The Order Virtuti Militari (Latin for "To Military Valour") is Poland's highest military decoration for courage in the face of the enemy. It was created in 1792 by Poland's King Stanisław August Poniatowski and is considered as one of the oldest military decorations in the world still in use.
It is awarded in five classes either for personal heroism or to commanders for leadership. Some of the heroic actions recognized by an award of the Virtuti Militari are equivalent to those meriting the Commonwealth's Victoria Cross, and the U.S. Medal of Honor.
Grand Cross - I Class - for the commander-in-chief who won a war or, alternatively, for commanders of armies or fronts who achieved outstanding victories during various campaigns of the war.
Commander's Cross - II Class - for commander of army or front (under special circumstances also commander of a group, division or brigade) for brave and daring command during an operation, which had important influence on the outcome of the war, or for other officers who contributed to the victory
Knight's Cross - III Class - For commanders of units up to the size of an army, for their outstanding leadership, initiative or bravery. Alternatively for staff officers for their cooperation with their commanders, that led to the final victory in a battle or war
Gold Cross - IV Class (on picture)- For a soldier or officer, who was previously awarded with the Silver Cross and achieved an outstanding success on the battlefield thanks to his personal bravery or outstanding command of a division or a smaller unit
Silver Cross - V Class - for commanders who committed a daring and valorous command over their troops or for ordinary soldiers who influenced their comrades in arms by their bravery thus adding to the final victory in a battle.  

Following the fall of Poland in 1939, a large part of the Polish Army was evacuated to France, where it was reconstructed under the command of General Władysław Sikorski. In January 1941, the Polish Government in Exile introduced the Virtuti Militari as the highest military decoration of the Polish Army in exile. The legal basis for the election of a new Chapter was the Act of 1933. During the Second World War, the Virtuti Militari was also often bestowed to senior military officers of allied armies, including British General Bernard Montgomery, United States Supreme Commander of the Allied forces Dwight D. Eisenhower, French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny and Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov. Among the most famous recipients of the medal during this period were gen.T. Kutrzeba, creator of the Bzura counterattack plan and participant in the defence of Warsaw during the Invasion of Poland; gen. W. Anders, commander of the 2nd Polish Corps; gen.T. Bor-Komorowski, commander of bigest in Europe "Home Army" resistance movement and leader of the Warsaw Uprising; and gen. S. Maczek, one of the best armor commanders of the war, who devised the first anti-blitzkrieg strategy as early as 1940 and was the commander of the 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade, considered to be the only Polish unit not to lose a single battle in 1939, and from 1942 the commander of the First Polish Armoured Division. 

The Cross of Valour  is a Polish military decoration. It was first introduced by the Council for the Defense of the State on 11 August 1920. It is awarded to an individual who "has demonstrated deeds of valour and courage on the battlefield." It may be awarded to the same person up to four times. The medal is given only in wartime or shortly after. The medal was introduced at the height of the Polish-Soviet War (1920), shortly before the dramatic Battle of Warsaw. Initially it had no Order Council and was awarded personally by the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army. Later the option was added of delegating the privilege to front and division commanders. Through 29 May 1923, when the last medal for the Polish-Soviet War was awarded, the Cross of Valour had been granted to some 60,000 soldiers. Apart from individuals who had participated in the Polish-Soviet War, it had also been retroactively awarded to some soldiers of the Polish Legions, of World War I military units, of the Silesian Uprisings, of the Great Poland Uprising, and to members of the Polish Military Organization. It had been awarded, as well, to veterans of the January 1863 Uprising and to the city of Płock. In January 1940 the Polish Commander-in-Chief, Władysław Sikorski, issued an order reintroducing the Cross of Valour. In total, The Polish government in London gave approximately 23,000 Crosses of Valour during 1940-1945. On December 22, 1944 Decree of the Polish Committee of National Liberation adopted the Cross of Valour as a war medal in Poland.

 
 This picture shows the Cross of Valour awarded for the Polish-Bolshevik war of 1920

Cross of Independence was one of the highest Polish military decorations between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had "fought heroically for the independence of Poland," and was released in three versions:

The Cross of Independence was established with a decree of the President of Poland of October 29, 1930. It was to be awarded to the people who laid foundations for the independence of the Fatherland before the World War or during it, as well as during the fights between 1818 and 1921, with the exception of the Polish-Russian War. After 1938 it was also awarded to people responsible for the reunification of Zaolzie with Poland.Although the cross without the swords was awarded mainly to the civilians, all versions were considered to be military decorations. If awarded to a soldier it was worn before the 4th class of the Polonia Restituta and when awarded to a civilian - before the Volunteer Medal for the War. The recipients of all grades of the Cross of Independence had a right to be elected to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, the right to travel by Polish State Railways free of charge and a right to send their children to the schools of their choice free of charge.

This picture shows the  Cross of Independence with Swords

Cross of Merit, Army of Central Lithuania was awarded on the basis of a resolution to reward acts of courage and heroism, outstanding operational and organizational actions of soldiers who fought with the forces of the Lithuanian in Vilnius during the period from October 9 to November 19, 1920. The cross was originally assign by the Provisional Government at the request of Central Lithuania formation commanders. After conforming Vilnius to Poland award was given by special commission. Last official award of the cross was given in 1926. and then also in the personnel notes of Minister of Military Affairs No. 12, March 3, 1926 announced a list of Merit Awarded Army of Central Lithuania. Total awards were given to 1,439 people.

The Cross of Merit for Bravery It was established on March 7, 1928 as a military grade of the Cross of Merit. The medal was awarded until World War II and was not recognized by the post-war comunist government.Is a medal awarded for selfless bravery in the defense of law, national borders in especially difficult circumstances and tough conditions, showing exceptional courage, risking own lives or health, in defense of rights, property and safety of citizens. This award can be attributed to the same person repeatedly.

On October 16, 1992 the medal was reintroduced and is currently awarded to police officers, firefighters, and several military and civilian agencies involved in intelligence or security. It is not divided into degrees.

 
This picture shows the Cross of Merit for Bravery with ribbon, mod. 1928