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Official Commemorative Decorations

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Cross of the Deported to Siberia

(Krzyz Zeslancow Sybiru)

Instituted on October 17, 2003 to honor the surviving Polish citizens, deported to Siberia, Kazakhstan and northern Russia by the Soviet regime after September 17, 1939, as well to their children who were born there. It is awarded in a single class by the President of Poland.

Badge: silver oxidized Greek cross, 40 x 40 mm. Obverse: a red enameled shield with the national eagle crowned eagle, surrounded by a broken chain; between the arms of the cross there are two crossed gilt swords, pointing down. The reverse bears a two-line inscription "ZESLANCOM / SYBIRU" (to the deported to Siberia).

Ribbon: 40 mm, green with a broad central stripe of white and red.

1.Obverse
2.Reverse
Obverse (w. bar)

Afghanistan Star

(Gwiazda Afganistanu)

Instituted by act of Parliament of June 14, 2007 and presidential regulation of July 31, 2007. Conferred to military and civilian participants of the mission in Afghanistan since 2002. At least one day of service is required to be eligible. Eligible are also other countries' nationals collaborating with rhe Polish forces during the mission.

Badge: four pointed bronze star, 44 x 44 mm. Crossed swords are placed between the arms of the cross, while laurel sprays are located between the upper and the horizontal arms. On the obverse there is a cipher "RP" (Rzeczpospolita Polska - Republic of Poland), the name "AFGANISTAN" (Afghanistan) and three laurel leaves below. The reverse bears a Latin inscription "PACI / SERVIO" (I serve peace).

Ribbon: 35 mm, light green with a red central stripe, flanked by narrower white stripes and with edge stripes in the Afghan national tricolor. Participation in each contingent or operation is denoted by a bronze bar with a contingent number in Arabic numerals. The numerals alone are also placed on the ribbon bar.

Iraq Star

(Gwiazda Iraku)

Instituted by act of Parliament of June 14, 2007 and presidential regulation of July 31, 2007. Conferred to military and civilian participants of the mission in Iraq since 2003. At least one day of service is required to be eligible. Eligible are also other countries' nationals collaborating with rhe Polish forces during the mission.

Badge: four pointed bronze star, 44 x 44 mm. Crossed swords are placed between the arms of the cross, while laurel sprays are located between the upper and the horizontal arms. On the obverse there is a cipher "RP" (Rzeczpospolita Polska - Republic of Poland), the name "IRAK" (Iraq) and three laurel leaves below. The reverse bears a Latin inscription "PACI / SERVIO" (I serve peace).

Ribbon: 35 mm, sand yellow with a red central stripe, flanked by narrower white stripes and with edge stripes in the Iraqi tricolor. Participation in each contingent or operation is denoted by a bronze bar with a contingent number in Arabic numerals. The numerals alone are also placed on the ribbon bar. Soldiers participating in the "Iraqi Freedom" operation are entitled to a bar inscribed "IRACKA WOLNOSC".

Congo Star

(Gwiazda Konga)

Instituted by act of Parliament of June 14, 2007 and presidential regulation of February 12, 2010. Conferred to military and civilian participants of the mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Gabon. At least one day of service is required to be eligible. Eligible are also other countries' nationals collaborating with rhe Polish forces during the mission.

Badge: four pointed bronze star, 44 x 44 mm. Crossed swords are placed between the arms of the cross, while laurel sprays are located between the upper and the horizontal arms. On the obverse there is a cipher "RP" (Rzeczpospolita Polska - Republic of Poland), the name "KONGO" (Congo) and three laurel leaves below. The reverse bears a Latin inscription "PACI / SERVIO" (I serve peace).

Ribbon: 35 mm, gold yellow with a red central stripe, flanked by narrower white stripes and with blue and yellow edge stripes (national colors of the Democratic Republic of Congo). Participation in each contingent or operation is denoted by a bronze bar with a contingent number in Arabic numerals. The numerals alone are also placed on the ribbon bar.

Chad Star

(Gwiazda Czadu)

Instituted by act of Parliament of June 14, 2007 and presidential regulation of February 12, 2010. Conferred to military and civilian participants of the mission in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic. At least one day of service is required to be eligible. Eligible are also other countries' nationals collaborating with rhe Polish forces during the mission.

Badge: four pointed bronze star, 44 x 44 mm. Crossed swords are placed between the arms of the cross, while laurel sprays are located between the upper and the horizontal arms. On the obverse there is a cipher "RP" (Rzeczpospolita Polska - Republic of Poland), the name "CZAD" (Chad) and three laurel leaves below. The reverse bears a Latin inscription "PACI / SERVIO" (I serve peace).

Ribbon: 35 mm, black with a red central stripe, flanked by narrower white stripes and with a red-yellow-blue tricolor (national colors of the Republic of Chad ). Participation in each contingent or operation is denoted by a bronze bar with a contingent number in Arabic numerals. The numerals alone are also placed on the ribbon bar.

Mediterranean Star

(Gwiazda Morza Srodziemnego)

Instituted by act of Parliament of June 14, 2007 and presidential regulation of February 12, 2010. Conferred to naval, air force and civilian participants of the operation "Active Endeavor," in safeguarding the ships on the Mediterranean Sea against terrorists' and hijackers' attacks, under the auspices of the NATO. At least one day of service is required to be eligible. Eligible are also other countries' nationals collaborating with rhe Polish forces during the mission.

Badge: four pointed bronze star, 44 x 44 mm. Crossed swords are placed between the arms of the cross, while laurel sprays are located between the upper and the horizontal arms. On the obverse there is a cipher "RP" (Rzeczpospolita Polska - Republic of Poland), the name "MORZE / SRODZIEMNE" (Mediterranean Sea) and three laurel leaves below. The reverse bears a Latin inscription "PACI / SERVIO" (I serve peace).

Ribbon: 35 mm, sea green with a red central stripe, flanked by narrower white stripes and with white and NATO blue edge stripes . Participation in the "Active Endeavor" operation is denoted by a bronze bar inscribed "ACTIVE ENDAVOUR".

Air Crew Star

(Gwiazda Zalog Lotniczych)

Instituted by act of Parliament of June 14, 2007 and presidential regulation of May 4, 2012. Conferred to members of the Polish Air Force who since 2005 as members of military contingents, operating as part of the NATO forces, have participated in supervising the airspace of the Estonian Republic, Latvian Republic and Lithuanian Republic, or who participated in securing the NATO summit in the Latvian Republic in 2006. It can also be conferred to air crew members of Polish contingents who have participated in other military operations, or served outside such contingents.

Badge: four pointed bronze star, 44 x 44 mm. Crossed swords are placed between the arms of the cross, while laurel sprays are located between the upper and the horizontal arms. On the obverse there is a cipher "RP" (Rzeczpospolita Polska - Republic of Poland), the name "ZALOGI / LOTNICZE" (air crews) and three laurel leaves below. The reverse bears a Latin inscription "PACI / SERVIO" (I serve peace).

Ribbon: 35 mm, steel gray with a red central stripe, flanked by narrower white stripes and with white and NATO blue edge stripes . Participation in the "Orlik" operations is denoted by bronze bars inscribed "ORLIK 1", "ORLIK 2", "ORLIK 3" or "ORLIK 4".

Eastern Cross

(Krzyz Wschodni)

Instituted on December 15, 2016 to honor foreign nationals, who between 1917 and 1991 aided Poles on the territory of the former Soviet Union and the Middle East and in the eastern areas of the Polish Republic occupied by Germans and Soviets during the Second World War. It is awarded in a single class by the President of Poland. It can be awarded posthumously.

Badge: silver, white enameled Maltese cross, 40 x 40 mm. Obverse: a crowned, red enameled three-field shield with the depiction of an eagle, mounted St. George and Archangel Michael. The vertical arms bear the years 1917 :1991; the horizontal ones have the inscription "RATUJACYM POLAKOW" (to the rescuers of Poles). The reverse is blank.

Ribbon: 40 mm, white with narrow black side stripes.

Note: as of April 22, 2018, the cross has not been awarded to anybody yet.

Western Cross

(Krzyz Zachodni)

Instituted on April 7, 2017 to honor foreign nationals, who between 1939 and 1989 aided Poles on the territories not covered by the Eastern Cross, particularly during the Second World War. It is awarded in a single class by the President of Poland. It can be awarded posthumously.

Badge: silver oxidized Maltese cross, 40 x 40 mm, with shorter red enameled arms underneath. Obverse: a circular red enameled with a crowned silver eagle. The arms bear a Latin inscription "PRO : AUXILIO : POLONIS : DATO" (for aid given to Poles). The reverse is blank.

Ribbon: 40 mm, white with two narrow crimson stripes in the middle.

Note: as of April 22, 2018, the cross has not been awarded to anybody yet. \