| Virtus et Fraternitas Medal Medal Virtus et Fraternitas | |
|---|---|
 Obverse | |
| Type | Commemorative decoration of merit |
| Country |  Poland |
| Presented by | the President of Poland |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Established | 9 November 2017 |
| First awarded | 19 June 2019 |
 Ribbon of the cross | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Cross of Freedom and Solidarity |
| Next (lower) | Gold Cross of Merit |
| Related | Order of the Cross of Independence Cross of Independence |
The Virtus et Fraternitas Medal (Polish name: Medal Virtus et Fraternitas; Latin for "Courage and Brotherhood") is a Polish state decoration established on 9 November 2017.
It is awarded by the President of Poland on recommendation of the director of the Pilecki Institute as a token of commemoration and gratitude to those who provided aid and assistance to Polish citizens against Soviet and Nazi Germany war crimes as well as other crimes motivated by nationalism committed between 1917–1990.[1] It is also bestowed to honor individuals who voluntarily keep alive the memory of those who did not survive the war or the forced deportations, and found their graves abroad.[2]
The medal has been conceptually compared to Yad Vashem's Righteous Among the Nations Awards.[3]
- ^ "Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 17 stycznia 2019 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy o Instytucie Solidarności i Męstwa imienia Witolda Pileckiego". prawo.sejm.gov.pl (in Polish). 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
- ^ "Virtus et Fraternitas Medal - Instytut Pileckiego". instytutpileckiego.pl. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
- ^ Mrozek, Witold (8 February 2018). "Rząd tworzy "polskie Yad Vashem". Instytut Solidarności i Męstwa będzie walczył o dobre imię Polski i honorował pomagających Polakom". wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 2023-01-08.