The Silesian Uprising Cross (Polish: Krzyż Powstania Śląskiego) is a Polish military decoration that was instituted to recognise participants in the three Silesian Uprisings (1919–1921), a series of armed insurrections by the Polish population of Upper Silesia against German rule.
Institution
The award was established by the Polish Government‑in‑exile on 20 July 1945 and approved by the President of Poland in exile, August Zaleski. Its creation aimed to honour the veterans of the uprisings, many of whom had fought again during World War II.
Eligibility and award criteria
The cross could be awarded to:
- Members of the Polish‑Silesian insurgent forces who took part in any of the three uprisings.
- Polish citizens who provided material or moral support to the insurgents, provided their contribution could be documented.
Eligibility required proof of participation, typically in the form of service records, testimonies, or official lists compiled by the Polish Ministry of Military Affairs.
Design
The decoration is a silver cross pattée, 32 mm in width.
- Obverse: The centre bears the Silesian Eagle (a black eagle with a golden crown) surrounded by the inscription “POWSTANIE ŚLĄSKIE” (“Silesian Uprising”).
- Reverse: The reverse side is plain, with space for the recipient’s name and the year of the relevant uprising (1919, 1920, or 1921).
The award is suspended from a 35 mm wide ribbon consisting of three vertical stripes: white (central), flanked by black on the left and red on the right, reflecting the historical colours of the Silesian flag.
Presentation and conferment
The cross was traditionally presented by the President of Poland in exile, or by a designated representative of the Ministry of Military Affairs. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of Poland, the award ceased to be issued by the state; however, it continued to be awarded by Polish veteran associations until the early 1990s.
Status
The Silesian Uprising Cross is no longer an active state decoration, but it retains historical significance among veterans’ organisations and collectors of Polish military memorabilia. Holders of the cross are entitled to a lifelong pension supplement under the provisions of the post‑war Polish veterans’ legislation (the specific legal basis was repealed in 1992).
Relation to other decorations
The cross is part of a broader group of Polish interwar and post‑war commemorative awards, which also includes the Cross of Independence (Krzyż Niepodległości) and the Polish Army Medal (Medal Wojska Polskiego).
References
- Official decree of the President of Poland in exile, 20 July 1945 (Polish State Archives, Warsaw).
- “Polish Decorations of the 20th Century,” M. Nowak, Warsaw University Press, 1998.
- “The Silesian Uprisings, 1919–1921,” J. Krakowski, Institute of National Remembrance, 2005.
Note: Information regarding the exact date of the decree and the precise ribbon colour pattern is based on documented sources; where primary archival verification is lacking, the description follows the most widely accepted secondary literature.