The Cross of Merit () is a Polish civil state decoration established on 23 June 1923, to recognize services to the state.

History

At the time of its establishment in 1923, the Cross of Merit was the highest civilian award in Poland. It was awarded to citizens who went beyond the call of duty in their work for the country and society as a whole. May be awarded twice in each grade to the same person. File:Gold Cross of Merit (obv) (People's Republic Issue).jpg, Gold Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic File:Silver Cross of Merit (obv) (People's Republic Issue).jpg, Silver Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic

The Order

The Order has three grades:

Recipients

Gold Cross of Merit

* Ewa Hojna, 13 May 2022, Director of Polish School Cultural Association (ACEP), Spain *

Jan-Krzysztof Duda Jan-Krzysztof Duda (; born 26 April 1998) is a Polish chess grandmaster. A prodigy, he achieved the grandmaster title in 2013 at the age of 15 years and 21 days. he is ranked No. 1 in Poland and No. 18 in the world. His personal best rating ...

, 2021, chess grandmaster * Wanda Paulina Gluszek, 2016, political activist, poet, Chicago, Illinois * Michał Korwin-Szymanowski, also known as Michel Korwin, 2015, Montréal, Canada * John P. Lynch, 3 November 2014, CEO and founder of Lynka * Philippe Blain, 27 October 2014, coach of

Poland men's national volleyball team The Poland national men's volleyball team is controlled by the Polish Volleyball Federation, which represents the country in international competitions and friendly matches. Poland is one of the world's strongest teams, they are ranked first in ...

– World Champions 2014 *

Fabian Drzyzga Fabian Drzyzga (born 3 January 1990) is a Polish professional volleyball player who plays as a setter for Asseco Resovia. He was a participant in the Olympic Games (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020) and is a two–time World Champion (2014, 2018). Personal ...

, 27 October 2014,

volleyball player This is a list of top international volleyball players. A * Foluke Akinradewo * Carolina Albuquerque * Todor Aleksiev * Ana Ida Alvares * Thiago Soares Alves * Dante Amaral * Andrea Anastasi * Matt Anderson * Stéphane Antiga * Halina As ...

, World Champion 2014 * Mateusz Mika, 27 October 2014,

, World Champion 2014 *

Karol Kłos Karol Kłos (born 8 August 1989) is a Polish professional volleyball player. He is a member of the Poland national team, a participant in the Olympic Games Rio 2016, and the 2014 World Champion. At the professional club level, he plays for PGE ...

, 27 October 2014,

, World Champion 2014 *

Michał Kwiatkowski Michał Kwiatkowski ( , born 2 June 1990) is a Polish professional road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam . Kwiatkowski is seen as a strong all rounder, with good sprinting, time-trialling and climbing abilities allowing him ...

, 2014, Polish road cyclist *

Andrzej Wrona Andrzej Zdzisław Wrona (born 27 December 1988) is a Polish professional volleyball player who plays as a middle blocker for Projekt Warsaw. He is a former member of the Poland national team and the 2014 World Champion. Career Club He debuted ...

, 27 October 2014,

, World Champion 2014 *

Paweł Zatorski Paweł Zatorski (born 21 June 1990) is a Polish professional volleyball player. He is a member of the Poland national team, a participant in the Olympic Games (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020), two–time World Champion (2014, 2018), 2012 World League win ...

, 27 October 2014,

, World Champion 2014 *

Joanna Zawadzka Joanna is a feminine given name deriving from from he, יוֹחָנָה, translit=Yôḥānāh, lit=God is gracious. Variants in English include Joan, Joann, Joanne, and Johanna. Other forms of the name in English are Jan, Jane, Janet, Janice, ...

, 2 May 2014, community activist living in Scotland, director of

Polish Cultural Festival Association Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...

Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm (born 15 April 1949, in Łódź, Poland), is a Polish-born U.S.-based writer and academic. She obtained her Ph.D in Humanistic studies at the Warsaw University. Her works include historical biographies,Dr Christoph ...

, 20 June 2014, U.S.-based writer and academic * Katarzyna Maria Dziewanowska, 26 September 2013, scientific research, University of Idaho * Elwira Grossman, August 2013, Scotland * John Dodunski, March 2013, New Zealand * Robert Dodunski, March 2013, New Zealand * Bogdan Labecki, 2013 * Margaret Scannell née Dodunski, March 2013, New Zealand * Michal Kuleczka, 2013"Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 147, No. 8 — 23 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 from: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2013/2013-02-23/html/gh-rg-eng.html * Thomas Gabriel Grasza Esq, 11 November 2011, postage stamp and coin sesigner and noted Canadian-Polish philatelist of four decades *

Izabella Zielińska Izabella Jadwiga Zielińska (née Ostaszewska; 10 December 1910 – 20 November 2017) was a Polish pianist and pedagogue with one of the longest artistic biographies in Poland, starting back in 1935. Life Izabella Jadwiga Ostaszewska was born in ...

, 2011, Polish pianist * Bronisław Oczkowski, 14 December 2010, Melbourne, Australia *

Geertjan Lassche Geertjan Lassche (born in Zwolle, 17 August 1976) is a Dutch reporter and documentary film maker. Career He started his career in journalism in 1996, at the ''Zwolse Courant'', a local newspaper in Zwolle. At the same time, he worked on a freelance ...

, 2007, Dutch reporter and documentary film maker *

Tomasz Miśkiewicz Tomasz Miśkiewicz (born 9 July 1977) is the Polish mufti of the ''Muzułmański Związek Religijny'' (Muslim Religious Union). Biography Tomasz was born in Białystok in 1977 but was raised in Suchowola. From 1991 to 1993, Tomasz studied Arab ...

, Silver Cross of Merit 2006, mufti, for work with the immigrant and native Islamic Youth, Gold Cross of Merit 2011, for work with the Muslim minorities, and for interfaith dialogue *

Małgorzata Kalinowska-Iszkowska Małgorzata Kalinowska-Iszkowska (born 29 July 1946) is a Polish computer scientist, educator, and activist. She was awarded the Polish Gold Cross of Merit for her work in information technology (IT). She was a member of the Polish Congress of ...

, 2005, Polish computer scientist * Agata Mroz-Olszewska, 2005, volleyball player, double European champion team member, 2003 and 2005 * Adam Skorek, 2004 * Ryszard Antoni Kuśmierczyk, August 2002, Engineer and community leader based ub

Windsor, Ontario Windsor is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the south bank of the Detroit River directly across from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Geographically located within but administratively independent of Essex County, it is the southe ...

, Canada *

Alojzy Nowak Alojzy Zbigniew Nowak (born 20 March 1956) is a Polish economist. In 2020 he was elected Rector of the University of Warsaw. Life and education In 1984 he graduated with a master's degree from the SGH Warsaw School of Economics. In 1991 he ear ...

, 2002 * Jerzy Zralski, 2000, II WW veteran and writer."Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 134, No. 43 — 21 October 2000. from: www.http://publications.gc.ca/gazette/archives/p1/2000/2000-10-21/pdf/g1-13443.pdf * Stanis ław Nosal, 1979, Polish Colonel of the 5th Rocket Artillery Battalion in

Modlin Fortress Modlin Fortress ( pl, Twierdza Modlin) is one of the largest 19th-century fortresses in Poland. It is located in the town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki in district Modlin on the Narew river, approximately 50 kilometers north of Warsaw. It was o ...

, Poland. * Witold Bełza, 1938, Polish librarian, writer, publicist and cultural activist. * Michael Biegler, German head coach of the Poland national handball team * Jan Bujak, July 1984, Corporate owner * Stanisław Sylwester Alfonzy Grodyński, 1939, Polish Governor (Starost), military intelligence officer, lawyer. *

Stanisław Horno-Popławski Stanisław Horno-Popławski (1902-1997) was a Russian-Polish painting, painter, Sculpture, sculptor and Pedagogy, pedagogue. Life Stanisław's mother was Maria-Natalie-Agripina Popłavskaya (russian: Мария-Натали-Агрипина По� ...

, 1952, Polish painter,

sculptor Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

and

pedagogue Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken a ...

. * Ryszard Jurkowski, Silver and Gold Cross of Merit, Polish architect * Jerzy Łucki, August 1995, Toronto, Canada * A.E.G.Jung, September 1995, Stellenbosch, South Africa * Marian Machowski, Polish footballer and researcher * Krzysztof Kazimierz Miller, 1964, architect, urbanist *

Agnieszka Radwańska Agnieszka Roma Radwańska (; born 6 March 1989) is a Polish former professional tennis player. She won 20 career singles WTA Tour titles, two doubles titles, and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 2 on 9 July 2012. Her achiev ...

, tennis player * Bronisława Rychter-Janowska, 1939, Cracovian artist. *

Moses Schorr Moses Schorr, Polish: Mojżesz Schorr (May 10, 1874 – July 8, 1941) was a rabbi, Polish historian, politician, Bible scholar, assyriologist and orientalist. Schorr was one of the top experts on the history of the Jews in Poland. He was the fi ...

, Rabbi, Polish historian, politician, bible scholar, assyriologist and orientalist * Stefania Skwarczyńska, Polish theorist and historian of literature, theatrologist, full professor, honorary doctor of the

University of Łódź The University of Łódź ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Łódzki'', Latin: ''Universitas Lodziensis'') is a public research university founded in 1945 in Łódź, Poland, as a continuation of three higher education institutions functioning in Łódź i ...

, World War II resistance fighter * Captain Raymond Delver Smith Carrington J.P., 1990, for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people * Henri Strzelecki, 1990, co-founder of

Henri Lloyd Henri Lloyd is a British clothing brand that specialised in sailing apparel and fashion for men and women. Established in Manchester in 1963, the company had 40 stores spanning the UK, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe. In June 2018, the b ...

. * Arthur Szyk, 1931, Polish-Jewish fine artist, book illustrator, and political artist. * Józef Weyssenhoff, 1932, Polish writer, novelist, poet, literary critic, publisher. * Afanasij Poliszczuk, 1946, veterinary service chief in the First Polish Army

Silver Cross of Merit

* Maria Boniecka, 1937, work with illiterate adults * Francis K. Czyzewski, 4 July 1939, writer, astronomer, meteorologist, photographer, playwright, WSBT Polish Hour radio program host, life member of the solar division of the American Variable Star Observers at Harvard College Observatory (1951); former president, Polish-American Central Civic Committee; staff writer, South Bend Tribune; South Bend, Indiana *

Adela Dankowska Adela Stanisława Dankowska (born 5 January 1935 in Sobienie-Jeziory) is a retired Polish aviator and politician. She was a glider pilot and the coach of the Polish national gliding team, and also served as a member of Parliament. Biography Da ...

, 1970, Polish glider pilot * Grzegorz Fryc, September 2014, New York * Helena Gąsienica Daniel, Olympic cross-country skier * Marcin Pawel Grzadka, Harcmistrz, co-founder of YPCPA. & chairman of Quo Vadis Leadership Conference. – Canada – November 2013 *

Rudolf Gundlach Rudolf Gundlach (1892–1957) was a Polish military engineer, inventor and tank designer. He headed the design division of the Armored Weapons Technical Research Bureau (''Biuro Badań Technicznych Broni Pancernych''). He held the military rank ...

, Gundlach tank periscope inventor * Robert Makłowicz, 2004, journalist and historian, notable for promoting the

Polish cuisine Polish cuisine ( pl, kuchnia polska) is a style of cooking and food preparation originating in or widely popular in Poland. Due to Poland's history, Polish cuisine has evolved over the centuries to be very eclectic, and it shares many similariti ...

* Tomasz Moczerniuk, September 2014, New York"Awards at the Consulate General of Poland in New York". Retrieved 24 September 2014 from: http://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/ordery-i-odznaczenia/art,1369,odznaczenia-w-konsulacie-generalnym-rp-w-nowym-jorku.html *

Witold Pilecki Witold Pilecki (13 May 190125 May 1948; ; codenames ''Roman Jezierski, Tomasz Serafiński, Druh, Witold'') was a Polish World War II cavalry officer, intelligence agent, and resistance leader. As a youth, Pilecki joined Polish underground s ...

, 1938, Soldier * Filip Slipaczek, May 2014, UK * Adam Świerkocz, 2005, Polish brigadier general *

Jerzy Troszczynski Jerzy Troszczynski (1932–1977) was a Polish photographer and actor who specialised in movie photography. His photographs are held in the National Library of Poland and the National Film Archive, Poland. He photographed numerous people invo ...

, photographer * Krzysztof Wojciechowski, August 2013, Poland * Wlodzimierz Mieczyslaw Wojciechowski, 1973, Polish soldier and resistance fighter, London * Czesław s. Ignacego Przybylak, 1956, decorated Polish humanitarian activist, decorated worker of the state and Holocaust Survivor * Jacek Banasiak, Professor and DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Biosciences and Bioengineering at the

University of Pretoria The University of Pretoria ( af, Universiteit van Pretoria, nso, Yunibesithi ya Pretoria) is a multi-campus public research university in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa. The university was established in 1908 ...

2014

Bronze Cross of Merit

References

{{Polish awards Awards established in 1923 1923 establishments in Poland *

History

The Order

Recipients

Gold Cross of Merit

Silver Cross of Merit

Bronze Cross of Merit

See also

References