Orders, decorations, and medals of Poland
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Template:Short description 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 are civilian decorations that may be worn by the military personnel.
Most of these decorations ceased to be awarded; some were awarded before World War II only, and some in the People's Republic of Poland only; order of some of them was changed by law.
The state awards may be awarded only by the President of Poland. The order of precedence was last reformed in 2007. The order of precedence is: 6 orders (order) in specific order of precedence (see table below); other orders in order they were received; 12 crosses (krzyż), 3 medals (medal) and 6 stars (gwiazda) in specific order of precedence; other crosses and awards in order they were received.
National orders
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Military orders
| Order Virtuti Militari | Order of the Military Cross |
|---|---|
| File:Virtuti Militari Grand Cross.jpg | |
Currently recognized state 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 |
File:POL Order Orła Białego BAR.svg | Poland's highest decoration awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits. | 1705 | ||||
| Virtuti Militari | File:POL Virtuti Militari Wielki BAR.svg | File:POL Virtuti Militari Komandorski BAR.svg | File:POL Virtuti Militari Kawalerski BAR.svg | File:POL Virtuti Militari Złoty BAR.svg | File:POL Virtuti Militari Srebrny BAR.svg | Poland's highest military decoration for valor in the face of the enemy | 1792 |
| Order of Polonia Restituta Order Odrodzenia Polski Order of Poland Reborn |
File:POL Polonia Restituta Wielki BAR.svg | File:POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski ZG BAR.svg | File:POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski BAR.svg | File:POL Polonia Restituta Oficerski BAR.svg | File:POL Polonia Restituta Kawalerski BAR.svg | Awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits. | 1921 |
| Order of Military Cross Order Krzyża Wojskowego |
File:POL Order Krzyża Wojskowego Wielki BAR.svg | File:POL Order Krzyża Wojskowego Komandorski BAR.svg | File:POL Order Krzyża Wojskowego Kawalerski BAR.svg | Awarded to military personnel for actions in peacetime. | 2006 | ||
| Order of the Cross of Independence Order Krzyża Niepodległości |
File:POL Order Krzyża Niepodległości 1 Klasy BAR.svg | File:POL Order Krzyża Niepodległości 2 Klasy BAR.svg | Awarded for struggle for independence in 1939-1956 period. | 2010 | |||
| Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland Order Zasługi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |
File:POL Order Zaslugi RP kl1 BAR.svg | File:POL Order Zaslugi RP kl2 BAR.svg | File:POL Order Zaslugi RP kl3 BAR.svg | File:POL Order Zaslugi RP kl4 BAR.svg | File:POL Order Zaslugi RP kl5 BAR.svg | Awarded to foreigners for contributing to good foreign relations. | 1990 |
| Other orders in the order they were received. | |||||||
| Cross of Valour Krzyż Walecznych |
File:POL Krzyż Walecznych BAR.svg | Polish military decoration awarded to a person who "has demonstrated deeds of valor and courage on the battlefield." | 1920 | ||||
| Military Cross Krzyż Wojskowy |
File:POL Krzyż Wojskowy BAR.svg | Combat decoration, conferred to a military, irrespective of rank and service for combat valor against an act of terror in the territory of Poland or while on a mission of the Armed Forces overseas. | 2007 | ||||
| Cross of Merit for Bravery Krzyż Zasługi za Dzielność |
File:POL Krzyż Zasługi za Dzielność BAR.svg | For recognition of military or police personnel. | 1928 | ||||
| Gold Cross of Merit with Swords Złoty Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami |
File:POL Złoty Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami BAR.svg | Awarded for deeds of bravery and valor not connected with direct fight, as well as for merit rendered in perilous circumstances. | 1942 | ||||
| Cross of Freedom and Solidarity Krzyż Wolności i Solidarności |
File:POL Krzyż Wolności i Solidarności BAR.svg | Awarded to members of anti-communist opposition movement in PRL. | 2010 | ||||
| Virtus et Fraternitas Medal Medal Virtus et Fraternitas |
File:POL Medal Virtus et Fraternitas BAR.svg | For those who keep remembrance about people of Polish nationality or Polish citizens of other nationalities who are victims of Soviet crimes, Nazi German crimes, nationalist crimes or other crimes against peace, humanity or war crimes, in the period from November 8, 1917, until July 31, 1990. | 2017 | ||||
| Gold Cross of Merit Złoty Krzyż Zasługi |
File:POL Złoty Krzyż Zasługi BAR.svg | Civil state award established to recognize services to the state. | 1923 | ||||
| Silver Cross of Merit with Swords Srebrny Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami |
File:POL Srebrny Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami BAR.svg | Awarded for deeds of bravery and valor not connected with direct fight, as well as for merit rendered in perilous circumstances. | 1942 | ||||
| Silver Cross of Merit Srebrny Krzyż Zasługi |
File:POL Srebrny Krzyż Zasługi BAR.svg | Civil state award established to recognize services to the state. | 1923 | ||||
| Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords Brązowy Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami |
File:POL Brązowy Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami BAR.svg | Awarded for deeds of bravery and valor not connected with direct fight, as well as for merit rendered in perilous circumstances. | 1942 | ||||
| Bronze Cross of Merit Brązowy Krzyż Zasługi |
File:POL Brązowy Krzyż Zasługi BAR.svg | Civil state award established to recognize services to the state. | 1923 | ||||
| Military Cross of Merit with Swords Air Force Cross of Merit with Swords Navy Cross of Merit with Swords Wojskowy Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami Lotniczy Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami Morski Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami |
File:POL Wojskowy Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami BAR.svg
File:Air force cross of merit with swords ribbon.png File:Navy cross of merit ribbon.png |
Conferred for meritorious service in combat operations against acts of terrorism at home or during military missions overseas. | 2007 | ||||
| Military Cross of Merit Air Force Cross of Merit Navy Cross of Merit Wojskowy Krzyż Zasługi Lotniczy Krzyż Zasługi Morski Krzyż Zasługi |
File:POL Wojskowy Krzyż Zasługi BAR.svg
File:Air force cross of merit ribbon.png File:Navy cross of merit ribbon without swords.png |
Bestowed for outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service. | 2007 | ||||
| Saint Florian's Cross Krzyż Świętego Floriana |
File:POL Krzyz Swietego Floriana BAR.svg | Awarded to outstanding and distinguished members of the Voluntary Fire Service. | 2021 | ||||
| Medal for Sacrifice and Courage Medal za Ofiarność i Odwagę |
File:POL Medal za Ofiarność i Odwagę BAR.svg | Civil award for risking one's life to save another's. | 1960 | ||||
| Medal for Long Service Medal za Długoletnią Służbę |
File:POL Medal Za Długoletnią Służbę Złoty BAR.svg | File:POL Medal Za Długoletnią Służbę Srebrny BAR.svg | File:POL Medal Za Długoletnią Służbę Brązowy BAR.svg | Conferred for long service in the armed forces, police, fire service, education, justice, central or local administration; awarded for 30, 20 and 10 years of service respectively | 1938, reactivated in 2007 | ||
| Medal for Long Marital Life Medal Za Długoletnie Pożycie Małżeńskie |
File:POL Medal za Długoletnie Pożycie Małżeńskie BAR.svg | For a marriage lasting 50 years or more. | 1960 | ||||
| Stars Gwiazdy |
File:POL Gwiazda Afganistanu BAR.svg
File:Iraq star ribbon (poland).png |
Afghanistan Star (for service in Afghanistan; since 2002) Iraq Star (for service in Iraq; 2003–2008) Chad Star (for service in EUFOR Tchad/RCA and MINURCAT; 2008–2009) Congo Star (for service in EUFOR RD Congo; 2006) Mediterranean Sea Star (for service in Active Endeavour; since 2005) Air Crew Star (for service, inter alia, in Baltic Air Policing; since 2005) |
2008 (2) 2010 (3) 2012 (1) | ||||
| Decoration of Honour for Officers and Other Ranks for Wounds and Injuries
Odznaka honorowa dla Oficerów i Szeregowych za Rany i Kontuzje |
File:Wound Ribbon.png | Awarded to any military, irrespective of rank or branch of service for a wound or injury sustained in action against an enemy in defense of the country. | 1920 | ||||
| Other crosses and awards in the order they were received. |
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Presidential awards
| Award | I class | II class | III class | Description | Established in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siberian Exiles Cross Krzyż Zesłańców Sybiru |
File:POL Krzyż Zesłańców Sybiru BAR.svg | For deported to Siberia, Kazakhstan and northern Russia by the Soviet regime after September 17, 1939, as well to their children who were born there | 2003 | ||
| Eastern Cross Krzyż Wschodni |
File:POL Krzyz Wschodni BAR.svg | For foreigners who helped and saved Polish citizens in 1917-1991 period in former Polish territory and Soviet Union | 2016 | ||
| Western Cross Krzyż Zachodni |
File:POL Krzyz Zachodni BAR.svg | For foreigners who helped and saved Polish citizens in 1939-1989 period in opposition to German occupants (during World War II) and Polish communist government (after war) | 2017 | ||
| Medal of the Centenary of Regained Independence Medal Stulecia Odzyskanej Niepodległości |
File:POL Medal Stulecia Odzyskanej Niepodl BAR.svg | For Polish citizens who contributed to the regaining or strengthening of the sovereignty of the Republic of Poland, including, in particular, the building of a Polish citizens' community and a sense of national identity, development of science, praising the good name of Poland through culture and art, social development and strengthening ties with Poles abroad and building the economic prosperity of the state. | 2018 |
Ministerial awards
Former awards
See also
References
- Regulation of the Polish President of 10 November 1992 on the description, material, dimensions of Designs and how to wear badges and circumstances of decoration (in Polish)
- Regulation of the Polish President on 31 July 2007 amending the Regulation on the description, material, dimensions, designs, drawings and how to wear badges and the circumstances of orders and decorations (in Polish)
- Regulation of the Polish President on 15 November 2010 amending the Regulation on the description, material, dimensions, designs, drawings and how to wear badges and the circumstances of orders and decorations (in Polish)
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