Cross of Merit (Poland)


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

NameDateNotes
Przemysław KrychJuly 2024for exemplary public and charity service, Poland
Edita Piekha|Edyta Piecha 2012Soviet and Russian singer of Polish origin.
Robert CzernkowskiApril 2023for service to the Polish community in Australia
Edward KarpinskiJanuary 2023For exemplary public service in the Polish community in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Ewa Hojna13 May 2022Director of Polish School Cultural Association, Spain
Jan-Krzysztof Duda2021chess grandmaster
Rick Sahar2020For building good relations through shared events within the Polish-Jewish communities in Wellington, New Zealand
Helena Kmieć2017for merits in charitable and social activities and her commitment to people in need of help
Wanda Paulina Gluszek2016political activist, poet; Chicago, Illinois
Michał Korwin-Szymanowski, also known as Michel Korwin2015Montréal, Canada
John P. Lynch3 November 2014CEO and founder of Lynka
Philippe Blain27 October 2014coach of Poland men's national volleyball teamWorld Champions 2014
Fabian Drzyzga27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Mateusz Mika27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Karol Kłos27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Michał Kwiatkowski2014Polish road cyclist
Andrzej Wrona27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Paweł Zatorski27 October 2014volleyball player, World Champion 2014
Joanna Zawadzka2 May 2014community activist living in Scotland, director of Polish Cultural Festival Association
Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm20 June 2014U.S.-based writer and academic
Katarzyna Maria Dziewanowska26 September 2013scientific research, University of Idaho
Elwira GrossmanAugust 2013Scotland
John DodunskiMarch 2013New Zealand
Robert DodunskiMarch 2013New Zealand
Bogdan Labecki2013
Margaret Scannell née DodunskiMarch 2013New Zealand
Agnieszka Radwańska2013tennis player
Michal Kuleczka2013
Máté 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 Esq11 November 2011postage stamp and coin designer and noted Canadian-Polish philatelist of four decades
Izabella Zielińska2011Polish pianist
Tomasz Miśkiewicz2011Silver 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 Oczkowski14 December 2010Melbourne, Australia
Captain Stefan-Joseph Camilleri23 January 2009Warsaw, for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people
Geertjan Lassche2007Dutch reporter and documentary film maker
Maciej Klich2005Polish historian, graphic artist, and a former anti-communist Polish independence diaspora activist
Małgorzata Kalinowska-Iszkowska2005Polish computer scientist
Agata Mroz-Olszewska2005volleyball player, double European champion team member, 2003 and 2005
Adam Skorek2004
Ryszard Antoni KuśmierczykAugust 2002Engineer and community leader based ub Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Alojzy Nowak2002
Jerzy Zralski2000II WW veteran and writer.
Jerzy ŁuckiAugust 1995Toronto, Canada
Captain Raymond Delver Smith Carrington J.P.1990for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people
Henri Strzelecki1990co-founder of Henri Lloyd.
Jan BujakJuly 1984Corporate owner
Stanisław Nosal1979Polish Colonel of the 5th Rocket Artillery Battalion in Modlin Fortress, Poland.
Michael BieglerGerman head coach of the Poland national handball team
Ryszard Jurkowski1977 and 1984 Silver and Gold Cross of Merit, Polish architect
Zbigniew JanowiczGold Cross of Merit, polish professor
Marian MachowskiPolish footballer and researcher
Wiesława Korzeń1976accountant, teacher
Adam Bahdaj1975Translator and writer
Edward Lisiowski1974Mayor of Wojszyn.
Alojzy Walentego Zygmunt29 November 1972For fifteen years of uninterrupted and distinguished work in the mining industry
Krzysztof Kazimierz Miller1964architect, urbanist
Stanisław Horno-Popławski1952Polish painter, sculptor and pedagogue.
Moses SchorrRabbi, Polish historian, politician, bible scholar, assyriologist and orientalist
Stefania SkwarczyńskaPolish theorist and historian of literature, theatrologist, full professor, honorary doctor of the University of Łódź, World War II resistance fighter
Afanasij Poliszczuk1946veterinary service chief in the First Polish Army
Edvard Kardelj1946
Stanisław Sylwester Alfonzy Grodyński1939Polish Governor, military intelligence officer, lawyer.
Bronisława Rychter-Janowska1939Cracovian artist.
Józefa Bramowska1939Politician
Witold Bełza1938Polish librarian, writer, publicist and cultural activist.
Stefan Kaczmarz1937Polish mathematician
Józef Weyssenhoff1932Polish writer, novelist, poet, literary critic, publisher.
Arthur Szyk1931Polish-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

NameDateNotes
Stefan Bukowski1977Polish Colonel
Maria Boniecka1937work with illiterate adults
Francis K. Czyzewski4 July 1939writer, 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 ; former president, Polish-American Central Civic Committee; staff writer, South Bend Tribune; South Bend, Indiana
Adela Dankowska1970Polish glider pilot
Grzegorz FrycSeptember 2014New York
Helena Gąsienica DanielOlympic cross-country skier
Marcin Pawel GrzadkaNovember 2013Harcmistrz, co-founder of YPCPA. & chairman of Quo Vadis Leadership Conference. – Canada
Rudolf GundlachGundlach tank periscope inventor
Robert Makłowicz2004journalist and historian, notable for promoting the Polish cuisine
Tomasz MoczerniukSeptember 2014New York
Witold Pilecki1938Soldier
Jan SienkiewiczOctober 1944Polish Army Officer
Filip SlipaczekMay 2014UK
Adam Świerkocz2005Polish brigadier general
Jerzy Troszczynskiphotographer
Krzysztof WojciechowskiAugust 2013Poland
Wlodzimierz Mieczyslaw Wojciechowski1973Polish soldier and resistance fighter, London
Czesław s. Ignacego Przybylak1956decorated Polish humanitarian activist, decorated worker of the state and Holocaust Survivor
Jacek Banasiak2014Professor and DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Pretoria
Maciej Żółtowski2002Polish conductor and composer
Alex Dancyg2007Historian and advocate of Polish-Israeli relations
Anna Styszyńska1997Climatologist
Halina Zdebska-Biziewska19 September 2005exemplary and exceptionally conscientious fulfillment of professional duties

Bronze Cross of Merit

NameDateNotes
Stefan Ficner1945Great Grandfather, Patriot, Golina, Polska
Edward Lisiowski1974Mayor of Wojszyn
Stanisław Łukaszewicz1944Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords, Sargeant 10 Dragoons, 1 Polish Armoured Division, 1 Polish Corps for action at Falaise Gap, France 1944
Piotr Paweł Morta1998Also Silver Cross of Merit – 2010
Emil JungSeptember 1996Stellenbosch, South Africa, Political activist and advocate of Polish-South African relations
Marguerite Ettienette Andrée Mouton – née Guillemin1950sEducator; Soissons, France
Elżbieta Smereka3 May 1987For meritorious social services
Tomasz Trembowski2013Canada
Dariusz Jemielniak2018
Krzysztof Ligęza2006habilitated doctor specializing in security studies, reserve officer of the Polish Navy
Stanisław 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 Podolak2024For contributions to the arts