| ORDERS AND DECORATIONS OF POLAND People's Republic of Poland 1944-1989 (Click here to see updates) |
1.Obverse(Odznaka im. Ludwika Warynskiego)
Instituted by decision of the 9th Convention of the Polish United Workers' Party in March 1984 and conferred for the first time in January 1986. Conferred for outstanding merit to the party and communist movement. A recipient must have been member for at least 25 years. It could be also honorably granted to members of communist parties of other countries. The decoration was named in honor of Ludwik Warynski (1856-1889), a Polish socialist activist, co-founder of a socialist party "Wielki Proletariat." Arrested by the tsarist authorities and imprisoned, died in the prison. In 1988 the name of the decoration was altered to the Ludwik Warynski Medal.
Badge: bronze gilt round medal, 36 mm of diameter. Obverse: a stylized red enameled rosette with the head of Ludwik Warynski in the center, circumscribed ZA POLSKE I SOCJALIZM (for Poland and socialism). Reverse: abbreviations of the names of those workers' parties from which the Polish United Workers' Party descended - PZPR, PPS (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna - Polish Socialist Party), PPR (Polska Partia Robotnicza - Polish Workers' Party), KPP (Komunistyczna Partia Polski - Polish Communist Party), PPS-LEWICA (Polish Socialist Party - Left Wing), SDKPiL (Socjaldemokracja Krolestwa Polskiego i Litwy - Socialdemocracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania), WIELKI PROLETARIAT (Great Proletariat).
Ribbon: 40 mm, red with a white central stripe and narrow white side stripes.
The second of the three leagal political parties of People's Poland. Founded in November 1949 through the unification of the People's Party (Stronnictwo Ludowe) fully dependent on the PZPR and the Polish People's Party (Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe), a party of a long tradition, but after WWII deprived of political power. The United People's Party did not put forward its own political program, but supported the one of the PZPR, including for example collective farming. In 1989 returned to the name Polish People's Party.
see Republic of Poland since 1990
1.Obverse(Odznaka "Zasluzony Dzialacz Stronnictwa Demokratycznego)
Instituted by decision of the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of November 29, 1984. Conferred in a single grade for outstanding merit to the party.
Badge: a silver medal, 32 mm in diameter. Obverse: a round red enameled medallion with a stylized white eagle - the symbol of the party, surrounded by a laurel wreath. Reverse: a four line inscription ZASLUZONEMU / DZIALACZOWI / STRONNICTWA / DEMOKRATYCZNEGO (to a meritorious member of the Democratic Party), with a laurel spray below.
Ribbon: 34 mm, red with two white central stripes (4 mm each) separated by a blue pinstripe (1 mm), and with blue edges (5 mm).
A nation-wide organization, established 1952 as the National Front (Front Narodowy), renamed 1956, including political parties, trade unions and other organizations, practically submitted to PZPR. Dissolved in July 1983.
1.Obverse(Odznaka 1000-lecia Panstwa Polskiego)
Instituted in 1960 by the National Presidium of the National Unity Front, co commemorate the celebrations of the 1000th anniversary of Polish statehood, celebrated in 1960-1961. Conferred to individuals and organizations who participated in the preparations to the celebration.
Badge: bronze shield, 22 x 28 mm. In the center there is an outline map of Poland, with a stylized uncrowned eagle inside with the letters OKFJN (Ogolnopolski Komitet FJN - National Committee of the NUF) on the right. Above there is a three-line inscription 1000-LECIE / PANSTWA / POLSKIEGO. The reberse is blank. The badge awarded to organizational bodies is larger (48 x 58 mm).
Suspension: triangular bar, 20 x 12 mm, enameled half white half red, with a mounting pin on reverse. The suspension of the badge awarded to organizational bodies is larger (49 x 23 mm).
Ribbon (unofficial): 35 mm, half white half red.
A combatant organization, founded 1949, gathering combatants of WWII, fighting in vaious military formations, their widows and orphans as well as those who fought for communist rule in Poland after the war. For political reasons many combatants who had been subordinated to the Government in Exile in London (particularly soldiers of the Home Army) could not be members of the Association. In 1990 the Association was transformed into the Association of the Combatants of the Republic of Poland and Former Political Prisoners (Zwiazek Kombatantow Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej i Bylych Wiezniow Politycznych)
1.Obverse [Reverse] (Odznaka "Za Zaslugi dla Zwiazku Bojownikow o Wolnosc i Demokracje ")
Instituted by decision of the Presidium of the Association of March 27, 1968. Conferred in a single class to individuals and organizational bodies for merit to the Association.
Badge: stylized Greek cross, 30 x 30 mm, made in white metal. Obverse: a stylized figure of goddess Nike with raised sword in the hand and the letters ZBOWID on the left. The reverse contains a five-line inscription ZA ZASLUGI / DLA ZWIAZKU / BOJOWNIKOW O WOLNOSC / I DEMOKRACJE. The badge awarded to organizational bodies is larger (55 x 55 mm).
Suspension: triangular bar, 28 x 10 mm, enameled half white half red, with a mounting pin on reverse. The suspension of the badge awarded to organizational bodies is larger (55 x 20 mm).
Ribbon (unofficial): 35 mm, half white half red.
founded 1957 as the the Socialist Youth Association (Zwiazek Mlodziezy Socjalistycznej), in 1976 with the forced unification of youth movement in Poland, it was renamed to the Polish Socialist Youth Association and incorporated a few other organizations. The political program of the organization conformed to that represented by PZPR. After the collapse of the communist system in 1989 the organization co-founded a new left-side movement, the Union of Democratic Left (Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej).
1.Decoration (gold)(Odznaka im. Janka Krasickiego)
Instituted by decision of the Central Committee of the Socialist Youth Association (Zwiazek Mlodziezy Socjalistycznej) in December 1957. Awarded in three grades (gold, silver and bronze) for outstanding merit to the youth movement, was supposed to be the highest youth honor of People's Poland. It was conferred initially by the Central Committee of the Socialist Youth Association (Zwiazek Mlodziezy Socjalistycznej), from 1973 by the General Council of Federation of the Polish Socialist Youth Associations (Federacja Socjalistycznych zwiazkowMlodziezy Polskiej) , and from 1981 by the General Board of the Polish Socialist Youth Association. The decoration was named in honor of Janek Krasicki (1919-1943), an activist of a socialist youth organization and Polish resistance, arrested by the nazis and killed while trying to escape.
Badge: gold, silver or bronze cross pattee, 30 x 30 mm, with red enameled arms. Its central medallion depicts the head of Janek Krasicki surrounded by a white enameled ring. The reverse is blank.
Ribbon: 30 mm, cherry red with a half white half red central stripe.
1.Obverse(Odznaka Za Zaslugi dla Zwiazku Socjalistycznej Mlodziezy Polskiej)
Instituted by decision of 6th Congress of the Association of June 29, 1977, replacing the Decoration for Merit to Socialist Youth Association (established 1973). Conferred to members of the Association, members of other youth organizations, organizations themselves and institutions. Came in one grade, and ranked right after the gold Janek Krasicki Decoration.
Badge: bronze cross pattée, 30 x 30 mm, with red enameled arms, similar to that of the Janek Krasicki Decoration. Under the arms there is a laurel wreath. The central medallion depicts the logo of the Association on white background - an outline map of Poland with the letters ZSMP inside. Reverse: non enameled with a ring in the center, containing a five line inscription: NAUKA / PRACA / OJCZYZNA / SOCJA- / LIZM (education, labor, country, socialism).
Ribbon: 34 mm, dark green with a half white half red central stripe.
[Badge (1971)](Odznaka "Zasluzony Dzialacz ZSMP w Silach Zbrojnych PRL")
Instituted by decision of the Minister of National Defense of February 13, 1971, originally as the Meritorious Activist of the Military Youth Circle Decoration (Odznaka "Zasluzony Dzialacz Kola Mlodziezy Wojskowej"). In 1973, when the Youth Circles in the armed forces united to the Socialist Military Youth Association (Socjalistyczny Zwiazek Mlodziezy Wojskowej), the name of the decoration was altered as well. Finally in 1976 the Association was replaced by the military branch of the Polish Socialist Youth Association, the decoration was changed again. Still all the time it was awarded upon most merited activist of sociaist youth in the armed forces. The decoration came in a single grade and ranked right after the Decoration for Merit to Polish Socialist Youth Association.
Badge 1971-73: silver medal, 30 mm of diameter. in the center there is the symbol of the Military Youth Circles - a white and red sword ending up with the eagle's head and with gold letters KMW on it. It was surrounded by a white ring, inscribed ZASLUZONY DZIALACZ (meritorious activist), surrounded in turn by two laurel sprays. The reverse was blank.
Badge 1973-76: as above, but the inscription KMW was altered do SZMW.
Badge since 1976: as above, but the symbol of SZMW was replaced by that of ZSMP, and the inscription in the ring now read ZASLUZONY DZIALACZ : W SILACH ZBROJNYCH PRL (meritorious activist in the armed forces of PRL).
Suspension: a green enameled bar 32 x 12 mm with a white and red horizontal stripe (6 mm wide).
Ribbon:32 mm, similar to the suspension.
1.Obverse(Odznaka "Mlodziez dla Postepu")
Instituted in 1972. Conferred in three classes (gold, silver and bronze) to young people who thanks to their inventions and innovations contributed to technological development of Poland.
Badge: white enameled polygonal plaque, resembling a perforated tape. Across the center there runs a diagonal white and red scroll with the name ZSMP on it and a black semi-gearwheel below inscribed MLODZIEZ DLA POSTEPU.
Suspension: red enameled metal bar with a mounting pin on reverse.
Ribbon: 35 mm, red.
1.Obverse(Odznaka za Zaslugi dla Warszawskiej Organizacji ZSMP)
Instituted by decision of Congress of the Warsaw Branch of October 17, 1985 on the occassion of the tenth anniversary of the organization. Conferred in a single grade for merit to the organization.
Badge: gilt medal, 32 mm in diameter. Obverse: an armed mermaid - the symbol of Warsaw, with a white and red flag in the background, and letter ZSMP below. Above there was a blank scroll. The version conferred in 1986 to the activist with the longest duration of service held the inscription 10 LAT (ten years) on the scroll. The reverse was blank.
Ribbon: 32mm, half yellow half red (the colors of the city of Warsaw) with green edges.
see People's Republic of Poland 1944-89