Here is one of VM that I am currently taking care of: this one was re-silvered by a professional jeweler. Number 5974, Polish Government issue, won by Sergeant Marian Malinowski (Legiony) during Polish russian war 1920.
Here is one of VM that I am currently taking care of: this one was re-silvered by a professional jeweler. Number 5974, Polish Government issue, won by Sergeant Marian Malinowski (Legiony) during Polish russian war 1920.
Hello Everyone, I'm in the process of organizing some archival files I collected in Warsaw. I thought I would share a list of some VM recipients residing in the United States which was complied by the Polish consul in New York in the 1930s. The list is obviously incomplete and some numbers are missing (the consul actually complained in one of his reports to the Polish MSZ that he had to send back a number of VMs since the addresses of some recipients were unknown, hence no award document or cross number was recorded on his list.
The list is recorded as follows:
Rank, Name, Location, regiment (if known) and Cross/Award Document Number
porucznik Jan Pospola; Rochester, NY
Kol. J. Sobczyk; Welmington, Del.
por. Jan Peli; Adams, Mass. 5655
Por. Marjan Kowalski; Charging Falls, Ohio - 13 p.a.p
por. Rez. Franciszek Klich; St. Louis, Ill. 5654
Wojtczuk, Jan; Bajonne NJ 5695
Telesfor Czaplicki, Cleveland Ohio; 13 P. Art. Polowej
kapt. Harmon Rorison 2928
por. Kenneth Shrewsburry 3054
podpor. Lucjan Chwalkowski; Plainfield NJ 5653
ppor. Antoni Bartman 5658
por. Alfred Bartoniczek 5632
ppor. Franciszek Bauer 5659
ppor. Jan Bohm 5661
ppor. Franciszek Graca 5663
sierz. Jan Inglot 5682
por. Edward Pawlowicz 55645
strz.Franciszek Walkowiak 5699
por. Piotr Andruszkiewicz 5642
por. Jozef Antoniak 5633
kapral Zygmunt Arent 5689
szer. Jan Blaszczak; Michigan 5691
sierz. Franciszek Cybyla 5680
por. Mikolaj Chudziakiewicz 5630
szer. Stanislaw Cichocki 5700
kapral Franciszek Fusniak 5686
sierz. Edmund Janicki 5683
kapral Stanislaw Jarmusz 5687
kapral Mieczyslaw Jurak 5685
kpt. Jan Marja Krzyzowski-Wolinski 5621
szer. Jan Kopycki 5692
st. szer. Stanislaw Krzywiec 5690
sierz. Jan Kwiatkowski 5676
sierz. Teofil Langowski 5677
por. Jerzy Ledoux 5651
kpt. Lek. Jozef Michalski 5708
por. Jozef Perzan 5643
szer. Marceli Piotrowski 5693
szer. Sergjusz Siwek 5684
szer. Jan Piskorski 2p strez. Konnych 5694
strzelec Ludwik Trojanowski 5698
sierz. Jan Wesoloski 5672
por. Zygmunt Wieckus - 43 PSK 5637
Strzelec Michal Wlodarski 5697
sierz. Jozef Kowalski 4348
por. Zygmunt Feliks Nowak Cleveland OH - 43 PSK
pchor. Henryk Boguslaw Przywarski 4 p. Strzel. Podhalanskich 1733
Plut. Jan Sadowski, Chicago, Ill; 44p Strz. Kres. 3 komp. Kar masz. 286
por. Stanislaw Solon, NJ 44p Strezl. Kres 2156 or 158
podpor/ Fryderyk Wozniak Pittsburg, PA 64 P.P 7815
Sierz. Pilot Piotr Tolusciak 8077
Any similar list for VM recipients living in Canada?
Hi all,
I have been asked to post some pics of my pre-war 3rd Class cross of the Virtuti Militari.
Cross wound is in copper, gold, enamel. Number engraved on the reverse side (no. 156).
The copy comes with a lot of crosses made in 1923 on request of the Minister's Office of Military Affairs.
Artist: Products Factory Golden and Silver "W. J. Krupski Matulewicz "in Warsaw.
Original ribbon produced in 1921 the company Huguenin Freres of Le Locle in Switzerland.
Dimensions: 44,5 x43, 8 mm Weight with ribbon: 15.56 g
regards,
Michael
Michael, superb cross! If memory serves, #156 was on the market about 6 years ago. I still have these images in my archive file. Congratulations on your ownership!
I am the present custodian of #16, posted below. This is part of the first order of 20 commissioned by the ‘MSWojsk’ in 1920. As you know, only 14 were awarded, so this is one of the six unawarded at that time.
Regards,
Tony
All thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical and/or legal advice.
"Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday." - John Wayne
Tony,
This is a fantastic example of pre-war masterpiece. Yes, I am the lucky winner from 6 years ago As you probably noticed,
prices of Polish military gone up in price big time and it is really hard to obtain something in reasonable price. Since I've
bought this cross, I'm still looking to get the red case for this order. If you know how may have one please let me know
as I would be very grateful!
best regards,
Michael
Thank you Michael. Yes, “masterpiece” is a suitable description! While they really are beautiful decorations, it’s what they represent that is truly awe inspiring.
Pictured below is General Anders 3rd class VM as displayed in the Sikorski Museum in London. The great general was awarded the cross following the Battle of Monte Cassino in May 1944. As you can see, it is a Krupski i Matulewicz pre-war cross (suspended from replacement ribbon). I have long wondered what serial number it bears. By chance does anyone know?
Regards,
Tony
PS If I ever spot a loose case out there I'll be sure to let you know. But don't hold your breath for one to pop up any time soon!
All thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical and/or legal advice.
"Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday." - John Wayne
Hi Tony,
General Wladyslaw Anders, Knights Cross of the Virtuti Militari is Numbered 4.
Knights Cross awarded to following people:
Nr: 1 Pplk Gustaw Paszkiewicz
Nr: 2 Plk Stefan Dab-Biernacki
Nr: 3 Mjr Zygmunt Piasecki
Nr: 4 Gen.Dyw.Wladyslaw Anders
Nr: 5 Gen.Bryg.Stanislaw Maczek
Nr: 6 Gen.Bryg.Bronislaw Duch
Nr: 7 Gen.Dyw.Tadeusz Kutrzeba
Nr: 8 Gen.Bryg.Franciszek Kleeberg
Nr: 9 Gen.Bryg.Antoni Chrusciel
Nr: 120 Gen,Dyw.Louis Bernheim (Belgian Army)
Nr: 121 Gen.Dyw. Francois Lauwens (Belgian Army)
Nr: 122 Gen.Broni. Petar Pesic (Yugoslavian Army)
Nr: 123 General Aleksa Stojisic (Yugoslavian Army)
Nr: 124 General Giuseppe Paolini (Italian Army)
Nr: 125 General Maurizio Gonzaga (Italian Army)
Nr: 126 General Giuseppe Vaccari (Italian Army)
Nr: 127 Gen.Bryg.Hanzo Yamanashi (Japanese Army)
Nr: 128 Rear Admiral Keisuke Okada (Japanese Navy)
Nr: 129 General Adolfo Leoncini (Italian Army)
I hope that the above information helps, information obtained from Recipients of the Virtuti Militari Books by Dr. Andrzej Suchcitz and Prof.Wesolowski
Best wishes
Andrzejku
Hi,
According to prof. Wesolowski's book gen. Anders received VM 3rd class cross no. 4 and then:
no.5 gen. Maczek
no.6 gen Duch
no.7 gen. Kutrzeba
no.8 gen Kleeberg
no.9 gen. Chrusciel
no.10 gen Brzoza-Brzezina
no.11 plk. Epler
no.12 plk. Hertel
no.13 plk Kossecki
no.14 gen. Skotnicki-Grzmot
no.15 gen Srzynski
no.16 plk. Mikolaj Lapicki
no. 17 gen. Podhorski
So, according to prof. Wesolowski, your cross no.16 has actually been awarded!
regards,
Michael
Andrezjku and Michael, thank you. I have the Wesolowski book on the shelf but for some reason did not think of checking it. So it appears that the Poles were issued crosses from the earlier first order of 20, and the foreign awards were taken from the subsequent government order of 180 crosses.
Andrzejku – does the Dr. Andrzej Suchcitz list also record cross #16 as awarded to Col. Mikołaj Łapicki? I understand that there are some inconsistencies with both lists. Also, a brief web check on Łapicki brings up his Wikipedia entry which does not record him as a Knight’s VM cross recipient (4th and 5th classes only). It appears that some more research is in order.
Many thanks again guys.
Regards,
Tony
All thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical and/or legal advice.
"Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday." - John Wayne
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