Poolse onderscheidingen met documenten

[Roel R.]

Nieuw zijn de volgende Poolse onderscheidingen met bijbehorende documenten.

Medal Zwyciestwa i Wolnosci 1945
Victory and Freedom Medal 1945



Instituted on October 26, 1945 by decree of Krajowa Rada Narodowa (National Council). Conferred on civilians and military who participated in any way in the fight against nazi Germany in or outside the territory of Poland. The shape of the medal was slightly altered in 1946.

Badge: bronze medal, 33 mm of diameter. Obverse, 1st type: non-crowned eagle, surrounded by a laurel wreath; in the upper part run the letters KRN (National Council). 2nd type: the eagle as above, surrounded by the inscription KRAJOWA RADA NARODOWA; below two oak sprays. Reverse (both types) bears the inscription: RP / ZWYCIESTWO / I WOLNOSC / 9. V. 1945 (victory and freedom), all words being underlined.

[Roel R.]

Medal Za Udzial w Walkach w Obronie Wladzy Ludowej
Medal for Struggle in Defense of People's Rule



Instituted on November 22, 1983 by the State Council. Awarded to Polish citizens who supported the communist side in the so called "struggle against the reaction underground", primarily soldiers of the People's Army, People's Militia, political police and communist party member. It could be awarded posthumously.

Badge: silver medal, 38 mm of diameter. Obverse: non-crowned eagle superimposed on two crossed laurel sprays and a horizontal band, which is all a replica of the heading of the so called Manifest of the Polish Committee of National Liberation, which proclaimed people's rule in Poland in 1944. The whole is superimposed on a vertical sword, pointed down. Below runs the inscription: MANIFEST PKWN / 1944 (Manifest of the Polish Committee of National Liberation, 1944). The rand is granular. Reverse: a gothic shield with a map of Poland and letters PRL inside, circumscribed: UCZESTNIKOM WALK W OBRONIE WLADZY LUDOWEJ (to participants of the struggle in defense of people's rule).

[Roel R.]

Medal Za Udzial w Wojnie Obronnej 1939
War Medal 1939



Instituted by act of Parliament of July 7, 1981. Conferred on veterans of the Polish Army, Frontier Corps, members of National Defense and of other groups defending Poland in September/October 1939.

Badge: silver medal, 40 mm of diameter. Obverse: the year 1939 of stylized digits with bullet holes, surmounted by a crowned eagle with an Amazon shield, as worn by the Polish Army in 1939; medal surface is granular and coarse. The reverse bears an inscription ZA UDZIAL / W / WOJNIE / OBRONNEJ / OJCZYZNA (for participation in defense war, the Country); the last line is separated by two flatly crossed swords

[Roel R.]

De volgende onderscheidingen heb ik reeds in me bezit.

Krzyz Bitwy pod Lenino
Battle of Lenino Cross



Instituted by act of Parliament of May 26, 1988. Awarded to veterans of the Battle of Lenino (now in Byelorussia), fought on October 12, 1943 - the first battle in which the troops of the Polish People's Army, created 1943 in the Soviet Union took place. October 12 was celebrated in People's Poland as a memorial day of the People's Army.

Badge: silver Greek cross, 42 x 42 mm, superimposed on another Greek one of slightly shorter and wider arms. In the center there is a non crowned eagle, of the same shape as was worn by soldiers of 1st Kosciuszko Infantry Division, which took part in the battle. The reverse holds the inscription 12 X / LENINO / 1943

Foto van Hendrik Meersschaert,

[Roel R.]

Order Odrodzenia Polski
Order of Poland Restored (Polonia Restituta)



Instituted by act of Parliament of February 4, 1921. Conferred on Polish and foreign citizens for merit to the Polish Country and Nation in the field of art and science, industry, agriculture, politics, philantrophy, as well as for the acts of civilian bravery and self-sacrifice. Until 1974, when the Order of Merit was established, it was also a "diplomatic" order awarded to foreign authorities on ceremonial occasions. The order was conferred in five classes: GC, Grand Commander, Commander, Officer (est. 1922) and Member.

Badge: white enameled gilt Maltese cross with ball finials. Medallion: white crowned eagle with regalia on red background; the blue circle bears the Latin motto: POLONIA RESTITVTA (Poland Restored). Reverse: gilt arms, without enamel; medallion bears the year 1918 on red background. The badges of Officer and Member are of a different size.

Star: eight sets of plain sliver rays. Medallion: entwined cipher RP (Rzeczpospolita Polska - Republic of Poland) and the order's motto in a blue circle around. The star of Grand Commander was worn on the right breast.

Badges in the People's Republic: as above; the eagle had no crown and regalia; the year 1918 on reverse replaced by 1944 (proclaiming Poland People's Republic). The star of Grand Commander was worn on the left breast.

Foto van Hendrik Meersschaert,

[Roel R.]

Krzyz Zaslugi
Cross of Merit



Instituted on June 23, 1923. Conferred in three grades (gold, silver and bronze) to civilians or military for merit to the country or its citizens beyond their normal duty. The Cross of Merit for Bravery (Krzyz Zaslugi za Dzielnosc) was instituted on March 7, 1928 for members of the Police, Customs Service and Frontier Corps for acts of bravery at the risk of their lives in defense of law, state frontier or human life or property. Recipients were entitled to a pension. On October 19, 1942 the Polish Government in Exile in London instituted the Cross of Merit with Swords (Krzyz Zaslugi z Mieczami), also in three grades, for deeds of bravery and valor not connected with direct fight, as well as for merit rendered in perilous circumstances. Cross of Merit was recognized and broadly awarded in People's Poland while crosses with swords and for bravery were discontinued. All three types of the cross were reintroduced by the Act of October 18, 1992. Before and during WW2 crosses with and without swords could be conferred up to four times in each grade; cross for bravery - up to three times. From 1960 gold and silver crosses could be awarded twice, a bronze cross - once. Since 1992 all types of the cross can be conferred twice in each grade. The Cross of Merit is the most egalitarian of all Polish decorations. It has been awarded for merit in almost all areas of human activity: professional or non-professional work, charity incl. blood donation, art and science, sports, life saving, long marital life, as well as for mothers of many children.


Foto van Hendrik Meersschaert,

[pigy]

mooie aanwinsten

[Simon]

Zeer mooi, zijn deze nog goed te vinden?

[Roel R.]

De onderste twee zijn nog zeer goed te vinden. De andere zijn iets minder voorkomend.

[marc]

Mooie medailles Roel! Herken er een aantal die ik ook ooit gehad heb...
Die Verdienstemedaille is uit de tijd van de volksrepubliek, die van daarvóór zou nog eens interessant zijn

Als ik me niet vergis was de medaille van de Strijd ter verdediging van het Volk (Medal Za Udzial w Walkach w Obronie Wladzy Ludowej) de enige die na de val van het communisme NIET mocht verder gedragen worden. Maar wellicht is jou documentatie uitgebreider.