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Silvered metal Greek cross imposed on a second Greek cross with shorter, wider arms with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a centrally imposed Polish eagle; the reverse inscribed ‘LENINO 12 X 1943’; on original ribbon. The Cross was instituted by Act of Parliament of 16 May 1988 and awarded to surviving participants in the Battle of Lenino, 12 and 13 October 1943. The battle was significant in being the first engagement fought by the Soviet-backed Polish People’s Army against German forces. The Polish detachment attacked a larger and well-entrenched German force and sustained losses of about a quarter of its total strength, withdrawing after two days. Polish forces went on to play a significant but not well-known role in the Red Army advance all the way to Berlin. A good example.
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