The Partisan Cross () was a Polish
military decoration
Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medal ...
awarded to
World War II partisans (part of
resistance movement fighting in the countryside). It was introduced by the Council of Ministers on October 26, 1945. It was awarded from 1945 until 1999.
It was awarded to organizers, commanders and members of partisan units who fought against Germans on a Polish territory, or to Poles who fought in partisan units in the
USSR,
Yugoslavia and
France, or to foreigners, who fought in partisan units on a Polish territory. It could be given also to cities or villages, that distinguished themselves in supporting the partisan movement.
It was awarded first by the Ministry of Defence, from 1952 by the
Council of State, from 1989 by the
President of Poland. It ceased to be awarded in 1999. About 55,000 Partisan Crosses were awarded.
Description
The Cross is a gold-plated
Greek cross with thin arms, 38 x 38 mm. Obverse shows the
eagle
Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...
in the centre (the Polish coat-of-arms) and an inscription: "ZA – POLSKĘ – WOLNOŚĆ – i LUD" (For Poland, Liberty and People) on arms. The reverse bears the horizontal inscription "PARTYZANTOM" (to partisans), and the date "1939" on an upper vertical arm and "1945" on a lower arm. A ribbon is dark green, 35 mm wide, with black strips 7 mm wide, near both edges.
In an order of precedency, the Partisan Cross was worn after
Cross of Valour.
Number awarded
According to the data of the State Decorations Bureau of the State Council Chancellery and the Decorations Bureau of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland , 75,374 crosses were awarded until 1987, and then additionally 18,651 crosses; in total - 94,025 crosses.
[Wojciech Stela: ''Polish orders and decorations (Vol. I)'' . Warsaw: 2008, p. 20.]
See also
*
Polish partisans
*
Recipients of the Partisan Cross
References
Military awards and decorations of Poland
Awards established in 1952
Awards disestablished in 1999
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