Awards of
World War IIThe Order of Military Valor (Virtuti Militari) was established on August 1, 1919, by decree of the Sejm of the Polish Republic. During World War II, the Polish government-in-exile incorporated it into the awards system of the Polish Armed Forces fighting on the Allied side in Western Europe and North Africa.
Since its creation, the statute and description of the order have remained unchanged. According to the statute, the order is awarded for skillful leadership of troops, resulting in a significant victory, for initiative, exceptional bravery and courage demonstrated in moments of danger to life during battle. In addition, the order could be awarded to foreign citizens for actions performed in the interests of the Polish Republic.
The order is divided into five classes:
- Grand Cross of the Order with Star, the highest class of the order, intended for the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, for achieving a significant military victory.
- Commander's Cross, intended for army commanders for skillful leadership of troops resulting in a major victory.
- The Knight's Cross of the Order of Military Valor is awarded to unit and formation commanders for skillful leadership of the units entrusted to them, initiative in battle, courage, or other military achievements.
- The Gold Cross of the Order was awarded to military personnel who had previously been awarded the Silver Cross for courage and heroism displayed on the battlefield.
- The Silver Cross is the junior degree of the Order and was awarded to military personnel who demonstrated exceptional courage and heroism on the battlefield.
The first degree of the order is in the form of a gilded Maltese cross, the tips of whose rays are decorated with balls. The rays on the obverse are covered with black enamel, bearing gold inscriptions: VIR – TUTI on the right and left rays, and MILI – TARI on the upper and lower rays. In the center of the cross is a gold medallion with the Polish royal eagle at its center, holding a scepter and orb in its claws. The eagle is covered in white enamel, and the feathers and claws, crown, scepter, and orb are all gold. Around the edge of the medallion is a gold ring adorned with laurel leaves painted in green enamel.
On the reverse of the order, only the laurel leaves are enameled; the rest of the surface is gilded. The arms of the cross are smooth, with a rim. In the center of the medallion is the inscription "HONOR I OJCZYZNA" (Honor and Fatherland), and the date the order was first established, 1792.
The upper arm of the cross is connected to a gold crown, which in turn is attached to the ribbon of the order via an eyelet and a ring. The ribbon of the order is made of silk moiré, blue with black stripes along the edges. The ribbon is 110 mm wide, the stripes are 9 mm wide. The Grand Cross of the Virtuti Military Order is worn on a ribbon over the right shoulder.
The dimensions of the cross are 58 x 58 mm, the medallion 23 mm, and the crown 35 x 29 mm.
The star of the Virtuti Military Order is eight-pointed, designed as rays radiating from the center. The cross of the order, without the balls at the tips of the rays, is superimposed on the star. The cross itself repeats the obverse of the award. The difference is that in the center of the ring with the laurel leaves is another ring, covered in black enamel and adorned with the gold inscription "HONOR I OJCZYZNA." The cross is attached to the star with two rivets located on the two horizontal arms of the cross. The dimensions of the star are 90 x 90 mm, the cross 50 x 50 mm, the central medallion 27 mm, the distance between the rivets 40 mm, and the fastening nuts 42 mm.
The second degree of the order – the Commander's Cross – is a complete copy of the first degree cross, only slightly smaller. The cross measures 50 x 50 mm, the central medallion 20 mm, and the crown 35 x 29 mm. The Commander's Cross of the Virtuti Militari Order is worn on a blue neck ribbon, 49 mm wide, with 9 mm black stripes along the edges.
The third class – the Knight's Cross of the Virtuti Militari Order – is identical to the previous two awards. The only differences are that it lacks a crown above the cross, and the rays on the reverse of the award are covered in black enamel. The dimensions of the third class cross are 41 x 41 mm, with a 16 mm central medallion. It is worn on the left chest, on a 35 mm wide blue moiré ribbon with 9 mm black stripes at the edges.
The fourth class of the order – the Gold Cross – is identical to the senior awards, but differs in the absence of black enamel on the rays of the cross. Instead, the cross has a black stripe along the edge, and the inscription "VIRTUTI MILITARI" is written in black enamel. The dimensions of the fourth class cross are 38 x 38 mm, with a 15 mm central medallion. The ribbon and the order of wearing are the same as for the third degree of the award.
The fifth degree of the order—the Silver Cross—is made of silver and is identical to the gold version of the award. The exception is that only the central medallions of the award are gilded. The dimensions and order of wearing are the same as for the gold cross.