Cross of Merit of the Army of Central Lithuania

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Cross of Military Merit of Central Lithuania
Cross of Military Merit of Central Lithuania
Established1922
CountryRepublic of Central Lithuania (1922)
Second Polish Republic (1922–1926)
Statusdiscontinued in 1926
Statistics
Total inductees1439
Precedence
Next (higher)Volunteer Cross for War
Cross of Merit
Next (lower)Cross on Silesian Ribbon of Valor and Merit

The ribbon bar of the Order

The Cross of Merit of the Army of Central Lithuania

Central Lithuanian Offensive on Kaunas.[1]

History

Stanisław Bazylczuk, soldier of the Polish Land Forces, wearing the Cross of Merit of the Army of Central Lithuania (first to the left) in 1934.

The order was established on 25 February 1922 in the resolution of the

Central Lithuanian Offensive on Kaunas. The order was originally awarded by the Provisional Governing Commission of Central Lithuania, on the recommendation from the formation commanders. Following the incorporation of Central Lithuania into Second Polish Republic, the order was awarded by the special committee. The last order was awarded in 1926. On 3 March 1926 the Ministry of Military Matters had published the list of people awarded the order. The second list, that stated the updated list of people that were allowed to receive and wear the order, was published on 11 November 1931. In total, the order was awarded to 1439 people.[1]

Description

The order is made from bronze. It consists of the cross pattée with the dimensions of 43 x 43 mm. The arms of the cross, on the obverse side, featured, clockwise from the top, was placed text that read: "WILNO", "9 X", "19 XI", and "1920", refencing to the city of Vilnius, known in Polish as Wilno, the capital of the Republic of Central Lithuania, and the dates 9 October and 19 November 1920 year. In the centre of the cross was placed an eagle holding the coat of arms of Lithuania in its arms. The coat of arms features a knight with a sword raised in its right hand, sitting on a horse standing on its back legs. Around the centre of the order, between the arms of the cross, was a ring laurel wreath. The reverse side of the cross features texts on its right and left arms, that read "LITWA", and "ŚRODKOWA", respectively. When read from left to right, it formed "Litwa Środkowa", which translates in Polish to "Central Lithuania". It also featured two swords, each placed on each of the vertical arms, and a round shield in the centre of the cross.[1]

The cross was hang on a ribbon that was 37 mm wide, and consisted of seven yellow and red horizontal stripes, each with wight of 2 mm, and separated by green stripes with a wight of 3 mm.[1]

The order was worn after the Volunteer Cross for War and the Cross of Merit, and before the Cross on Silesian Ribbon of Valor and Merit.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ Polish: Krzyż Zasługi Wojsk Litwy Środkowej

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Kazimierz Sejda: Ordery, odznaczenia i medale Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej. Warsaw, 1932, p. 84.
  2. ^ Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych, no. 12, 3 March 1926. p. 70-76.
  3. ^ Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych, no. 8, 11 November 1923, p. 384-385.
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