The Cross of Merit () is a Polish civil state decoration established on 23 June 1923 to acknowledge outstanding service to the state.
History At the time of its establishment it was recognised as Poland's highest civilian distinction conferred upon individuals who demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the nation and society beyond standard expectations. Recipients may be awarded the distinction up to twice in each grade.
The Order The Order has three grades:
Gold Cross of Merit Silver Cross of Merit Bronze Cross of Merit
Recipients
Gold Cross of Merit
Name Date NotesBalkan DevlenJune 2025for outstanding merits in promoting Polish culture, and for activity within the Polish diasporaPrzemysław KrychJuly 2024for exemplary public and charity service, PolandEdyta Piecha [Edita Piekha]2012Soviet and Russian singer of Polish origin. Robert CzernkowskiApril 2023for service to the Polish community in AustraliaEdward KarpinskiJanuary 2023For exemplary public service in the Polish community in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Ewa Hojna 13 May 2022 Director of Polish School Cultural Association (ACEP), Spain Jan-Krzysztof Duda 2021 chess grandmasterRick Sahar2020For building good relations through shared events within the Polish-Jewish communities in Wellington, New ZealandHelena Kmieć2017for merits in charitable and social activities and her commitment to people in need of help Wanda Paulina Gluszek 2016 political activist, poet; Chicago, Illinois Michał Korwin-Szymanowski, also known as Michel Korwin 2015 Montréal, Canada John P. Lynch 3 November 2014 CEO and founder of Lynka Philippe Blain 27 October 2014 coach of Poland men's national volleyball team – World Champions 2014 Fabian Drzyzga 27 October 2014 volleyball player, World Champion 2014 Mateusz Mika 27 October 2014 volleyball player, World Champion 2014 Karol Kłos 27 October 2014 volleyball player, World Champion 2014 Michał Kwiatkowski 2014 Polish road cyclist Andrzej Wrona 27 October 2014 volleyball player, World Champion 2014 Paweł Zatorski 27 October 2014 volleyball player, World Champion 2014 Joanna Zawadzka 2 May 2014 community activist living in Scotland, director of Polish Cultural Festival Association Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm 20 June 2014 U.S.-based writer and academic Katarzyna Maria Dziewanowska 26 September 2013 scientific research, University of Idaho Elwira Grossman August 2013 Scotland John Dodunski March 2013 New Zealand Robert Dodunski March 2013 New Zealand Bogdan Labecki 2013 Margaret Scannell née Dodunski March 2013 New Zealand Agnieszka Radwańska 2013 tennis player Michal Kuleczka 2013 "Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 147, No. 8 — 23 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 from: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2013/2013-02-23/html/gh-rg-eng.htmlMáté Szabó10 December 2012The Ambassador of Poland to Hungary, Roman Kowalski presented the award to recognize Máté Szabó 's merits in strengthening the protection of human rights as Ombudsman and for his work developing Polish-Hungarian relations. Thomas Gabriel Grasza Esq 11 November 2011 postage stamp and coin designer and noted Canadian-Polish philatelist of four decades Izabella Zielińska 2011 Polish pianist Tomasz Miśkiewicz 2011 Silver Cross of Merit 2006, mufti, for work with the immigrant and native Islamic Youth, Gold Cross of Merit 2011, for work with the Muslim minorities, and for interfaith dialogue Bronisław Oczkowski 14 December 2010 Melbourne, Australia Captain Stefan-Joseph Camilleri 23 January 2009 Warsaw, for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people Adam Wiercioch 11 October 2008 Polish épée fencer and Olympic silver medalist; awarded for outstanding sporting achievements. Geertjan Lassche 2007 Dutch reporter and documentary film makerMaciej Klich2005Polish historian, graphic artist, and a former anti-communist Polish independence diaspora activist Małgorzata Kalinowska-Iszkowska 2005 Polish computer scientist Agata Mroz-Olszewska 2005 volleyball player, double European champion team member, 2003 and 2005 Adam Skorek 2004 Ryszard Antoni Kuśmierczyk August 2002 Engineer and community leader based ub Windsor, Ontario, Canada Alojzy Nowak 2002 Jerzy Zralski 2000 II WW veteran and writer."Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 134, No. 43 — 21 October 2000. from: www.http://publications.gc.ca/gazette/archives/p1/2000/2000-10-21/pdf/g1-13443.pdf Jerzy Łucki August 1995 Toronto, Canada Captain Raymond Delver Smith Carrington J.P. 1990 for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people Henri Strzelecki 1990 co-founder of Henri Lloyd. Jan Bujak July 1984 Corporate owner Stanisław Nosal 1979 Polish Colonel of the 5th Rocket Artillery Battalion in Modlin Fortress, Poland. Michael Biegler German head coach of the Poland national handball team Ryszard Jurkowski 1977 (Silver) and 1984 (Gold) Silver and Gold Cross of Merit, Polish architect Zbigniew Janowicz Gold Cross of Merit, polish professor Marian Machowski Polish footballer and researcher Wiesława Korzeń 1976 accountant, teacher Adam Bahdaj 1975 Translator and writerEdward Lisiowski1974Mayor of Wojszyn. Alojzy Walentego Zygmunt 29 November 1972 For fifteen years of uninterrupted and distinguished work in the mining industry Krzysztof Kazimierz Miller 1964 architect, urbanist Stanisław Horno-Popławski 1952 Polish painter, sculptor and pedagogue. Moses Schorr Rabbi, Polish historian, politician, bible scholar, assyriologist and orientalist Stefania Skwarczyńska Polish theorist and historian of literature, theatrologist, full professor, honorary doctor of the University of Łódź, World War II resistance fighter Afanasij Poliszczuk 1946 veterinary service chief in the First Polish ArmyEdvard Kardelj1946 Stanisław Sylwester Alfonzy Grodyński 1939 Polish Governor (Starost), military intelligence officer, lawyer.The Grodyński Brigade, Andrzej ST Grodyński 1977/2012 Bronisława Rychter-Janowska 1939 Cracovian artist.Józefa Bramowska1939Politician Witold Bełza 1938 Polish librarian, writer, publicist and cultural activist. Stefan Kaczmarz 1937 Polish mathematician Józef Weyssenhoff 1932 Polish writer, novelist, poet, literary critic, publisher. Arthur Szyk 1931 Polish-Jewish fine artist, book illustrator, and political artist.Emil Rauer20 September 1925industrialist, creator and commander of a railway protection formation, social activist, and independence fighter
Silver Cross of Merit
Name Date Notes Stefan Bukowski 1977 Polish Colonel Maria Boniecka 1937 work with illiterate adults Francis K. Czyzewski 4 July 1939 writer, astronomer, meteorologist, photographer, playwright, WSBT Polish Hour radio program host, life member of the solar division of the American Variable Star Observers at Harvard College Observatory (1951); former president, Polish-American Central Civic Committee; staff writer, South Bend Tribune; South Bend, Indiana Adela Dankowska 1970 Polish glider pilot Grzegorz Fryc September 2014 New York Helena Gąsienica Daniel Olympic cross-country skier Marcin Pawel Grzadka November 2013 Harcmistrz, co-founder of YPCPA. & chairman of Quo Vadis Leadership Conference. – Canada Rudolf Gundlach Gundlach tank periscope inventor Robert Makłowicz 2004 journalist and historian, notable for promoting the Polish cuisine Tomasz Moczerniuk September 2014 New York"Awards at the Consulate General of Poland in New York". Retrieved 24 September 2014 from: http://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/ordery-i-odznaczenia/art,1369,odznaczenia-w-konsulacie-generalnym-rp-w-nowym-jorku.html Emilia Napieralska president of the Polish Women's Alliance of America Witold Pilecki 1938 Soldier Jan Sienkiewicz October 1944 Polish Army Officer Filip Slipaczek May 2014 UK"Polish Embassy London (Awarded for Polish-Jewish dialogue)". Retrieved 15 July 2014 from: http://www.londyn.msz.gov.pl/en/c/MOBILE/news/silver_cross_of_merit__for_filip_slipaczek Adam Świerkocz 2005 Polish brigadier general Jerzy Troszczynski photographer Krzysztof Wojciechowski August 2013 Poland Wlodzimierz Mieczyslaw Wojciechowski 1973 Polish soldier and resistance fighter, London Czesław s. Ignacego Przybylak 1956 decorated Polish humanitarian activist, decorated worker of the state and Holocaust Survivor Jacek Banasiak 2014 Professor and DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of PretoriaMaciej Żółtowski2002Polish conductor and composer Alex Dancyg 2007 Historian and advocate of Polish-Israeli relations Anna Styszyńska1997ClimatologistHalina Zdebska-Biziewska19 September 2005exemplary and exceptionally conscientious fulfillment of professional duties
Bronze Cross of Merit
Name Date Notes Stefan Ficner 1945 Great Grandfather, Patriot, Golina, PolskaEdward Lisiowski1974Mayor of Wojszyn Stanisław Łukaszewicz 1944 Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords, Sargeant 10 Dragoons, 1 Polish Armoured Division, 1 Polish Corps for action at Falaise Gap, France 1944Letter from Ministry of Defence, 11 June 2003 Piotr Paweł Morta 1998 Also Silver Cross of Merit – 2010 Emil Jung September 1996 Stellenbosch, South Africa, Political activist and advocate of Polish-South African relations Marguerite Ettienette Andrée Mouton – née Guillemin 1950s Educator; Soissons, France Elżbieta Smereka 3 May 1987 For meritorious social services Tomasz Trembowski 2013 Canada"Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 147, No. 4 — 26 January 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013 from: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2013/2013-01-26/html/gh-rg-eng.html#c101 Dariusz Jemielniak 2018 Krzysztof Ligęza2006habilitated doctor specializing in security studies, reserve officer of the Polish NavyStanisław Zarzecki1938A corporal pilot of the Polish Armed Forces, a participant in the Invasion of Poland. He perished during a combat mission piloting a PZL.23 Karaś aircraft. Karoline Podolak 2024 For contributions to the arts"Karoline Podolak Receives Bronze Cross of Merit", OperaWire, 20 December 2024
See also Cross of Merit (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association) Cross of Merit (Austria-Hungary), the Austro-Hungarian Empire medal that it replaced
References