Awards of
World War IIThe award was established by the government of the Polish Republic in 1921 and revived by the Polish Government-in-Exile in 1939, and in 1944 by the Polish Committee of National Liberation.
According to the award's statute, it may be awarded to members of the Polish Army, Allied forces, and civilians for outstanding military merit, as well as bravery and self-sacrifice.
The Order The Order of Polonia Restituta consisted of five degrees, the highest degree of which is the first:
1st degree - Grand Cross of the Order with Star;
2nd degree - Commander's Cross with Star;
3rd degree - Commander's Cross;
4th degree - Officer's Cross;
5th degree - Knight's Cross.
Each degree of the order can be awarded only once.
The badges of the lower degrees differ from the Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta only in size and the order of wearing.
The Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta is designed as a Maltese cross with swallow-tailed rays, the tips of which are decorated with balls. The surface of the cross is covered with white enamel, with a gold border. In the center of the cross is a medallion consisting of a ring covered in blue enamel, with the gold inscription POLONIA RESTITUTA (Poland Restituta). Within the ring, against a background of red enamel, is the Polish royal eagle, covered in white enamel with a gold border.
The reverse of the award is gilded, with a central medallion encircled by an ornament. In the center, covered in red enamel, is the gold date 1918 (for the Order of the Government in Exile) or 1944 (for the Order of the National Liberation Committee).
The ribbon of the Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta is red, moiré, 100 mm wide, with white longitudinal stripes, 5 mm wide, along the edges. The order is worn over the left shoulder.
The star of the order is eight-pointed, made of silver, in the form of rays radiating from the center. In the center of the star is a medallion covered in white enamel with the gold inscription "PR", framed by a ring covered in blue enamel with the inscription POLONIA RESTITUTA. On the reverse of the star is a threaded pin and nut for attaching to clothing. The star is worn on the right chest.
The dimensions of the Grand Cross of the Order are 68 x 68 mm, the dimensions of the star are 74 x 74 mm.
The Second Class of the Order - the Commander's Cross with Star - measures 60 x 60 mm, while the star is identical to the First Class of the Order. It is worn on a red neck ribbon, 45 mm wide, with 3 mm white stripes along the edges.
The Third Class of the Order - the Commander's Cross - measures 58 x 58 mm. It is worn on a red neck ribbon 45 mm wide, with 3 mm white stripes at the edges.
The fourth degree of the order, the Officer's Cross, measures 50 x 50 mm. It is worn on the left chest on a red silk moiré ribbon 36 mm wide, with 2 mm white stripes at the sides. A round rosette in the ribbon's colors is attached to the ribbon; the rosette is 25 mm in diameter.
The Knight's Cross, the junior fifth degree of the Order of Polonia Restituta, measures 44 x 44 mm. The ribbon and the order of wearing it are the same as those of the fourth degree, the only difference being the absence of a rosette on the ribbon.