- Time Period: World War II
- Year of Institution: 26 October 1945
- Country: Poland
The Partisan Cross (or Krzyż Partyzancki in Polish) was a military decoration awarded to World War II partisans (part of resistance movement fighting in the countryside). It was introduced by the Council of Ministers on October 26, 1945.
The cross was awarded to organizers, commanders and members of partisan units who fought against Germans on a Polish territory, or to Poles who fought in partisan units in the USSR, Yugoslavia and France, or to foreigners, who fought in partisan units on Polish territory. It could be given also to cities or villages, that distinguished themselves in supporting the partisan movement.
About 55,000 Partisan Crosses were awarded. The Partisan Cross ceased to be awarded in 1999.
The Partisan Cross Design
The Cross is a gold-plated Greek cross with thin arms, 38 x 38 mm.
The obverse shows the eagle in the centre (the Polish coat-of-arms) and an inscription: “ZA – POLSKĘ – WOLNOŚĆ – i LUD” (“For Poland, Liberty and People”) on arms. The reverse bears the horizontal inscription “PARTYZANTOM” (“To partisans”), and the date “1939” on an upper vertical arm and “1945” on a lower arm.
The ribbon is dark green, 35 mm wide, with black strips 7 mm wide, near both edges.
