When looking at the Polish medals for the Second World War, we can see four different periods. Before the Second World War, until the German occupation, we have the Second Polish Republic. During the Second World War the Poles had their forces partly in the West and partly in the Soviet Union. The Polish Government in exile in London decided which decorations were awarded. From 1944 we however get the People’s Republic of Poland, that began instituting its own decorations. Finally since the collapse of the Soviet Union we have a new Polish Republic from 1990 on.
The Second Polish Republic.
After the First World War, a new Polish Republic emerged. The Poles received their independence on November 11th 1918. The young republic immediately found itself in war with the Ukrainian National Army for the city of Lwow. After conquering the city, the Poles got into another war, this time with the Bolsheviks of the new Soviet state. Finally the Poles succeeded in winning a final battle for the city of Warsaw. This resulted in a peace treaty with the Soviet Union in 1921. Many of the decorations date back to these heroic battles. Some old decorations from the First Polish Republic were reinstated and some new ones were instituted. Most of these decorations were still in use when de Germans attacked in September 1939.
The Order of Precedence during this period:
1. Order of the White Eagle
2. Order of Virtuti Militari I class
3. Order of Virtuti Militari II class
4. Order of Virtuti Militari III class
5. Order of Virtuti Militari IV class
6. Order of Virtuti Militari V class
7. Order of Polonia Restituta I class
8. Order of Polonia Restituta II class
9. Order of Polonia Restituta III class
10. Cross of Independence with or without Swords
11. Order of Polonia Restituta IV class
12. Order of Polonia Restituta V class
13. Cross of Valour
14. Cross for War Volunteers
15. Cross of Merit for Bravery
16. Gold Cross of Merit
17. Independence Medal
18. Medal for War Volunteers
19. Silver Cross of Merit
20. Bronze Cross of Merit
21. Cross of Merit of the Central Lithuanian Army
22. Silesian Cross on Ribbon of Merit
23. Medal for Rescuing the Perishing
24. 1918-1921 War Medal
25 Gold Academic Laureate Medal
26. Silver Academic Laureate Medal .
27. 10th Anniversary of Independence
28. 3rd of May Medal
29. Gold 30 year Long Service Medal (Never awarded)
30. Silver 20 year Long Service Medal
31. Bronze 10 year Long Service Medal
The Polish Forces in the West.
After the invasion by Germany and the Soviet Union, member of the Polish Government and several military, were able to get away through Romania, Hongary and Slovakia. Many of them came to France, where new Polish military units were formed. Others could get to Syria, where they formed the Carpathian Infantry Brigade. However many Polish soldiers went into POW camps in Germany and the Soviet Union. The Polish Government in Exile held office in Paris, but after the fall of France they brought their seat to London. Several Polish military also escaped to Great Britain and formed new military units. The Polish Government in Exile would have to stay in London until 1990. When in June 1941 the German Army invaded the Soviet Union, many of the former POW’s were permitted to go to the West and formed more Polish units.
Most former Polish decorations were adopted by the Government in London, but during the war many new ones were instituted. Even until the homecoming of the Polish Government in Exile in 1990 the instituted new decorations.
Order off Precedence Polish Forces in the West:
1. Order of the White Eagle
2. Order of Virtuti Militari I class
3. Order of Virtuti Militari II class
4. Order of Virtuti Militari III class
5. Order of Virtuti Militari IV class
6. Order of Virtuti Militari V class
7. Order of Polonia Restituta I class
8. Order of Polonia Restituta II class
9. Order of Polonia Restituta III class
10. Order of Polonia Restituta IV class
11. Order of Polonia Restituta V class
12. Cross of Valour
13. Gold Cross of Merit with Swords
14. Gold Cross of Merit
15. Silver Cross of Merit with Swords
16. Silver Cross of Merit
17. Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords
18. Bronze Cross of Merit
19. Monte Cassino Cross (Commemorative)
20 A. Army Service Medal
B. Navy Service Medal
C. Air Force Service Medal
D. Merchant Marine Service Medal
People’s Republic of Poland.
After the liberation of Poland by Soviet Force and Polish Communist forces, a Communist Government was instituted. Al decorations that could be traced back to the war of freedom in 1918-1921 were erased from the decorative system. Others were re-instituted and new ones, copied from the Soviet system were instituted.
Order of Precedence of the People’s Republic of Poland
A. Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland
1. Order of the Builders of the People's Republic of Poland
2. Order of Polonia Restituta I class
3. Order of the Cross of Grunwald I class
4. Order of the Red Banner of Labour I class
5. Order of Polonia Restituta II class
6. Order of Virtuti Militari II class
7. Order of the Cross of Grunwald II class
8. Order of the Red Banner of Labour II class
9. Order of Polonia Restituta III class
10. Order of the Cross of Grunwald III class
11. Order of Virtuti Militari III class
12. Order of Polonia Restituta IV class
13. Order of Virtuti Militari IV class
14. Order of Polonia Restituta V class
15. Order of Virtuti Militari V class
16. Gold Cross of Merit
17. Cross of Valour
18. Gold Medal of Merit on the Field of Glory
19. Partisan Cross
20. Auschwitz Cross
21. Medal for Volunteers of the Spanish Brigade
22. Participation in the War of Defense Medal
23. Armed Struggle Restoration of Poland
24. Silesian Fighter's Cross
25. Wielkopolski Uprising Cross
26. Warsaw Uprising Cross
27. Silver Cross of Merit
28. Silver Medal of Merit on the Field of Glory
29. Bronze Cross of Merit
30. Bronze Medal of Merit on the Field of Glory
31. 30 years of the People's Republic of Poland
32. 40 years of the People's Republic of Poland
33. Warsaw Medal
34. Odra Nyse Baltyk Medal
35. Victory Medal
36. Rodlo Medal
37. Medal for Courage and Sacrifice
38. 20 years of Army service
39. 10 years of Army service
40. 5 years of Army service
41. 10 years of the People's Republic of Poland
42. Many years of Married Life
43. Medal for the Capture of Berlin
44. Gold Medal for Merit in Defense of the Country
45. Silver Medal for Merit in Defense of the Country
46. Bronze Medal for Merit in Defense of the Country
Third Polish Republic
In 1990 the Poles freed themselves from the Soviet ruling. The Government in Exile was no longer a necessity and several orders and decorations were re-instituted or taken over frojm the former London Government.
Order of Precedence of the most important decorations of the Third Republic:
1. Order of the White Eagle
2. Order Virtuti Militari
3. Order Polonia Restituta
4. Order of Merit
5. Cross of Valor
6. Cross of Merit with Swords
7. Cross of Merit
8. Cross of Merit for Bravery
9. Medal for Sacrifice and Courage
10. Medal for Long Marital Life
11. Cross for War 1918-1921
12. Army Medal for War 1939-1945
13. Air Force Medal for War 1939-1945
14. Navy Medal for War 1939-1945
15. Merchant Marine Medal for War 1939-1945
16. Cross of September Campaign 1939
17. Monte Cassino Cross
18. Home Army Cross
19. Peasant Battalions Cross
20. National Military Action Cross
21. Battle of Bzura Cross (project)
22. Partisan Cross
23. Polish Armed Forces in the West Military Action Cross
24. Auschwitz Cross
25. War Medal 1939
26. Silesian Uprising Cross
27. Great Poland Uprising Cross
28. Warsaw Uprising Cross
29. Battle of Lenino Cross
30. Warsaw Medal 1939-1945
31. Oder, Neisse and Baltic Medal
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