Cross Of Combat Action Of The Polish Armed Forces In The West.

[Taz]

(Krzyz Czynu Bojowego Polskich Sil Zbrojnych na Zachodzie)

This cross is unique for a Polish decoration because it is the only award that was issued with campaign bars.
It was instituted by act of Parliament of May 17th, 1989.
And awarded to former members of the Polish Armed Forces in the West, subordinated to the Government in Exile in London, who participated in any of the campaigns.

The decoration is a silver Maltese cross with the arms in the form of the stylized letters V (victory), 42 x 42 mm.
In the center there is a crowned Polish eagle sitting on the Amazon shield, as worn by soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces. The reverse bears an inscription 1939 / POLSKIE / SILY ZBROJNE / NA ZACHODZIE / 1945 (Polish Armed Forces in the West).

The ribbon is 36 mm wide, with half white half dark red central stripes and wide edge stripes in the colors of light blue (inner), black (middle) and green (outer), representing the Air Force, Navy and Army respectively.

Each campaign is denoted by a silver bar with the campaign's name, attached to the ribbon.
The names of the campaigns are as follows:

NARWIK (Narvik)
LAGARDE
MAICHE-St. HIPPOLYTE
BITWA O ANGLIE (Battle of Britain)
TOBRUK
MONTE CASSINO
ANKONA (Ancona)
FALAISE-CHAMBOIS
AXEL
ARNHEM
BREDA
BOLONIA (Bologna)
WILHELMSHAVEN
DZIALANIA BOJOWE LOTNICTWA (Air Force war operations)
BITWY I KONWOJE MORSKIE (sea battles and convoys).

Eddie.

Here is the Cross with the BOLONIA (Bologna) Campaign Bar.