The Medal for Warsaw 1939–1945 () was a Polish commemorative medal awarded by the

Polish People's Republic The Polish People's Republic (1952–1989), formerly the Republic of Poland (1947–1952), and also often simply known as Poland, was a country in Central Europe that existed as the predecessor of the modern-day democratic Republic of Poland. ...

to commemorate active participation in defending Warsaw in 1939, 1944

Warsaw Uprising The Warsaw Uprising (; ), sometimes referred to as the August Uprising (), or the Battle of Warsaw, was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance movement in World War II, Polish underground resistance to liberate Warsaw from ...

, and in liberation of Warsaw from

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

in January 1945.

History

The Medal for Warsaw 1939–1945 was established by a decree of the

Council of Ministers Council of Ministers is a traditional name given to the supreme Executive (government), executive organ in some governments. It is usually equivalent to the term Cabinet (government), cabinet. The term Council of State is a similar name that also m ...

of November 21, 1945:

"In order to commemorate the heroic history of Warsaw in the war with the Nazi invaders, the history of a soldier who defended the Capital in September 1939, fought relentlessly during the occupation and died sacrificially in the tragic uprising, as well as to commemorate the victorious liberation of Warsaw by the
Polish People's Army The Polish People's Army (, ; LWP) was the second formation of the Polish Armed Forces in the East during the latter stages of the Second World War (1943–1945), and subsequently the armed forces of the Polish communist state (1945–1989 ...
in alliance with the
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...
and to reward the participants of these fights for the Capital."

Eugeniusz czechowicz legitymacja medal za warszawe

One of the first people to be awarded the medal was the first

President of Poland The president of Poland ( ), officially the president of the Republic of Poland (), is the head of state of Poland. His or her prerogatives and duties are determined in the Constitution of Poland. The president jointly exercises the executive ...

Bolesław Bierut Bolesław Bierut (; 18 April 1892 – 12 March 1956) was a Polish communist activist and politician, leader of History of Poland (1945–1989), communist-ruled Poland from 1947 until 1956. He was President of the State National Council from 1944 ...

and

Władysław Gomułka Władysław Gomułka (; 6 February 1905 – 1 September 1982) was a Polish Communist politician. He was the ''de facto'' leader of Polish People's Republic, post-war Poland from 1947 until 1948, and again from 1956 to 1970. Born in 1905 in ...

, and some high-ranking members of the Polish military such as

Michał Rola-Żymierski Michał Rola-Żymierski (; 4 September 189015 October 1989) was a Polish high-ranking Polish United Workers' Party, Communist Party leader, communist military commander and NKVD secret agent. He was appointed as Marshal of Poland, and served in t ...

and Stanislav Poplavsky. For political reasons, most members of the

Home Army The Home Army (, ; abbreviated AK) was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. The Home Army was formed in February 1942 from the earlier Związek Walki Zbrojnej (Armed Resistance) established in the ...

were not awarded this medal. Pursuant to the decree, the

Ministry of National Defense A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divide ...

appointed a commission which oversaw the right to be awarded the medal. In 1946, the ministry handed over the right to award the medal to the commanders of military districts, commanders of the

1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division The Polish 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division () was an infantry division in the Polish armed forces formed in 1943 and named for the Polish and American revolutionary Tadeusz Kościuszko. Formed in the Soviet Union, it was the first ...

, 2nd Warsaw Infantry Division, 3rd Pomeranian Infantry Division, 4th Pomeranian Infantry Division and 6th Pomeranian Infantry Division. The right to award the medal was also given to the commander of the 1st Warsaw Cavalry Division and the General Board of the Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy. The medal was later included in the Polish system of decorations by the Law of February 17, 1960 on Orders and Decorations. From 1958, the right to award the medal was granted to the

State National Council Krajowa Rada Narodowa in Polish language, Polish (translated as State National Council or Homeland National Council, abbreviated to KRN) was a parliament-like political body created during the later stages of World War II in Nazi Germany, German- ...

, after 1989 to the President of the

, and from January 1, 1990 to the

President of the Republic of Poland The president of Poland ( ), officially the president of the Republic of Poland (), is the head of state of Poland. His or her prerogatives and duties are determined in the Constitution of Poland. The president jointly exercises the executiv ...

. Until 1989, a total of 131,242 awards were awarded, and in the years 1993–1999 was awarded to another 4,476 people. A total of 135,837 people were awarded this medal. By the Act of October 16, 1992, the awarding of the medal was deemed completed on May 8, 1999.

Appearance

The Medal for Warsaw 1939–1945 was designed by Polish artists Stanisław Łoza and Stanisław Gepner. The bronze medal is round with a diameter of 33 mm. On the front there is an image of a Siren with a shield in the left hand and a sword in the right hand. These represent the

coat of arms of Warsaw The coat of arms of Warsaw (The Warsaw Mermaid) consists of a ''Mermaid of Warsaw, syrenka'' in a Gules, red field. This imagery has been in use since at least the mid-14th century. The syrenka has traditionally held a silver sword although this ...

. On the top there is the inscription "1939" and "1945", which are start and end years of World War II. On the bottom consists of Polish inscription "ZA WARSZAWE" ('For Warsaw'). On the obverse can consists of the Polish words "RP-OBRONCOM-BOJOWNIKOM-OSWOBODZICIELOM" (' RP', 'To the defenders', 'Warriors', 'Liberators'), together with oak leaves and three acorns. All inscriptions and images on the medal are convex. The ribbon is red with two longitudinal bands along the sides that represent the colours of Warsaw.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Medal for Warsaw 1939-1945 Military awards and decorations of Poland Polish campaign medals Awards established in 1945 Awards disestablished in 1999

History

Appearance

See also

References