Virtuti Militari Thread

[Mariusz]

OR-OT "Wiarus" 1930

[A.J. Zawadzki]

Hello Mariusz,

Thank you for posting this. Are you able to provide an English translation for our non-Polish speaking members?

Regards,
Tony

[Mariusz]

VM found during exhumations in Charkowie in 1991-1996

[Mariusz]

Hi could someone with same time and skill translate that poem to English

[A.J. Zawadzki]

VM found during exhumations in Charkowie in 1991-1996

Thank you for the pictures Mariusz.

For those that may not be aware of the significance of Charków (now Charkiv, Ukraine), this is the site to which approx. 4,200 Polish military officers and intellectuals were transported to in April and May of 1940 from the prison camp at Starobielsk. Here they were murdered by the Soviet NKVD as part of what is commonly called “The Katyn massacre”, although the Katyn forest was but one of the killing sites where an estimated 22,000 members of the Polish ‘intelligentsia’ were murdered.

Regards,
Tony

[Mariusz]

I have found great book
_Kawalerowie Orderu Virtuti Mimitari w mogilach katyńskich_
There is 327 stories of great polish heroes, I wish all people would got to know a stores of our heroes. Her is one of them. I wish it was in English.

[A.J. Zawadzki]

I have found great book
_Kawalerowie Orderu Virtuti Mimitari w mogilach katyńskich_
There is 327 stories of great polish heroes, I wish all people would got to know a stores of our heroes. Her is one of them. I wish it was in English.

Agreed Mariusz. Excellent book, as is the companion book that exhaustively lists all of those murdered at Katyń Forest, providing a brief biography and photographs where available. It is a very sobering experience looking through these books and seeing page after page the faces of those thousands murdered so brutally by a totalitarian regime. One can only hope that humanity learns from this and other such horrific crimes and does not allow history to repeat itself.

Here’s my translation of the account for which Infantry Captain Józef Wiktor Muszyński was awarded the 5th Class of the Virtuti Militari:

On Sept 17 (1920) the ‘Guard’ Company received the assignment to attack the villages of Duchnów and Ruda. 3rd Platoon Sergeant Muszyński covered the right wing and with limited cover attacked the enemy while not leaving his wing exposed. Near the village of Ruda he singlehandedly attacked a Bolshevik company forcing them to surrender. Sergeant Muszyński displayed great courage and willingness to sacrifice his life, much self reliance and concern for others.

The write up goes on to say:

In September 1939 he was taken into Soviet captivity, imprisoned in Starobielsk, and murdered in Charków.

Regards,
Tony

[robert odulinski]

Hi Tony beautiful cross, can you tell me what the dye stamp mark is i cant make it out from the picture.

Thank you
Robert

[Semper Fidelis]

I'am Pole and I know english a bit.
My grandfather was born in USA then his family moved to Wilno(they were Poles ) .He fought lately in 1939 against germnan invasion.He was a war prisoner but run from the prison camp and join AK where he fought to the end of war , participating in a lot of actions at Wileńszczyzna.I can try to translate the poem which mariusz put here ( wont be best translation in the world but I can try )

Virtuti Militari

Black-blue ribbon
Silver cross attached to it
Virtuti Militari
Whad does it mean?Do you know?


It means soldier's virtue
Noble dreams about it
You can earn this cross by
misprision of death by blood


Who fight bravely in combat
Going on the cannon's metal ( hard to translate this one )
The Fatherland will give him
Soldier's virtue cross


Streamers and standards
victoriously whisper around
And he 's taking this gift of the gifts
from Fatherland's hands


Respect this chest on which
shines this holy sign
And ask God in prayers
to earn like him


To commander-in-chief
on your chest tack it
Virtuti cross, earned by
misprision of death and blood...

I know my english is not best but tried to translate as good as I can .
Cheers.

[A.J. Zawadzki]

I'am Pole and I know english a bit.
. . . I know my english is not best but tried to translate as good as I can .
Cheers.

Hi Semper,

Thank you for your effort with this. You have done the hard work, now please allow me to slightly refine your translation. Both of my parents immigrated from Poland to Canada, where I was born. So even though I was ‘forced’ to speak Polish at home growing up, my language skills aren’t perfect by any stretch. But armed with my trusty Oxford słownik I can slog my way through most of the obstacles . . .


Virtuti Militari

Black with blue ribbon
And on her a silver cross
Virtuti Militari
What does it signify? Do you know?

It symbolizes soldierly virtue
Of which nobility dreams
A Cross that can be earned
Contempt for death, by blood

Those who bravely stand in combat
Along with cannon metal - (agreed, not easy to translate!)
To those the Fatherland will award
The Soldier's Cross of Virtue

Streamers and standards
Victoriously whisper all around
As he accepts the gift of gifts
From the hands of the Fatherland

Revere the chest on which
Gleams this holy symbol
And prayerfully petition God
That you this would also achieve

That the commander on the field of glory
Onto your chest would fasten this
Virtuti Cross, earned through
Contempt for death, by blood

I welcome any further refinements.

Cheers,
Tony