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Virtuti MilitariThe Order of Virtuti Militari (Military Virtue) is Poland's highest military decoration for valour in the face of the enemy, equivalent to the British Victoria Cross or the US Congressional Medal of Honor. History The beginnings Throughout its history, the Virtuti Militari cross shared the fate of all Poland: it was banned and disappeared several times, only to be reintroduced several years afterwards. The order was originally created on June 22, 1792 by the King of Poland Stanisław August Poniatowski to commemorate the victorious Battle of Zieleńce. Initially it consisted of two classes: the golden cross for Generals and officers, and the silver cross for NCOs and ordinary soldiers. By August 1792 the statute of the decoration was prepared, based on a similar Austrian medal of Marie-Teresie. The regulation changed the shape of the decoration from a star-shaped medal to a cross (the design has not changed significantly ever since). It also introduced a completely different class system - since then the cross was issued in 5 classes. - Grand Cross with a Star
- Commander's Cross
- Knight's Cross
- Golden Medal
- Silver Medal
The first members of the medal's chapter were at the same time the first recipients of the decoration. For the Polish-Russian War of 1792 a total of 63 officers and 290 NCOs and privates were awarded with the Virtuti Militari. However, the statute was never fully introduced as soon after its introduction the king was forced to surrender to the Targowica Confederation, which abolished the decoration and prohibited its use on August 29, 1792. All who wore the medal were subject to persecution and could be demoted and expelled from the army by the new authorities of Poland. Although on November 23, 1793, the Sejm of Grodno reintroduced the decoration, on January 7, 1794 it was again banned on the insistence of Catherine II of Russia. During the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski a total of 526 medals were granted. Among them were 440 Silver Medals and Crosses, 85 Golden Medals and Crosses and 1 Commodore's Cross. Duchy of Warsaw
| Rank | Name | Remarks | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | Recipients - 1806 - 1815 | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | I Class - 2 awarded | | General | Prince Jzef Poniatowski | February 25, 1809 | | Marshall of France | Louis Nicolas Davout | March 22, 1809 | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | II Class - 10 awarded | | Gen | Jzef Zajączek | February 1, 1808 | | Gen | Jan Henryk Dąbrowski | March 6, 1808 | | Gen | Karol Kniaziewicz | November 17, 1812 | | Brig Gen | Stanisław Fiszer | August 22, 1809 | | Brig Gen | Michał Sokolnicki | August 22, 1809 | | Brig Gen | Aleksander Rożniecki | August 22, 1809 | | Brig Gen | Jzef Chłopicki | November 26, 1810 | | Brig Gen | Amilkar Kosiński | November 17, 1812 | | Brig Gen | Ludwik Pac | October 1, 1813 | | Brig Gen | Mikołaj Bronikowski | | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | III Class - 504 awarded | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | IV Class - 23 awarded | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | V Class - 1130 awarded | In 1806 Lt Gen Prince Jzef Poniatowski was promoted to the post of the commander in chief of all forces of the Duchy of Warsaw. As one of the first recipients of Virtuti Militari, Poniatowski insisted on reintroduction of the decoration. Finally on December 26, 1806, the King of Saxony and Duke of Warsaw Fryderyk August Wettin accepted the proposal and reintroduced Virtuti Militari as the highest military award for all the Polish soldiers fighting alongside France in the Napoleonic Wars. The official name of the decoration was changed to Military Medal of the Duchy of Warsaw, however the soldiers remained faithful to the former name. The royal decree also introduced a new class system, that has been in use ever since. The class of the cross depended on the rank of the soldier awarded with it: - I Class - Grand Cross (with Star) (Krzyż Wielki z Gwiazdą, for commanders in chief)
- II Class - Commander's Cross (Krzyż Komandorski, for division commanders)
- III Class - Knight's Cross (Krzyż Kawalerski, for brigadiers, colonels and majors)
- IV Class - Golden Cross (Krzyż Złoty)
- V Class - Silver Cross (Krzyż Srebrny)
Initially each of the high commanders of the Army had a quota of Virtuti Militari to be awarded to his soldiers. However, soon the system was changed and since then the order is usually awarded centrally, for individual acts of bravery, after being nominated by the chain of command. According to the decree of October 10, 1812, each of the recipients of a Golden or Silver Cross had a right to a yearly salary until promoted to officer or (if demobilised) for life. Also, during the Napoleonic Wars the present tradition of awarding the soldiers with Virtuti Militari in front of the unit was established. Between 1806 and 1815 there were 2569 crosses awarded to Polish soldiers fighting on all fronts: from Santo Domingo to Russia and from Italy to Spain. Also, on May 20, 1809, Sergeant Joanna Żubr was the first woman to receive the decoration (V class) for her part in the assault on Zamość. Congress Poland In 1815, after the Congress of Vienna and creation of the Kingdom of Poland tied to Russia with a personal union, the medal was renamed to Polish Military Medal (Medal Wojskowy Polski). Both the statute of Virtuti Militari and the privileges granted to the recipients were preserved. A special commission was created to award the Virtuti Militari to veterans of the Napoleonic campaigns of 1812, 1813 and 1814. Until 1820 additional 1213 crosses of all classes were awarded. Also, on June 5, 1817, the royal decree granted all officers that received the Golden Cross with gentry status. | Rank | Name | Remarks | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | Recipients - November Uprising of 1831 | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | I Class - 1 awarded | | General | Jan Skrzynecki | for the Battles of Wawer and Dębe Wielkie | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | II Class - 1 awarded | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | III Class - 105 awarded | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | IV Class - 1794 awarded | | colspan="14" style="background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;" | V Class - 1963 awarded | After the outbreak of the November Uprising against Russia, the Polish Sejm decreed on February 19, 1831, that the decoration be renamed back to its original name: Order Virtuti Militari. Between March 3 and October of the same year, a total of 3863 crosses were awarded. Among the recipients of the Silver Cross were also three women: After the fall of the uprising tsar Nicholas I of Russia abolished the decoration and banned its usage. On December 31, 1831, it was replaced with the Polish Honorary Sign (Polski Znak Honorowy), an exact copy of the original cross, but awarded only to Russians for various merits for the tsarist authorities. Republic of Poland After Poland regained her independence in 1918, on August 1, 1919, the Polish Sejm reintroduced also the Virtuti Militari under a new official name: Military Award of Virtuti Militari (Order Wojskowy Virtuti Militari). The new statute of the decoration was also passed. The Class system introduced during the times of the Duchy of Warsaw was also reintroduced. According to the new statute, crosses each of class could be awarded to a different class of soldiers and for various deeds: - Grand Cross with Star - I Class - For commander that achieved a victory in a battle of strategic importance and resulting in total defeat of the enemy, or for successful defence that concluded the fate of the campaign
- Commander's Cross - II Class - For commander who achieved notable tactical victory or valorous and successful defence of a difficult position
- Knight's Cross - III Class - For officers, NCOs or ordinary soldiers, awarded previously with the Golden Cross, for acts of outstanding bravery, risk of life or outstanding command over his troops
- Golden Cross - IV Class - For officers who commanded their troops with outstanding bravery and valour or for NCOs and ordinary soldiers previously awarded with the Silver Cross, for acts of outstanding bravery and risk of life on the field of battle
- Silver Cross - V Class - For officers, NCOs or ordinary soldiers, for acts of outstanding bravery and risk of life on the field of battle
Each of the recipients of the Virtuti Militari, regardless of rank or post, received a yearly salary of 300 złotys. Other privileges included the right of pre-emption when buying a state-owned land property or applying for a state post. Their children had additional points during the exams on state schools and universities. In addition, the recipients of the Virtuti Militari had a right to be saluted by other soldiers of equal rank and the NCOs and ordinary soldiers could be promoted one rank up upon receiving the award. The new chapter of the decoration (Kapituła Orderu Virtuti Militari) was composed of 12 of the recipients of the crosses, four from each of the classes from I to IV. The head person of the chapter was Marshal of Poland Jzef Piłsudski, the only living Pole awarded with the Grand Cross with Star. As the commander-in-chief of the Polish Army he could award the medals of classes I to III with the consent of the Chapter and the IV and V class upon receiving an application from the commander of a division or brigade. The Polish national feast of May 3 was chosen as the feast of the Virtuti Militari. On January 1, 1920, Piłsudski awarded the first crosses to 11 members of a Provisional Chapter. On January 22, 1920, to commemorate the anniversary of the outbreak of the January Uprising the first soldiers and officers were officially decorated with Virtuti Militari for their deeds during the World War I and the Polish-Ukrainian War. Until 1923, when the award of new medals was halted, the Chapter awarded the crosses to 6589 recipients. Most of the recipients were veterans of the Polish-Bolshevik War, but among them were also the veterans of all wars in which the Polish soldiers fought in 20th century, as well as some of the January Uprising veterans. Among the recipients of the Silver Cross were two cities - Lww and Verdun, as well as the banners of 14 infantry regiments, 6 cavalry regiments, an engineer battalion, a Women's Auxiliary Service unit and 12 units of artillery. On November 24, 1922, a new Chapter was chosen for the times of peace. The following year the last medal for the World War I and the Polish-Bolshevik War was granted and further decorations were halted. On March 25, 1933, the Sejm passed a new Virtuti Militari Act (Ustawa o Orderze Virtuti Militari) which modified the shape of all the crosses and extended the privileges granted to VM recipients by the previous act of 1919. All the recipients of the decoration had a right to buy the railway tickets at 20% of their normal price. Also, the state paid for their healing and was obliged to provide them with a job that would enable the recipient of Virtuti Militari to live a decent life. In case of war invalids the Polish government was ordered to provide them with money, food and clothing for the rest of their lives. Finally, the annual salary of 300 złotys was tax-free and could not be impounded by the courts. Also, the criteria for granting the crosses became more strict: - Grand Cross - I Class - for the commander-in-chief who won a war or, alternatively, for commanders of armies or fronts who achieved outstanding victories during various campaigns of the war
- Commander's Cross - II Class - for commander of army or front (under special circumstances also commander of a group, division or brigade) for brave and daring command during an operation, which had important influence on the outcome of the war, or for other officers who contributed to the victory
- Knight's Cross - III Class - For commanders of units up to the size of an army, for their outstanding leadership, initiative or bravery. Alternatively for staff officers for their cooperation with their commanders, that led to the final victory in a battle or war
- Golden Cross - IV Class - For a soldier or officer, who was previously awarded with the Silver Cross and achieved an outstanding success on the battlefield thanks to his personal bravery or outstanding command of a division or a smaller unit
- Silver Cross - V Class - for commanders who committed a daring and valorous command over their troops or for ordinary soldiers who influenced their comrades in arms by their bravery thus adding to the final victory in a battle
The Silver Cross could also be awarded to military units, cities and civilians. All classes of the Virtuti Militari medal were awarded by the commander-in-chief during the war or former commander in chief after the end of hostilities. The classes from I to III were awarded after a nomination by the Chapter, while the IV and V classes were nominated by the chain of command (usually by the commander of a division or brigade). Apart from the 12 members of the Chapter, all recipients of the I class had a right to take part in the voting. World War II During the Polish Defence War of 1939 the fast German and Soviet advance prevented the Chapter from awarding the medals. Instead, commanders of divisions and brigades usually awarded the bravery of their soldiers with their own crosses received before the war. This was the case of the 18th Pomeranian Uhlans Regiment awarded with the Virtuti Militari of General Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki after the Battle of Krojanty. Following the fall of Poland in 1939, a large part of the Polish Army was evacuated to France, where it was reconstructed under the command of General Władysław Sikorski. In January 1941 the Polish Government in Exile introduced the Virtuti Militari as the highest military decoration of the Polish Army in exile. The legal basis for the election of a new Chapter was the Act of 1933. During the Second World War, the Virtuti Militari was also often bestowed to senior military officers of allied armies. People's Republic of Poland The Soviet-backed Polish Armies fighting on the Eastern Front were also awarding the Virtuti Militari. On November 11, 1943, General Zygmunt Berling awarded 16 veterans of the Battle of Lenino with Silver Crosses. On December 22, 1944, the PKWN passed a Virtuti Militari Award Act, in which it accepted the medal as the highest military decoration of both the Polish Army under its command and the Armia Ludowa resistance organisation. Although the decree of the PKWN was loosely based on the act of the polish parliament of 1933, the exclusive right to award soldiers with the medal was granted to the Home National Council. Since 1947 the right was passed to the President of Poland and, after the replacement of the post with the Council of State, it was passed to that body. Between 1943 and 1989 the communist authorities of Poland awarded the medal to 5167 people and organisations. Some of the crosses were given to the officers and leaders of the Red Army and other armies allied to the Soviets during and after World War II. Among the recipients of the Golden Cross was the ORP Błyskawica, probably the only warship in the world to be awarded with the highest-ranking national medal. Among the recipients of the V Class VM was also a number of military units, including 2 infantry divisions, 6 infantry regiments, 3 artillery regiments, 4 tank regiments, 3 air force regiments and a number of smaller units. Republic of Poland (after 1989) After Poland regained her independence in 1989, a number of Virtuti Militari awards made by the communist authorities were questioned. On July 10, 1990, President Wojciech Jaruzelski cancelled the Grand Cross given to Leonid Brezhnev on July 21, 1974. On October 16, 1992, the Polish Sejm passed a new Virtuti Militari Act, based on the act of 1933. It restored the Chapter of Virtuti Militari abolished by the communist authorities, while confirming all decorations bestowed by both the Polish government in exile and the Soviet-backed authorities in Poland. Since 1989 there have been no new awards of the Virtuti Militari, and the new act of parliament introduced a rule setting the final deadline for awards at "no later than five years after the cessation of hostilities." List of recipients -
- For a full list of recipients of Virtuti Militari featured on Wikipedia see:
See also External link
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