Virtuti Militari

The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: "For Military Virtue", Polish: Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was established in 1792 by the last King of Poland and ruler of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Stanislaus II Augustus and is the oldest exclusively military decoration in the world still in use. Soon after the introduction of the order, however, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth fell as a result of the partitions of Poland. The partitioning powers abolished the decoration and prohibited its wearing. Since then, the award has been reintroduced and banned several times, with its fate closely reflecting the vicissitudes of the Polish people. Throughout the decoration's existence, thousands of soldiers and officers, Polish and foreign, three cities and one warship have been awarded the Virtuti Militari for valor or outstanding leadership in war. There have been no new awards since 1989. The order is awarded in five classes either for personal heroism or, to commanders, for leadership during the war. Some of the heroic actions recognized by the Virtuti Militari are equivalent to those meriting the British Victoria Cross and the American Medal of Honor.