Cross Of Merit.

[Al-muell]

I am sure there was a post about the Crosses of merit, but cannot find it anywhere, so in order not to multiply posts I will put it here (if this has been posted somewhere else, please delete, I have just decided to put it here as I was long looking for this info):
Instituted in 1923 it was considered one of the most prestigious awards. Before the WW2 each class could only be awarded to the certain level of state officials and soldiers. For example, EM and NCOs could only be awarded Bronze cross of merit, while You have to be at least colonel top receive the gold cross of merit. In the army it guaranteed a promotion one rank higher (if possible)
In 1944 it was accepted by the awarding system of the People's Poland, however no specific awarding criteria was instituted. Until 1952 the letters on the central sheild were "RP", after that date - "PRL". After the war they were awarded for various deeds (ussually civilian), sometimes for long work in mining industry, however it was not until 1960 when special criteria of awarding it to miners and foundry and shipyard workers were established.
Since then it's:
To the miners working underground and to te miners of the sulfur strip mines (miners, mining technicians and mining engineers):
for 7 years of constant and outstanding work - Bronze cross of Merit
for 10 years - Silver Cross of Merit
for 15 years - Gold Cross of Merit
To the workers of the Iron Foundries and sea shipyards (to workers and technical-engineering employees):
for 10 years of constant and outstanding work - Silver Cross of Merit
for 15 years of work - Gold Cross of Merit.

According to the same regulations, the miners were also to receive:
Order of the banner of labour 2nd class for 20 years of work
Order of the Banner Of Labour 1st class for 25 years of work
However,this was probably abolished later, when "For longtime work in the mining industry" - 25 and 35 years were instituted - te miners already had retirement privilages, so additional privilages gained from the OBL would cost the state too much.
All this awardings required the work years(eg.10) to be counted from not earlier than 1944. If the miner was awarded a cross of merit for long-time work before 1960, he was not awarded the same class again, so ven if he got eg. Bronze one fro 5 years, he would not receive another bronze cross after next 7 years.


Of course the crosses of merit were still awarded to both civilians and military personnel for special merits - for example soldiers who during the participation in major international field excersises shown exceptional skills, ot whose actions led to success; Sportsmen who won some prizes on the international competitions, scientists for their research etc. It was no longer considered that prestigious, but was still considered higher than eg. Cross of the Brave.

[RedMaestro2]

Silver Cross of Merit to Ginter Michnik

[RedMaestro2]

Gold Cross of Merit

[RedMaestro2]

A cased Gold Cross of Merit with mini to Franciszek Jankowiak

[Al-muell]

An interesting piece - Ribbon bar for the Gold Cross of Merit with Swords - an award instituted by the Polish Government in Exile. Interestingly, even tough this award was never accepted by the PRP's award system, since 1960s citizens awarded with it could go through a verification procedure and get the award officially accepted by the government. Yes, this means verification of something awarded by the government PRP's authorities (and not only them) considered illegal!

[Al-muell]

An example of awarding Silver Cross for the social activity - here in the the Society for the Common Knowledge (TWP).
To the Ph. D. in Economy Józef Orłowski, scientific worker of the Marine Fishing Institute in Gdynia.
"Cit.[izen] dr. Józef Orłowski graduated from the economy faculty in the WSHM (Higher School of Marine Commerce? anyway - a university grade school) in Sopot in 1951. He received a Ph. D. in Economy in 1964 in the WSE (Higher Economical School). Since 1951 till present he works as a scientific worker at the MArine Fishing Institute in Gdynia, initially as asistent and now as adiunct [this titles are hard to translate as they are specific for the polish system] in the Department of Fishing Economics". He has serious scientific achievements in the field of economy of the fishing industry, including over 110 works and publications. In the profesional work he cooperateswith the fishing industry companies.
Since 1966 he is a member of the TWP and since then as a lecture giver he spreads knowledge about sea, marine economy, enviroment protection and seaside recreation in his lectures, especially during meetings with the turists /including miners in the all-year center in Gdynia/. He also participates in training of the mid-grade and senior company managers in PTE [Polish Economical Society] and NOT [Central Technical Organization] in the field of economy and organization of the fishing industry."

[Al-muell]

Here's also an example of the cross of merits with swords verification motion:
http://soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...oc-poland.html
Not sure if the actual commandation was for the same deeds orfor one specific action, but could be.

[Pravda]

I have read that some of the Crosses of Merit were made in London and Moscow. Do we know how many were produced at these locations and are they harder to find?

Cheers,
Will

[CtahhR]

Spink of London made a batch of the pre-People's Republic Type (PL) for the "Free Polish". These always sell for a premium.

http://soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...ss-merits.html

[Pravda]

Thank you for the response! I just found two of these Spink examples for sale, but only one of them has the mint mark (Spink London) at the 12 o'clock position. Were they all supposed to be mint marked?

I also saw an allegedly Soviet example made in solid silver. It looks to be a two piece construction and the enamel is the highest quality. Does anyone know if the Soviets did make any of these "PR" examples? If so how many? If only these were numbered.

Cheers,
Will