Cross of Merit (Poland)

Polish civil state decoration From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Cross of Merit (Polish: Krzyż Zasługi) is a Polish civil state decoration established on 23 June 1923 to acknowledge outstanding service to the state.[1]

TypeMedal awarded in three grades: Gold, Silver, and Bronze
Awarded forExemplary and beyond standard expectations public service or humanitarian work
Country Poland
Presented bythe President of Poland
Quick facts Cross of Merit Krzyż Zasługi, Type ...
Cross of Merit
Krzyż Zasługi
Current version of the Gold Cross of Merit
TypeMedal awarded in three grades: Gold, Silver, and Bronze
Awarded forExemplary and beyond standard expectations public service or humanitarian work
Country Poland
Presented bythe President of Poland
Claspsdenotes subsequent award
StatusCurrently awarded
Established23 June 1923
First award11 November 1923
Precedence
Next (higher)Cross of Merit with Swords
Next (lower)Military Cross of Merit with Swords,
Air Force Cross of Merit with Swords,
Navy Cross of Merit with Swords
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History

At the time of its establishment it was recognised as Poland's highest civilian distinction conferred upon individuals who demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the nation and society beyond standard expectations. Recipients may be awarded the distinction up to twice in each grade.[2]

  • Gold Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic
    Gold Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic
  • Silver Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic
    Silver Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic

The Order

The Order has three grades:[3]

  • Gold Cross of Merit
  • Silver Cross of Merit
  • Bronze Cross of Merit

Recipients

Gold Cross of Merit

More information Name, Date ...
NameDateNotes
Balkan Devlen June 2025 for outstanding merits in promoting Polish culture, and for activity within the Polish diaspora[4]
Przemysław Krych July 2024 for exemplary public and charity service, Poland[5]
Edyta Piecha [Edita Piekha] 2012 Soviet and Russian singer of Polish origin.
Robert Czernkowski April 2023 for service to the Polish community in Australia[6]
Edward Karpinski January 2023 For exemplary public service in the Polish community in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Ewa Hojna13 May 2022Director of Polish School Cultural Association (ACEP), Spain
Jan-Krzysztof Duda2021chess grandmaster[7]
Rick Sahar 2020 For building good relations through shared events within the Polish-Jewish communities in Wellington, New Zealand
Helena Kmieć 2017 for merits in charitable and social activities and her commitment to people in need of help
Wanda Paulina Gluszek2016political activist, poet; Chicago, Illinois
Michał Korwin-Szymanowski, also known as Michel Korwin2015Montréal, Canada
John P. Lynch3 November 2014CEO and founder of Lynka[8]
Philippe Blain27 October 2014coach of Poland men's national volleyball team – World Champions 2014
Fabian Drzyzga27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Mateusz Mika27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Karol Kłos27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Michał Kwiatkowski2014Polish road cyclist
Andrzej Wrona27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Paweł Zatorski27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Joanna Zawadzka2 May 2014community activist living in Scotland, director of Polish Cultural Festival Association
Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm20 June 2014U.S.-based writer and academic
Katarzyna Maria Dziewanowska26 September 2013scientific research, University of Idaho
Elwira GrossmanAugust 2013Scotland
John DodunskiMarch 2013New Zealand
Robert DodunskiMarch 2013New Zealand
Bogdan Labecki2013[9]
Margaret Scannell née DodunskiMarch 2013New Zealand
Agnieszka Radwańska2013tennis player[10]
Michal Kuleczka2013[11]
Máté Szabó 10 December 2012 The Ambassador of Poland to Hungary, Roman Kowalski presented the award to recognize Máté Szabó 's merits in strengthening the protection of human rights as Ombudsman and for his work developing Polish-Hungarian relations.[12]
Thomas Gabriel Grasza Esq11 November 2011postage stamp and coin designer and noted Canadian-Polish philatelist of four decades
Izabella Zielińska2011Polish pianist
Tomasz Miśkiewicz2011Silver 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
Bronisław Oczkowski14 December 2010Melbourne, Australia[13]
Captain Stefan-Joseph Camilleri23 January 2009Warsaw, for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people
Geertjan Lassche2007Dutch reporter and documentary film maker
Maciej Klich 2005 Polish historian, graphic artist, and a former anti-communist Polish independence diaspora activist
Małgorzata Kalinowska-Iszkowska2005Polish computer scientist[14]
Agata Mroz-Olszewska2005volleyball player, double European champion team member, 2003 and 2005
Adam Skorek2004
Ryszard Antoni KuśmierczykAugust 2002Engineer and community leader based ub Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Alojzy Nowak2002[15]
Jerzy Zralski2000II WW veteran and writer.[9]
Jerzy ŁuckiAugust 1995Toronto, Canada
Captain Raymond Delver Smith Carrington J.P.1990for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people
Henri Strzelecki1990co-founder of Henri Lloyd.[citation needed]
Jan BujakJuly 1984Corporate owner
Stanisław Nosal1979Polish Colonel of the 5th Rocket Artillery Battalion in Modlin Fortress, Poland.
Michael BieglerGerman head coach of the Poland national handball team
Ryszard Jurkowski1977 (Silver) and 1984 (Gold)Silver and Gold Cross of Merit, Polish architect
Zbigniew JanowiczGold Cross of Merit, polish professor[16]
Marian MachowskiPolish footballer and researcher[17]
Wiesława Korzeń1976accountant, teacher
Adam Bahdaj1975Translator and writer[18]
Edward Lisiowski 1974 Mayor of Wojszyn.
Alojzy Walentego Zygmunt29 November 1972For fifteen years of uninterrupted and distinguished work in the mining industry
Krzysztof Kazimierz Miller1964architect, urbanist
Stanisław Horno-Popławski1952Polish painter, sculptor and pedagogue.[19]
Moses SchorrRabbi, Polish historian, politician, bible scholar, assyriologist and orientalist
Stefania SkwarczyńskaPolish theorist and historian of literature, theatrologist, full professor, honorary doctor of the University of Łódź, World War II resistance fighter
Afanasij Poliszczuk1946veterinary service chief in the First Polish Army
Edvard Kardelj 1946 [20]
Stanisław Sylwester Alfonzy Grodyński1939Polish Governor (Starost), military intelligence officer, lawyer.[21]
Bronisława Rychter-Janowska1939Cracovian artist.[22]
Józefa Bramowska 1939 Politician
Witold Bełza1938Polish librarian, writer, publicist and cultural activist.[23]
Stefan Kaczmarz1937Polish mathematician[24]
Józef Weyssenhoff1932Polish writer, novelist, poet, literary critic, publisher.[25]
Arthur Szyk1931Polish-Jewish fine artist, book illustrator, and political artist.[26]
Emil Rauer 20 September 1925 industrialist, creator and commander of a railway protection formation, social activist, and independence fighter
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Silver Cross of Merit

More information Name, Date ...
NameDateNotes
Stefan Bukowski1977Polish Colonel
Maria Boniecka1937work with illiterate adults
Francis K. Czyzewski4 July 1939writer, 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 Dankowska1970Polish glider pilot
Grzegorz FrycSeptember 2014New York[27]
Helena Gąsienica DanielOlympic cross-country skier[28]
Marcin Pawel GrzadkaNovember 2013Harcmistrz, co-founder of YPCPA.[29] & chairman of Quo Vadis Leadership Conference.[30] – Canada
Rudolf GundlachGundlach tank periscope inventor
Robert Makłowicz2004journalist and historian, notable for promoting the Polish cuisine
Tomasz MoczerniukSeptember 2014New York[27]
Witold Pilecki1938Soldier
Jan Sienkiewicz October 1944 Polish Army Officer
Filip SlipaczekMay 2014UK[31]
Adam Świerkocz2005Polish brigadier general
Jerzy Troszczynskiphotographer[32]
Krzysztof WojciechowskiAugust 2013Poland[33]
Wlodzimierz Mieczyslaw Wojciechowski1973Polish soldier and resistance fighter, London
Czesław s. Ignacego Przybylak1956decorated Polish humanitarian activist, decorated worker of the state and Holocaust Survivor
Jacek Banasiak2014Professor and DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Pretoria[34]
Maciej Żółtowski 2002 Polish conductor and composer
Alex Dancyg2007Historian and advocate of Polish-Israeli relations[35]
Anna Styszyńska 1997 Climatologist[36]
Halina Zdebska-Biziewska 19 September 2005 exemplary and exceptionally conscientious fulfillment of professional duties[37]
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Bronze Cross of Merit

More information Name, Date ...
NameDateNotes
Stefan Ficner1945Great Grandfather, Patriot, Golina, Polska
Edward Lisiowski 1974 Mayor of Wojszyn
Stanisław Łukaszewicz1944Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords, Sargeant 10 Dragoons, 1 Polish Armoured Division, 1 Polish Corps for action at Falaise Gap, France 1944[38]
Piotr Paweł Morta1998Also Silver Cross of Merit – 2010
Emil JungSeptember 1996Stellenbosch, South Africa, Political activist and advocate of Polish-South African relations
Marguerite Ettienette Andrée Mouton – née Guillemin1950sEducator; Soissons, France
Elżbieta Smereka3 May 1987For meritorious social services
Tomasz Trembowski2013Canada[39]
Dariusz Jemielniak2018[40]
Krzysztof Ligęza 2006 habilitated doctor specializing in security studies, reserve officer of the Polish Navy[41]
Stanisław Zarzecki 1938 A corporal pilot of the Polish Armed Forces, a participant in the Invasion of Poland. He perished during a combat mission piloting a PZL.23 Karaś aircraft.[42]
Karoline Podolak2024For contributions to the arts [43]
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See also

References

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