fbpx
Wikipedia

Cross of Independence

Cross of Independence (Polish: Krzyż Niepodległości) was the second highest Polish military decoration between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had fought actively for the independence of Poland, and was released in three classes.[1]

Cross of Independence
Krzyż Niepodległości
Cross of Independence with Swords
Awarded forHeroically fighting for the independence of Poland
CountrySecond Polish Republic
Presented bythe President of Poland
StatusObsolete
Established29 October 1930
TotalCross with Swords 1818
Cross 7917
Medal 51,735

Ribbon bar of the Cross with Swords
Ribbon bar of the Cross and Medal
Precedence
Next (higher)Order of Polonia Restituta
Next (lower)Cross of Valour
RelatedOrder of the Cross of Independence
Cross of Freedom and Solidarity

History edit

The Cross of Independence was established with a decree of the President of Poland of 29 October 1930. It was to be awarded to the people who laid foundations for the independence of the Fatherland before the World War or during it, as well as during the fights between 1818 and 1921, with the exception of the Polish-Russian War.[2] After 1938 it was also awarded to people responsible for Trans-Olza's annexation by Poland.

Although the cross without the swords was awarded mainly to the civilians, all versions were considered to be military decorations. If awarded to a soldier it was worn before the 4th class of the Polonia Restituta and when awarded to a civilian – before the Volunteer Cross for War (Medal Ochotniczy za Wojnę).

The recipients of all grades of the Cross of Independence had a right to be elected to the Senate of Poland, the right to travel by Polish State Railways free of charge and a right to send their children to the schools of their choice free of charge.

Design edit

Both the Cross and the Medal were designed by professor Mieczysław Kotarbiński and most of the copies were made by Warsaw-based jeweller Wiktor Gontarczyk.

The Cross of Independence had three classes:

  1. Cross of Independence with Swords (1,818 awarded by 1938)
  2. Cross of Independence (7,917 awarded by 1938)
  3. Medal of Independence (51,735 awarded all together)

The cross was 42 by 42 mm, made of gilt bronze. The obverse had a rectangle shield with stylised eagle in bas-relief. The reverse was covered with black enamel and the motto Bojownikom Niepodległości (To the Fighters for Independence). The version with Swords had two golden swords crossed above the cross.

 
Medal of Independence

Medal of Independence was round, 35 mm in diameter and made entirely of bronze. On the obverse there was a symbolic depiction of three Hydras (symbolising three partitioning Powers) stroke with two swords and surrounded by the Bojownikom Niepodległości motto. The reverse was plain with letters RP in the centre (standing for Rzeczpospolita Polska).

Recipients edit

References edit

  1. ^ Puchalski, Zbigniew (1994). Krzyż i Medal Niepodległości (in Polish). Wydawn. Bellona. ISBN 978-83-11-08344-8.
  2. ^ "Krzyż i Medal Niepodległości – Encyklopedia PWN – źródło wiarygodnej i rzetelnej wiedzy". encyklopedia.pwn.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 17 May 2021.

cross, independence, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, july, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Cross of Independence news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Cross of Independence Polish Krzyz Niepodleglosci was the second highest Polish military decoration between World Wars I and II It was awarded to individuals who had fought actively for the independence of Poland and was released in three classes 1 Cross of IndependenceKrzyz NiepodleglosciCross of Independence with SwordsAwarded forHeroically fighting for the independence of PolandCountrySecond Polish RepublicPresented bythe President of PolandStatusObsoleteEstablished29 October 1930TotalCross with Swords 1818Cross 7917Medal 51 735Ribbon bar of the Cross with Swords Ribbon bar of the Cross and MedalPrecedenceNext higher Order of Polonia RestitutaNext lower Cross of ValourRelatedOrder of the Cross of IndependenceCross of Freedom and Solidarity Contents 1 History 2 Design 3 Recipients 4 ReferencesHistory editThe Cross of Independence was established with a decree of the President of Poland of 29 October 1930 It was to be awarded to the people who laid foundations for the independence of the Fatherland before the World War or during it as well as during the fights between 1818 and 1921 with the exception of the Polish Russian War 2 After 1938 it was also awarded to people responsible for Trans Olza s annexation by Poland Although the cross without the swords was awarded mainly to the civilians all versions were considered to be military decorations If awarded to a soldier it was worn before the 4th class of the Polonia Restituta and when awarded to a civilian before the Volunteer Cross for War Medal Ochotniczy za Wojne The recipients of all grades of the Cross of Independence had a right to be elected to the Senate of Poland the right to travel by Polish State Railways free of charge and a right to send their children to the schools of their choice free of charge Design editBoth the Cross and the Medal were designed by professor Mieczyslaw Kotarbinski and most of the copies were made by Warsaw based jeweller Wiktor Gontarczyk The Cross of Independence had three classes Cross of Independence with Swords 1 818 awarded by 1938 Cross of Independence 7 917 awarded by 1938 Medal of Independence 51 735 awarded all together The cross was 42 by 42 mm made of gilt bronze The obverse had a rectangle shield with stylised eagle in bas relief The reverse was covered with black enamel and the motto Bojownikom Niepodleglosci To the Fighters for Independence The version with Swords had two golden swords crossed above the cross nbsp Medal of IndependenceMedal of Independence was round 35 mm in diameter and made entirely of bronze On the obverse there was a symbolic depiction of three Hydras symbolising three partitioning Powers stroke with two swords and surrounded by the Bojownikom Niepodleglosci motto The reverse was plain with letters RP in the centre standing for Rzeczpospolita Polska Recipients editJozefa Bramowska Witold Abramowicz politician Franciszek Alter Tadeusz Anders Wladyslaw Anders Julian Arnoldt Russocki Franciszka ArnsztajnowaReferences edit Puchalski Zbigniew 1994 Krzyz i Medal Niepodleglosci in Polish Wydawn Bellona ISBN 978 83 11 08344 8 Krzyz i Medal Niepodleglosci Encyklopedia PWN zrodlo wiarygodnej i rzetelnej wiedzy encyklopedia pwn pl in Polish Retrieved 17 May 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cross of Independence amp oldid 1198327336, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.