The Medal for Warsaw 1939–1945 was established by a decree of the Council of Ministers of November 21, 1945:[2]
"In order to commemorate the heroic history of Warsaw in the war with the Nazi invaders, the history of a soldier who defended the Capital in September 1939, fought relentlessly during the occupation and died sacrificially in the tragic uprising, as well as to commemorate the victorious liberation of Warsaw by the Polish People's Army in alliance with the Red Army and to reward the participants of these fights for the Capital."
The medal was later included in the Polish system of decorations by the Law of February 17, 1960 on Orders and Decorations. From 1958, the right to award the medal was granted to the State National Council, after 1989 to the President of the Polish People's Republic, and from January 1, 1990 to the President of the Republic of Poland.[4]
Until 1989, a total of 131,242 awards were awarded, and in the years 1993–1999 was awarded to another 4,476 people. A total of 135,837 people were awarded this medal. By the Act of October 16, 1992, the awarding of the medal was deemed completed on May 8, 1999.[5]
Appearance
The Medal for Warsaw 1939–1945 was designed by Polish artists Stanisław Łoza and Stanisław Gepner.
The bronze medal is round with a diameter of 33 mm. On the front there is an image of a Siren with a shield in the left hand and a sword in the right hand. These represent the coat of arms of Warsaw. On the top there is the inscription "1939" and "1945", which are start and end years of World War II. On the bottom consists of Polish inscription "ZA WARSZAWE" ('For Warsaw'). On the obverse can consists of the Polish words "RP-OBRONCOM-BOJOWNIKOM-OSWOBODZICIELOM" ('RP', 'To the defenders', 'Warriors', 'Liberators'), together with oak leaves and three acorns. All inscriptions and images on the medal are convex.[6]
The ribbon is red with two longitudinal bands along the sides that represent the colours of Warsaw.
^Oberleitner, Stefan (1999). Polskie ordery, odznaczenia i niektóre wyróżnienia zaszczytne 1705-1990: vademecum dla kolekcjonerów. T. II. Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa 1944-1990 (in Polish). Zielona Góra: Kanion. pp. 142–144. ISBN83-87808-05-9.
^Oberleitner, Stefan (2001). Ordery, odznaczenia i odznaki III Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 1990-1999 (in Polish). Toruń: Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek. pp. 64–65. ISBN83-7174-726-8.