Bronze and black enamel Greek cross with slightly out-turned ends to the arms, with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a central square white enamel medallion bearing a gilt crowned Polish eagle, the left and right arms inscribed ‘OBROŃCY’ and ‘OJCZYZNY’ (Defender of the Homeland) respectively, the upper and lower arms bearing the gilt dates ‘1918’ and ‘1921’ respectively; the reverse plain; on original ribbon. The Cross was instituted by Act of Parliament on 21 July 1990 and conferred on all surviving veterans of the Polish-Soviet war of 1918-1921. The war arose from the chaos at the end of World War I and the Russian Revolution of 1917, with Poland seeking to reinforce its independence after centuries of occupation and division and expand its frontiers eastward and Soviet forces attempting to take control of former Imperial Russian territories. The Treaty of Riga that ended the war in 1921 effectively divided the disputed area between the two combatants. The creation of the Cross in 1990 may be seen as a reassertion of Polish independence after the end of 45 years of Soviet Russian occupation and domination. A good example.
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