History

The Cross for Polish Armed Forces in the West was established by the Polish People's Republic in 1989. It was awarded to Polish military personnel who fought alongside other European forces against Axis powers during the Second World War. It was also awarded for a short period of time by the Republic of Poland before it was permanently discontinued in 1999.

The Silver Cross features a reverse inscription that translates to "Polish Armed Forces in the West." It was awarded with clasps to denote the battles in which the recipient participated. These include:
- "NARWIK"
- "LAGARDE"
- "MAICHE - ST. HIPPOLYTE"
- "BITWA O ANGLIĘ" (Battle of Britain)
- "TOBRUK"
- "MONTE CASSINO"
- "ANKONA" (Ancona)
- "FALAISE - CHMABOISE" (Falaise Pocket)
- "AXEL"
- "ARNHEM" (Operation Market Garden)
- "BREDA"
- "BOLONIA" (Battle of Bologna)
- "WILHELMSHAVEN"
- "DZIAŁANIA BOJOWE LOTNICTWA"
- "BITWY I KONWOJE MORSKIE"

There may be additional versions of the Silver Cross that differ in size.