Order of the Builders of People's Poland
Encyclopedia
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
.
History
The orderOrder (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
was established by the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
on 2 July 1949 for "awarding unique achievements in the task of building People's Poland". It was designed by Michał Bylina and Wojciech Jastrzębski.
Unofficially, it replaced Poland's highest pre-war order, the Order of the White Eagle (the Order of the White Eagle was never officially disestablished, but it was not awarded in People's Poland).
The order was awarded by the president of Poland until the office was abolished in 1952; from then it was awarded by the Polish Council of State
Polish Council of State
The Council of State of the Republic of Poland was introduced by the 1947 Small Constitution. It consisted of the President of the Republic of Poland, the Marshal and Vicemarshals of Constituent Sejm, President of the Supreme Chamber of Control and could consist of other members...
. It had only one class. A person decorated with the order had the title of a Builder of People's Poland (Budowniczy Polski Ludowej).
The order was awarded to many udarnik
Udarnik
Udarnik is a Russian, Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian term for a superproductive worker in the Soviet Union and ex-Yugoslavia. The term is derived from the expression "udarny trud" for "superproductive, enthusiastic labour", which is often translated as strike labour , and udarnik as strike worker,...
s (distinguished workers), notable party members (including military personnel) and others.
The Order was last awarded in 1985. Up to that time, about 310 individuals were awarded the Order, and 10 institutions (ex. Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy
Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy
The Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy was an official Polish state-controlled veterans association in the People's Republic. Initially headed by Franciszek Jóźwiak, it was formed on September 2, 1949 out of 11 pre-existing veterans associations...
) and territorial units (cities and administrative entities - voivodeship
Voivodeship
Voivodship is a term denoting the position of, or more commonly the area administered by, a voivod. Voivodeships have existed since medieval times in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Serbia....
s, for instance). During the times of the People's Republic, 7 recipients had their orders revoked. It was officially disestablished 2 years after the People's Republic was replaced by the Third Republic
Eligibility criteria
The order could be awarded to Polish individuals, enterprises, and institutions that performed exceptional deeds in the fields of:- national economy, in particular through inventions, improving work organizations, and work inspiration and efficiency (see udarnikUdarnikUdarnik is a Russian, Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian term for a superproductive worker in the Soviet Union and ex-Yugoslavia. The term is derived from the expression "udarny trud" for "superproductive, enthusiastic labour", which is often translated as strike labour , and udarnik as strike worker,...
) - education, science, culture and art
- national defense
- health and sport
- public service
Description
The Order has a golden rosetteRosette (decoration)
A rosette is a small, circular device that is presented with a medal. The rosettes are primarily for situations where wearing the medal is deemed inappropriate. Rosettes are issued in nations such as France, Italy and Japan...
, 53 mm in diameter. The rosette has eight petals enameled with white (inner) and red (outer). Petals are separated by gold rays. In the center is a white-encircled blue medallion, which depicts a gold male figure carrying a hammer and a red banner
Red Banner
Red Banner was a symbol of the USSR associated with the Soviet state flag.Military units, institutions and organizations awarded with the Order of the Red Banner are referred to with the honorific title "of the Red Banner" Red Banner was a symbol of the USSR associated with the Soviet state...
. The reverse has a red enameled medallion with, in gold, the letters PRL, standing for Polska Rzeczpospolita
Rzeczpospolita
Rzeczpospolita is a traditional name of the Polish State, usually referred to as Rzeczpospolita Polska . It comes from the words: "rzecz" and "pospolita" , literally, a "common thing". It comes from latin word "respublica", meaning simply "republic"...
Ludowa - People's Republic of Poland (orders awarded before the state's name changed in 1952 have the letters RP for Rzeczpospolita Polska).
The ribbon is 40 mm wide and is red-white-red with blue edges.