General questions/ comments on Polish awards

[Taz]

Is there any polish equivalent (or at least any award to compare) of the Soviet RB?

Hi Esteban,

I think your question is somwhat similar to Tals question in the previous Polish award section so I will try to answer them both at once if I may.
Tal asked if I remember correctly what would be the Soviet equivilant of a Knight (member) regarding the classes of the Order of Polonia Restituta,Virtuti Militari etc.

The awarding structure of Polish awards, unlike other Soviet Bloc Countries has similarities with the award structure of GB or France for example and cannot be directly compared with Soviet awards for the higher class orders.
There is no HSU or HSL and there is in relation a great deal of Crosses and fewer Medals.
Honoury Titles however remained a prize award and were much treasured to the recipiant and had a high prestige.
Throughout 45 years of communist rule, Poland established only three other/new orders that didn't exist before, the Order of Builders of People's Poland, Order of the Banner of Labour (both 1949), Order of Merit (1974), and a variety of state, commemorative, ministry and organizational decorations. It should be noted, however, that even during the communist era Polish decorations retained a lot from the pre-war system. The motive of hammer and sickle or a five pointed red star, dominant in other Soviet dominated countries were practically not encountered among Polish symbols.
So as you can see there would be no one award that is a direct equivilant of a Soviet Red Banner but rather one of a selection depending on the action. Two examples would be the Merit Cross or maybe the Cross of Valour.

I hope this answers your question in part.

Eddie.