The Cross of Valour (Polish: Krzyż Walecznych) is a Polish military decoration. It was introduced by the Council of National Defense on 11 August 1920. It is awarded to an individual who "has demonstrated deeds of valour and courage on the field of battle." It may be awarded to the same person up to four times.[1] The medal is given only in wartime or shortly after.[2]
Deeds of valour and courage on the field of battle.
Description
Obverse bears the words, "NA POLU CHWAŁY" ("ON THE FIELD OF GLORY"), while the reverse bears the word, "WALECZNYM" ("TO THE VALIANT"), and the date "1920" or "1944," depending on date of institution.
The medal was introduced in 1920 at the height of the Polish-Soviet War, shortly before the climactic Battle of Warsaw. Initially it had no Order Council and was awarded personally by the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army. Later the option was added of delegating the medal's granting to front and division commanders.
Through 29 May 1923, when the last medal for the Polish-Soviet War was awarded, the Cross of Valour had been granted to some 60,000 soldiers.
In January 1940 the Polish Commander-in-Chief, Władysław Sikorski, issued an order reintroducing the Cross of Valour. On 20 September, the President of Poland agreed to award the medal to eligible individuals who had already been awarded it four times during the Polish-Soviet War.
People's Republic of Polandedit
In 1943, after the Battle of Lenino, General Zygmunt Berling, commander of the Soviet-backed Polish 1st Corps, awarded the Cross of Valour to several soldiers. The medal itself was approved as a military decoration by order of the communist-led State National Council on 22 December 1944. Up to 1947, some 40,000 of the medals were awarded to Polish soldiers fighting alongside the Red Army.[citation needed]
^The only soldier ever to receive more than 4 Crosses of Valour was Stefan Grot-Rowecki, commander of the Polish Home Army during World War II, who had reached his quota of 4 crosses during World War I and the Polish-Soviet War, yet was awarded 4 more crosses on 1 May 1943. See: Łukasz Leszczyński (2005). "gen. dyw. Stefan Grot-Rowecki". Łukasz Leszczyński (in Polish). Retrieved 11 June 2007.
^Zdzislaw P. Wesolowski, Polish Orders, Medals, Badges and Insignia: Military and Civilian Decorations, 1705–1985, pp. 22–24, 41–42, 58.
Referencesedit
Zdzislaw P. Wesolowski, Polish Orders, Medals, Badges and Insignia: Military and Civilian Decorations, 1705–1985, Miami, 1986.
January 01, 1970
cross, valour, poland, other, uses, cross, valour, cross, valour, polish, krzyż, walecznych, polish, military, decoration, introduced, council, national, defense, august, 1920, awarded, individual, demonstrated, deeds, valour, courage, field, battle, awarded, . For other uses see Cross of Valour The Cross of Valour Polish Krzyz Walecznych is a Polish military decoration It was introduced by the Council of National Defense on 11 August 1920 It is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated deeds of valour and courage on the field of battle It may be awarded to the same person up to four times 1 The medal is given only in wartime or shortly after 2 Cross of ValourKrzyz WalecznychThe People s Republic of Poland version of the medal and ribbon TypeSingle grade medal Awarded forDeeds of valour and courage on the field of battle DescriptionObverse bears the words NA POLU CHWALY ON THE FIELD OF GLORY while the reverse bears the word WALECZNYM TO THE VALIANT and the date 1920 or 1944 depending on date of institution Country PolandPresented bythe President of PolandClaspsdenotes subsequent awardsStatusIn the award system but a wartime decoration onlyEstablished11 August 1920 Polish Soviet War period medalPrecedenceNext higher Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland Next lower Military Cross Contents 1 History 1 1 Polish Soviet War 1 2 World War II 1 3 People s Republic of Poland 2 Notes 3 ReferencesHistory editPolish Soviet War edit The medal was introduced in 1920 at the height of the Polish Soviet War shortly before the climactic Battle of Warsaw Initially it had no Order Council and was awarded personally by the Commander in Chief of the Polish Army Later the option was added of delegating the medal s granting to front and division commanders Through 29 May 1923 when the last medal for the Polish Soviet War was awarded the Cross of Valour had been granted to some 60 000 soldiers Apart from individuals who had participated in the Polish Soviet War the medal had also been awarded retroactively to some soldiers of the Polish Legions of World War I military units of the Silesian Uprisings of the Great Poland Uprising and to members of the Polish Military Organization It had been awarded as well to veterans of the January 1863 Uprising and to the city of Plock World War II edit In January 1940 the Polish Commander in Chief Wladyslaw Sikorski issued an order reintroducing the Cross of Valour On 20 September the President of Poland agreed to award the medal to eligible individuals who had already been awarded it four times during the Polish Soviet War People s Republic of Poland edit In 1943 after the Battle of Lenino General Zygmunt Berling commander of the Soviet backed Polish 1st Corps awarded the Cross of Valour to several soldiers The medal itself was approved as a military decoration by order of the communist led State National Council on 22 December 1944 Up to 1947 some 40 000 of the medals were awarded to Polish soldiers fighting alongside the Red Army citation needed Ribbon bars of the Cross of Valour original design used inthe Polish Armed Forces in the Westsince 20 September 1941 1st award nbsp nbsp 2nd award nbsp nbsp 3rd award nbsp nbsp 4th award nbsp nbsp Notes edit The only soldier ever to receive more than 4 Crosses of Valour was Stefan Grot Rowecki commander of the Polish Home Army during World War II who had reached his quota of 4 crosses during World War I and the Polish Soviet War yet was awarded 4 more crosses on 1 May 1943 See Lukasz Leszczynski 2005 gen dyw Stefan Grot Rowecki Lukasz Leszczynski in Polish Retrieved 11 June 2007 Zdzislaw P Wesolowski Polish Orders Medals Badges and Insignia Military and Civilian Decorations 1705 1985 pp 22 24 41 42 58 References editZdzislaw P Wesolowski Polish Orders Medals Badges and Insignia Military and Civilian Decorations 1705 1985 Miami 1986 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cross of Valour Poland amp oldid 1175332609, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,