Medal "For participating in the battles for Berlin"
The medal “For participation in the battles for Berlin” ( Polish medal “Za udział w walkach o Berlin” ) is a Polish military award given by the Minister for National Defense.
history
The medal was created by the Sejm with the law of April 21, 1966 to celebrate the victory over German fascism and the contribution of the Polish People's Army to the conquest of Berlin in 1945. According to the law, the medal was a recognition for people who took part in the battles for Berlin.
The ordinance of the Minister of National Defense of April 25, 1966 lays down the rules and procedures for awarding the medal , designing the badge and wearing the medal.
Since December 23, 1992, the award of the medal, like most other war medals and awards, has been considered complete.
Requirements for the award
According to the ordinance, the medal was awarded to people who performed military service in the following units of the Polish Armed Forces from April 1945 to May 9, 1945:
- 1st Warsaw Infantry Division (Command, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Light Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Artillery Squadron, 1st Engineer Battalion)
- 2nd Howitzers - Pomorska Brigade (Command, 7th, 8th, 9th Artillery Regiments)
- 1st Independent Mortar Brigade (Command, 5th, 8th, 10th, 11th Mortar Regiment)
- 6th Warsaw Pontoon and Bridge Battalion
- Independent assault battalion
The medal could also be awarded to people who did military service during the period mentioned in the commandos and staffs that led the battle for Berlin, as well as in the staffs and units of the Polish army that worked together to conquer Berlin. The medal could be awarded posthumously.
The medal was awarded on the basis of documents confirming the fulfillment of the necessary conditions, the application for the medal was submitted by a special commission appointed by the Minister of National Defense. An identity card was handed out with the award. In the event of a posthumous medal award, the medal badge and identity card were given to the next family member.
Appearance and texture
The badge of the medal is a silver-plated and oxidized disc with a diameter of 38 mm, on the front of which there is an image of the Order of the Grunwald Cross, which is surrounded on the edge by the inscription FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE FIGHT FOR BERLIN. On the back there is a vertical branch of laurel with a horizontal inscription in three lines: MINISTRY / NATIONALE DEFENSE / PRL. The medal badge is attached to a 38 mm wide red ribbon with 4 mm wide yellow and black stripes on the sides.
The medal for participation in the battles for Berlin is worn in the order immediately after the Polish medals and decorations and in front of the medal “For services to the defense of the country” on the left chest. It was a departmental award of lower rank than other state awards given by the State Council or the President of the Republic of Poland.
Web links
- Law Gazette of 1966 No. 2019, point 425 of the law of April 21, 1966 introducing the medal "For participation in the battles for Berlin" and the medal "For services to national defense"
- Law Gazette from 1966 No. 14, point 89 of the ordinance of the Minister of Defense of April 25, 1966 on the rules and procedure for awarding the medal “For participation in the battles for Berlin” and the medal “For services to the defense of the country”
- Journal of Laws of 1992 No. 90, item 451 of the Act of October 16, 1992 on ordinances introducing the Law on Orders and Medals, repealing provisions on honorary titles