The Auschwitz Cross

• Time Period: Post-WW2 Period
• Year of Institution: 14 March 1985
• Country: Poland

The Auschwitz Cross (or Krzyż Oświęcimski in Polish) was instituted on 14 March 1985. This Polish decoration was awarded to honor survivors of Nazi German concentration camps, including Auschwitz (Auschwitz is a German name for the Polish town Oświęcim, where the camps were built by Nazi Germans).

The Auschwitz Cross was awarded to Polish citizens, it could also be awarded to persons who were imprisoned as Polish citizens, and at the time of granting citizenship of another country, and in special cases also to citizens of other countries, imprisoned for political reasons, especially participants of the camp resistance movement. The cross could be awarded posthumously.

The Oświęcim Cross was awarded by the Council of State at the request of:

• Union of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy – in relation to union members.
• The President of the Office for Veterans – in relation to other persons.
• The Minister of Foreign Affairs – in relation to Polish citizens permanently residing abroad and citizens of other countries.

The Auschwitz Cross Design

The award is a silver-plated Greek cross with wide arms, 42×42 mm.

The obverse shows barbed wire and camp poles; the year 1939 on the left, and 1945 on the right arm. In the center there is a red enameled triangle with the letter P, as worn by Polish nationals imprisoned in the camps.

The reverse bears the inscription “PRL / WIĘŹNIOM / HITLEROWSKICH / OBOZÓW KONCENTRACYJNYCH” (“People’s Republic of Poland to prisoners of Nazi concentration camps”).

The ribbon of the cross is 40 mm wide, with eleven vertical stripes in light gray and blue colors. The Oświęcim Cross, according to the seniority of Polish decorations , was worn on the left side of the breast after the Partisan Cross.