Anniversary of Poland’s highest award

The award, given to foreigners as well as Poles, was first granted by King Augustus II the Strong in 1705.

Thursday also marks 95 years since Poland established its Polonia Restituta order (Order of the Rebirth of Poland,) for outstanding achievement in various fields.

Both orders were decreed by the Polish parliament in 1921, soon after the restoration of Polish independence in 1918, when – following 123 years of partitions by Russia, Prussia and Austria – Poland reappeared on the map of Europe as a sovereign state.

Among those who have been awarded the Order of the White Eagle are former US President Ronald Reagan, Polish General Władysław Anders, Leszek Balcerowicz, the architect of Poland’s economic reforms after the collapse of communism in 1989, and composer Krzysztof Penderecki. (pk)

Source: IAR