Cross Of Monte Cassino.

[Taz]

(Krzyz Monte Cassino)

This cross was instituted on July 26th, 1944 by the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces, Gen. Sosnkowski, as a commemorative badge and awarded to soldiers of II Polish Army Corps who took part in the battle of Monte Cassino during the campaign in Italy in May of 1944. At the conclusion of Polish military operations in and near Monte Cassino, the Polish government in Exile, (London) established a campaign cross to commemorate the battle. A total of 48,498 crosses were awarded with accompanying award documents issued in the field to each soldier who took part in the battle. 1,100 Poles died storming the abbey between the 11th -25th May 1944.
On September 16th, 1992, by act of the government the cross was promoted to the rank of a state decoration.
The High Command of the Polish 2nd Corps did not keep a master roll record of names of soldiers who received the crosses, either by cross number or by the name of the recipient. It is therefore impossible to determine whom a specific cross was issued to without the award document. Official documentation to include a list of recipients will never be known. Records have been located which indicate blocks of crosses by serial number distributed to specific units.

It is a bronze forked cross, 40 x 40 mm. On a square central shield of the obverse there is an inscription MONTE / CASSINO / MAJ / 1944. On the reverse is a cast award number. The shape of the cross was based on the honorary badge of the 3rd Carpathian Rifles Division.

the ribbon is35mm wide, with six alternate medium blue and five red stripes. The ribbon bar bears the inscription "Monte Cassino" made in bronze, attached to the ribbon.