Cross Of Auschwitz.

[Taz]

(Krzyz Oswiecimski)

This Order was instituted by the State Council (Rada Panstwa) on March 14th, 1985.
Although the Cross bears the name Auschwitz it was was awarded to honor all prisoners of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps established by the Germans in WW2, initialy awarded to the members of the camps Resistance.
It could also be awarded to other countries citizens and could be awarded posthumously. A recipient's conduct during the detention must have been honorable.

It is a silver Greek cross with arms, 42 x 42 mm.
On the obverse are barb wire and camp fence poles. The year 1939 is on the left, 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 / WIEZNIOM / HITLEROWSKICH / OBOZOW KONCENTRACYJNYCH (People's Poland to prisoners of nazi concentration camps).

The ribbon is 40 mm wide with eleven alternate stripes of blue and gray depicting the colour of the clothing worn by prisoners interned in the Nazi concentration camps

[ericlida]

Gentlemen,
I have couple questions.
Lately I collected several nice rare and interesting pieces from Poland and Israel related to the concentration camp survivors and Holocaust.
One of them is the Auschwitz Cross (Krzyz Oswiecimski) Instituted by the Polish State Council on March 14, 1985. I have two types – PRL and RP.
My first question is: does the dress-miniature exist (official award coming with the Cross) or it’s only a product of jewelers (fakes)? I found different opinions from different sources :confused: .
The second question is: By chance, does somebody have a document for PRL (type 1) Auschwitz Cross for sale?
Eric.

[Riley1965]

Oswiecim Cross

The Auschwitz Cross was established in 1985 to honor all former prisoners of the German concentration camps. A silver cross with a triangular prisoners symbol and a letter P on red enamel background. The reverse has barb wire and the years 1939-1945 with the words, PRL, Wiezniom Obozow Koncentracyjnych ( For Prisoners of the Concentration Camps). The cross is worn on a gray ribbon with blue stripes. The cross is 45mm x 45mm.

Doc

[ericlida]

Guys,
I am looking for a document for PRL Auschwitz Cross.
If somebody has one, I would buy.
Eric.

[Al-muell]

I am not expert on this, however they are currently hard to get here. I mean - the crosses themselves are not so rare, but the docs...
There's currently an on-line auction for cross+doc. There are 2 days untill the end and the price's over 300zł (it's less than 100$ but quite a sum compared to the local standards)...

[Taz]

Here is an interesting set, The Auschwitz Cross with miniature and document, badge and a sew on prisoners patch.

Eddie.