Order of the Cross of Independence

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Cross of Independence
Order of the Cross of Independence
Order Krzyża Niepodległości

POL Order Krzyza Niepodleglosci I kl.png POL Order Krzyza Niepodleglosci II kl.png

Order 1st Class (left), and 2nd Class
Awarded by the President of Poland
CountryFlag of Poland.svg  Poland
Type Order with 2 classes
Status Currently awarded
Statistics
Established 5 August 2010
Precedence
Next (higher) Order of Military Cross
Next (lower) Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Related Cross of Independence
Cross of Freedom and Solidarity
POL Order Krzyza Niepodleglosci 1 Klasy BAR.svg
Ribbon of the cross, 1st Class
POL Order Krzyza Niepodleglosci 2 Klasy BAR.svg
Ribbon of the cross, 2nd Class

The Order of the Cross of Independence (Order Krzyża Niepodległości) was established on 5 August 2010, to honor those who between the years of 1939-1956 voluntarily served with merit in defending the independence of the Polish State. At its establishment it was declared to be a continuation of Cross of Independence which was established on 29 October 1930. It is fifth in the order of precedence of Polish awards and decorations. [1]

Poland Republic in Central Europe

Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country located in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative subdivisions, covering an area of 312,696 square kilometres (120,733 sq mi), and has a largely temperate seasonal climate. With a population of approximately 38.5 million people, Poland is the sixth most populous member state of the European Union. Poland's capital and largest metropolis is Warsaw. Other major cities include Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, and Szczecin.

Cross of Independence was second highest Polish military decorations between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had "fought heroically for the independence of Poland," and was released in three versions.

Contents

Drawing of the order 1st and 2nd class. Order of the Cross of Independence.png
Drawing of the order 1st and 2nd class.

Classes

The Order is divided into two classes. The first class cross of the Order of Independence is suspended by swords attached to a ribbon with a width of 45mm which is worn around the neck. The ribbon is blue with stripes of gold and red at the edges. The ribbon bar of the first class is denoted by a rosette at the center. The first class is awarded to those who guided the struggle or fought with arms for independence and sovereignty of the motherland with an extraordinary sacrifice. The second class cross of the Order of the Cross of Independence is worn on the left breast suspended from a ribbon with a width of 40 mm, with colors identical to that of the first class. The ribbon bar of the second class is unadorned by any clasp or attachment. The second class is awarded to those who for a significant period of time or in circumstances of extreme danger defended the independence and sovereignty of the homeland, fighting for her recovery, or maintaining the functioning of institutions and traditions of the Polish Republic. [2]

A rosette is a small, circular device that is typically presented with a medal. The rosettes are either worn on the medal to denote a higher rank, or for situations where wearing the medal is deemed inappropriate, such as on a suit. Rosettes are issued in nations such as Belgium, France, Italy and Japan. Rosettes are also sometimes called bowknots, due to their shape. Moreover, a large rosette is sometimes pinned onto the ribbon which suspends a medal, typically the Officer 's badge of certain orders of chivalry.

Medal bar

A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It most commonly indicates the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the recipient has met the criteria for receiving the medal in multiple theatres.

Recipients

On 28 February 2013 the first investiture of the order took place. Eight persons were awarded the order with swords and nineteen the order without swords. [3] [4]

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References

  1. Chancellery of the Sejm (15 November 2010). "OJ 2010 nr 221 poz. 1448 Regulation of the Polish President on 15 November 2010 amending the Regulation on the description, material, dimensions, designs, drawings and how to wear badges and the circumstances of orders and decorations" (pdf) (in Polish). Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  2. Official website of the Polish President. "Order of the Cross of Independence" (in Polish). Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  3. Official website of the Polish President. "Mr. President: Motherland thanks you and remembers" (in Polish). Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  4. Official website of the Polish President. "Mr. President handed Orders of the Cross of Independence" (in Polish). Retrieved 2013-02-28.

See also

Cross of Freedom and Solidarity award

The Cross of Freedom and Solidarity was established on 5 August 2010, to honor members of the democratic opposition in Poland who between the years 1956 and 1989 were killed, seriously wounded or injured, arrested, imprisoned or interned for at least 30 days, who lost jobs or were expelled from school or university for at least 6 months as a result of their activities for the benefit of a free and democratic Poland. Individuals who are found having collaborated with the communist regime may not be awarded.