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.

[Taz]

And here are the DZIALANIA BOJOWE LOTNICTWA (Air Force war operations) FALAISE-CHAMBOIS, TOBRUK and AXEL campaign bars.

Eddie.

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The Polish Armed Forces in the West (Polskie Sily Zbrojne - PSZ) were subordinated to the Polish government in exile in London. They were organized in France, then: in Great Britain and the Middle East.
They numbered in total 165,000 at the end of 1944. Including about 20,000 in the Polish air force and 3,000 in the navy.
At the end of WWII, the Polish army in the west numbered 195,000 soldiers and increased to 225,000 by July 1945. Most of newcomers being released prisoners of war and from labour camps.
By November 1st, 1945 the Armed Force in the West totalled 228,000
Here is the breakdown of that number:
ARMY 196,810
AIR FORCE 19,400
WOMEN'S CORPS 6,700
NAVY 3,840
MERCHANT MARINE 1,250
As denoted by the Campaign Bars Polish soldiers and Airmen fought in many theatres of WW II. The Polish Air Force fought in the Battle of France (133 pilots - they achieved 55 victories and lost 15 men).
Later Polish pilots fought in the Battle of Britain where the Polish 303 Fighter Squadron had the highest number of kills of any Allied squadron. They also flew in Tunisia and took part in the raids on Germany.
At the end at the war there were about 12,000 Polish airmen in the RAF and USAAF (15 squadrons in total)
Decorations made for the Polish Armed Forces in the West during the Second World War are still available in limited number. These were made in England, Italy, France, and the Middle East.
It is estimated that between the years 1939 - 1945 over 500,000
soldiers served in the Polish Armed Forces in the West

Here is the Medal with 4 bars.

TOBRUK
MONTE CASSINO
ANKONA (Ancona)
and BOLONIA (Bologna)

Second pic:

BREDA
ARNHEM
WILHELMSHAVEN

Third pic:

Maiche-St. Hippolyte campaign bar.

Eddie.