Interpress, 1989. — 137 р. — ISBN-13: 978-8322322871
Gives color photo of the medals and decorations along with a
history of each. Although Polish statehood is over ten centuries
long, the history of Polish award system is distinctly shorter -
less than three hundred years now. The reason for the relatively
late start of Poland in the area of orders was unwillingness, if
not hatred of Polish gentry for the very institution of orders,
perceiving them as a threat to the "golden" principle of equality
of all noblemen. An attempt of king Ladislas IV to create the Order
of Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin in 1633 was rejected by
the Parliament. Thus, the first mode Polish order - the Order of
the White Eagle was instituted by king Augustus II as late as in
1705 (although some historians trace it back to the year 1325).
Then came the Order of St. Stanislas, instituted 1765, and in 1792
the Order Virtuti Militari, the first one of purely military
character, came into existence. That order continued to be awarded
throughout the Napoleonic era and in the uprising of 1830-1831
against tsarist Russia. It was renewed many times and it is still
the highest decoration for bravery on battlefield.