960 | ||||
| Siły Zbrojne w Służbie Ojczyzny Armed Forces in the Service for Fatherland medal |
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1951 | |||
| Medal for Long Marital Life Medal Za Długoletnie Pożycie Małżeńskie |
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For a marriage lasting 50 years or more. | 1960 | ||||
| Medal za Zasługi dla Obronności |  |
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1966 | |||
| Other crosses and awards in the order they were received. |
[edit] Former awards
| Award | I class | II class | III class | IV class | V class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order Krzyża Grunwaldu Order of Grunwald Cross |
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| Krzyż Niepodległości Cross of Independence |
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| Medal Wojska za Wojnę 1939-45 Military Medal for the War of 1939-45 |
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| Medal Lotniczy za Wojnę 1939-45 Air Forces Medal for the War of 1939-45 |
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| Medal Morski za Wojnę 1939-45 Polish Navy Medal for the War of 1939-45 |
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| Medal Morski PMH za Wojnę 1939-45 Polish Merchant Navy Medal for the War of 1939-45 |
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| Krzyż Partyzancki Partisan Cross |
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| Krzyż Armii Krajowej Home Army Cross |
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| Śląska Wstęga Waleczności i Zasługi Silesian Ribbon of Valour and Merit |
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| Commemorative Medal for War of 1919-1921 |  |
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| Krzyż Ochotniczy za Wojnę 1918-1921 Volunteer Cross for War 1918-1921 |
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| Krzyż Monte Cassino Cross of Monte Cassino |
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| Zasłużonym na Polu Chwały For Merits in Field of Glory |
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| Za waszą wolność i naszą For our freedom and yours |
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| Za Udział w Wojnie Obronnej 1939 For Defence War 1939 |
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| Za Udział w Walkach w Obronie Władzy Ludowej For Fighting in defence of People's Rule |
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| Śląski Krzyż Powstańczy Cross for Silesian Uprisings |
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| Wielkopolski Krzyż Powstańczy Cross for Great Poland Uprising |
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| Medal Za Warszawę 1939-1945 For Warsaw 1939-1945 |
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| Medal za Odrę, Nysę i Bałtyk For Odra, Nysa and Baltic |
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| Medal Zwycięstwa i Wolności For Victory and Freedom |
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| Cross of Military Merits of Central Lithuania |
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| Za Lwów For Lwow |
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| Medal za Ratowanie Ginących Life Saving Medal |
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| Medal za Długoletnią Służbę For Long Service |
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| Medal Za Udział w Walkach o Berlin For Battle of Berlin |
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| Krzyż Waleczności Lithuanian-Belarusian Division of Gen. Bułak-Bałachowicz |
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| Civil awards that can be worn on a military uniform without requiring the approval of one's superiors. | ||||||
| Krzyż harcerski Scouting cross |
None miniature worn instead |
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