THE ONCE AND PERHAPS STILL LUCRATIVE TRADE IN POLISH MILITARY DECORATIONS, THE REVIVAL FROM THE ASHES OF AN ORDER OF ST. STANISLAS AND PROFIT-MAKING VETERANS' ASSOCIATIONS (1)

by

Dr. PANGLOSS

A few years ago one of our correspondents sent us an "order form" for the Polish decoration "Polonia Restituta" which was attached to a circular memorandum issued by the Knightly Association of St.George Martyr, the chivalric venture operated by Mr. Lowell Barker. The memorandum offered the decoration in the lowest grade of Knight for the price of $500. (2) Business must have been good because the possibility of payment by credit card was offered. The form was signed by the Secretary General of the association whose name was followed by the initials G.C.P.R. which we assumd signifies Grand Cross of Polonia Restituta, or the highest grade of that decoration. This, (in May 1989) seems to be the latest line carried by the knightly emporium. (See the paper entitled The Chivalric Emporium of W. Virginia on Caltrap’s Corner)

Because there still seems to be a lucrative trade in Polish awards here and abroad we believe that an examination of this and other Polish decorations currently being sold through a number of entrepreneurs by the self-styled head of a Polish government in exile is amply justified. First however, let us consider the "Polish Government in Exile"(PGIE).

The PGIE whose seat since 1945 has been 43 Eaton Place, London, S.W.1, England can best be defined as the continuation of that Polish government which escaped from Warsaw first to France and then to London in 1939 and which brought together Polish refugees and furnished the heroic Polish contingent which fought in the British Army in North Africa and Italy. During World War II, the Allied Governments formally accepted it as the representative of the Polish People under Nazi-Soviet occupation. In 1945 when Poland became a Communist Peoples Republic, the political realities forced Great Britain and the Allies to withdraw their recognition from the Government in Exile and to recognize the new Communist authorities in Warsaw. Notwithstanding this decision, H.M.'s government, in gratitude for the gallant Polish contribution to the Allied war effort, allowed the PGIE to keep its seat in London and it became a rallying point and an umbrella for many militant organizations made up of anti-Communist Poles who continued to struggle against the usurping Warsaw authorities. The next few years were turbulant indeed for the PGIE. Factions emerged, and groups joined it and left it. The core, however, remained in London and was very careful not to offend the host government. It published a newspaper as well as anti-Communist tracts which it distributed world-wide. It also maintained the structure of an actual government with a President, Prime Minister and a cabinet comprising of several portfolios. The government also awarded Polish military decorations to Poles who had served in the Allied forces in the War as well as to certain other distinguished individuals who had served the Polish cause. In 1971 after the death of President August Zaleski, the Minister of Information of the PGIE, Mr. Julius Sokolnicki, circulated a photostatic copy of an alleged nomination designating him as the successor to the Presidency. In point of fact Mr. Zaleski, in accordance with the Polish constitution, had designated Dr. Stanislaw Ostrowski as his successor in case of death or incapacity. On 7 April 1972 Dr. Ostrowski was sworn in and he in turn nominated the former Polish ambassador in London (1934-1945) Count Edward Raczynski as his successor. Dr. Ostrowski maintained his office until 1979, was succeeded by Raczynski who named Mr. Kazimierz Sabbat his Prime Minister as successor in the event of his death or incapacity. Mr. Sabbat, in accordance with the Polish constitution, was until his death in 1989 President of the Polish Government in Exile. Upon initial examination one might come to the conclusion that the former Minister of Information, who now styled himself "Count Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki" (3) had created a legitimate schism within the ranks of the Polish exile community. While this is to some extent true, (4) further probing however would reveal a much simpler self-seeking design. Despite its purely unofficial and honorary standing the genuine PGIE was respected and had many friends both in the Polish community and amongst the British population. The awards which it sparingly proffered , though unofficial, were held in high esteem by the recipients and the general public. It was in this field that the former Minister of Information quite rightly thought that he could make a financial "killing".(5) His activities have plagued the authentic PGIE since 1971 and have sown confusion in the ranks of many well-disposed Polish exiles and Polish sympathizers of other nationalities.(5a)

  It is not our role to get involved in a discussion of the politics of the Polish Government in Exile as this could be the subject of an entire volume.(6) We are obliged to point out however, that its right to award the official Polish decorations, with very minor changes, which were also being awarded by the Communist regime, is a moot point, even though we understand that a sovereign state, the Vatican, recognized the Presidency in Exile of President Kazimierz Sabbat and with it, presumably the latter's inherent prerogative to award decorations.(7) What does interest us, is the lucrative trade in the sale of these decorations and another made out of whole cloth by the former Minister of Information who now styles himself President of the Republic of Poland (in Exile) and whose headquarters in England are located in Broadstairs, Kent. It should come as no surprise that this erstwhile President of the PGIE in addition to his other "distinctions" is a dignitary of the Supreme Military Orthodox Dynastic Constantinian Order of St. George (Byzantium), and also appears as a dignitary of "The Royal Knights of Justice" an entity whose hierarchy is made up of many of the individuals we have mentioned elsewhere(8) An April 1979 Information Bulletin of the "PGIE" lists among his various titles that of "Honorary Grand Master of the Order of the Templars", the Order of Saint Agatha di Paterno Virgin and Martyr", the "Grand Cross of the Golden Lily" and naturally the highest rank in all of the Polish orders which he has been commercializing. He has also flitted in and out of the various "ecumenical" orders of St. John and in this connection in 1981 he attempted to affect a reconciliation between the Russian Grand Priory of Malta and Europe of the order protected at the time by Prince Andrej of Jugoslavia and headed by Gaston Thona-Barthet, now deceased, and the Brancovan venture which had just obtained the "imperial protection" of H.I. & R.H. Prince Alexis d'Anjou-Dolgorouki de Borbon-Conde". Earlier Mr. Sokolnicki had apointed Prince Alexis Honorary PGIE ambassador to Spain and recognised the latter as "rightful hereditary Czar of Ukraine-Ruthenia". We have in our files a letter dated 19 May 1981 written by Count Nowina Sokolnicki to Thona-Barthet which tries to convince the latter to join forces with the "Royal Sovereign Military and Hospitaler Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta Ecumenical". In exchange for his collaboration, Thona-Barthet is assured of remaining Grand Prior of Malta and in addition of being made "a Russian Imperial Prince" (presumably by "Prince Alexis".) as well as a baron in the "Kingdom of Colonia". The démarche failed but it gives us an idea of Count Nowina-Sokolnicki's status in the hierarchy of the nobiliary underworld. There is also a whimsical side to the count as evidenced by his close collaboration with Mr. George King, aka "His Serene Highness Prince Doctor George King de Santorini, Count of Florina, Prince and Grand Master of the Mystic Order of St. Peter" "Major General", we dont know in what army (perhaps the Polish Army in Exile) and president of the "Aetherius Society", which maintains extra-planetary contacts with the inhabitants of the planet Saturn!(9)

The decorations in question are the Order of Polonia Restituta which, as we saw at the beginning of this paper is readily available by mail from the chivalric wholesalers in West Virginia for $500; the next is the Virtuti Militari which, though it has not as yet been promoted, may in all likelihood be available from the same outlet along with the Order of St. Stanislas. This latter decoration was founded by King Stanislas August Poniatowski of Poland to honor his patron saint in 1765. When Poland was annexed to Russia by Tsar Alexander I, the latter continued to confer it on deserving Poles. However following the Polish insurrection Tsar Nicholas I incorporated St. Stanislas to the other Russian orders and from that time until 1917 the Tsar was the Grand Master. The order was revived in 1979 by Mr. Sokolnicki. It is not proffered by the Eaton Place based PGIE. Now that Poland has rejoined the community of democratic states, Mr. Sokolnicki, wisely has decided not to continue to award the Polonia Restituta and Virtuti Militari although he claims that the current Polish government is recognizing those he awarded in the past. The Polish government has decided not to award the Saint Stanislas and Mr. Sokolnicki has taken it upon himself to establish a Sovereign Order of Saint Stanislas with himself as the Grand Master. How he justifies this we have no idea. If the reader has read any of the other papers on these subjects appearing on the Corner he will be able to make his own judgment as to the validity of the Sovereign Order of St. Stanislaus.

In Canada, these Polish decorations as well as the Polish Cross of Freedom and Independence with Swords (10) may be obtained through the President, Western Canada Sector Delegation of Great Britain (FCAEE)(11) RR1, Naramata, British Columbia, Canada, VOH 1NO.(12) Some of the President’s diplomas may be seen on pages 384 and 385 of Prof. Dr. Zdzislaw P. Wesolowski's book "Polish Orders, Medals, Badges and Insignia", a most valuable and thoroughly researched study on the subject. A close examination of these diplomas will show them to be signed by "General" Antoni "Commandant Daniel" Zdrojewski, whose activity was discussed in a paper on the "neo-Templars". One can say without fear of contradiction that where Mr. Sokolnicki is, Zdrojevski is not far behind. Now that Poland has rejoined the ranks of democratic nations it will be interesting to see into what field of activity Mr. Sokolnicki projects himself.

It was noted in an earlier paper dealing with the proliferation of Russian orders of St. John, how the post World War I period in Europe saw the spread of veterans organizations. Among these was the German Veteran's Union. This was a strictly profit-making group which was founded by Max Schiffel in Leipzig for the purpose of marketing commemorative war crosses to veterans. In point of fact one did not have to be a veteran at all to join, but merely to have the necessary funds for the medal and the diploma. The same phenomenon occurred once again in Europe after the Second World War, and spread to the Western hemisphere, where it still continues to thrive, which seems to confirm that "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."

The Federation des Combattants Allies en Europe (FCAEE) (The Allied Forces in Europe Veterans' Federation) was created in France in 1968. Its brochure states that its aim is to maintain the bonds of friendship forged in the second World War between members of the Allied forces, resistance fighters and deportees as well as with veterans of the Algerian and Indochina wars. The leaflet reveals that in 1971 the FCAEE was coupled to the Interallied Military Organization Sphinx (IMOS) which had seen the light of day two months earlier and whose president was colonel Poziemski (13). The honorary president was "General" Zdrojevski, (14) "former commander in chief of Polish Forces in France during WWII and former chief of Polish resistance in France." The sheet continues "its second honorary president is British General Sir Collin Gubbins, Chief of the Special Operations Executive during the war". Its president, colonel Poziemski also heads the "National Association of Polish War Veterans" (ZUPRO) as well as the "International I.M.O.S. Academy" of which he is international deputy president. The pamphlet goes on that "the Federation has placed itself under the patronage of two famous but now deceased American generals, Eisenhower and Patton for whom medals have been struck. The Federation has created the Medal of Europe divided into three classes: these three grades are proffered according to the other military awards held by the individual. The lowest grade may be awarded to individuals for distinguished service to the Federation and may include authors."

This group is still dispensing medals. The 30th anniversary edition of the Augustan published a paper on "Honors and Awards" which encourages individuals to enquire about the medals for which they are qualified to apply. The article initially appears to be aimed at medal "collecting", a fascinating hobby which requires no military qualifications. Shortly after the introductory sentence, however, it launches right into the heart of the matter which is the acquisition of medals for which one may be qualified and which, presumably, since they are sold both in full size and in miniature, are meant in all likelihood to be worn on uniform and evening dress at appropriate functions. (These medals can very often be seen to weigh down the chests of some of the worthies who attend gala events sponsored by the dubious orders which we have mentioned in other papers on the "Corner". They are notable for their shabby manufacture.) It turns out that all former members of the U.S. armed forces, whether their service was rendered in war time or peace time at home or abroad are eligible to join the FCAEE! Lifetime membership is $30 (Canadian) which entitles the member to apply for various awards from the FCAEE or any of its "affiliated organizations and agencies".

The I.M.O.S. Academy goes one step further, in addition to its Cross of Merit which it awards for totally imagined feats of heroism, it grants military ranks to its members who are supposed to have contributed to the Allied effort during the war. In reality, as in the case of "Captain" Fernand Legros, the French dealer in forged art masterpieces who never served one day under the colors, this is always waived. Legros' citation for the Eisenhower medal states "for galantry before the enemy". The citation for the Cross of Merit states "for distinguished inter-allied services". Both these awards are ante-dated 1948 forgetting that at that time Legros was 17 years of age and that the war had ended three years earlier!

 

 

END NOTES

(1) For another paper on the Order of St. Stanislas please go to http://www.kwtelecom.com/chivalry/stanisla.html.

(2)See appropriate document annex

(3) The last Count Nowyna-Sokolnicki (Prussian title granted 17 Jan 1816) died without issue. Mr. Sokolnicki comes from a collateral line of that family but his claim to the title has not been confirmed.

(4) Sokolnicki did, in fact create a "rival" Polish Government in Exile and appointed a cabinet. We have in our possession a copy of a letter dated 31 March 1978 from his former "Prime Minister" and "Minister of Foreign Affairs" written to Dr. Ostrowski, the President of the original PGIE concerning Sokolnicki's activities and resigning in disgust from the latter's organization.

(5) Readers will undoubtedly be interested to know that Mr. Sokolnicki has been, for many years, intimately involved with several fragmentations of the dubious orders of St.John cited in an earlier chapter as well as Templar orders and various orders described herein.

(5a) The following should clear up the status of Mr. Sokolnicki's government: [" A statement from the State Secretary of the President, Andrzej Drzycimski, published in Dziennik Polski,,, London 7 September 1994, reads "Article 11 of Bill of 25 october 1991 .....recognizes this power as being bestowed by the Authority of the Polish Republic up to 22 December
1990. The phrase 'the Authority of the Polish Republic' should be understood to mean the organs of the state institutions abroad based on the Polish Constitution of 23 April 1935. It therefore
recognizes as Presidents of the Polish Republic General Winiawe-Dlugoszowski, W. Raczkiewicz, A. Zaleski, S. Otrowski, E. Raczynski, K. Sabbat, and R. Kacorowski, as well as the state organs appointed by them. According to the Constitution of 23 April 1935 and historical fact they are the
successors of President Ignacy Moscicki........ With this in mind, it should be stated that Mr. Julius Nowina Sokolnicki did not possess the authority of the Polish Republic and therefore his
activities purporting to be actions of the state (as a result of him calling himself President-in-exile of the Polish Republic) cannot be honoured, and according to Article 11 of Bill 1, the ranks granted by him are not recognized". (Thanks to my diligent pupil CANDIDE  for this note.)

(6) According to Jan 1991 issue of "Free Poland" the English-language bulletin of The Polish Government in Exile headed by Mr. Julius Nowina-Sokolnicki "transferred its sovereign authority to the new President in Warsaw."

(7) See "The Cross and the Sword" by Peter Bander van Duren, London 1987, Pages 126-128, 192.

(8) "Grand Master and Minister of Justice: Dr. Sir Sidney Lawrence; Vice Grand Master: Dr. George King de Santorini, Count of Florina, President of the Aetherius Society; Royal Protector: H.R.H. Dr. Bernard Onyenguso Enweremadu, Ezeukwu I of Ngwauku, Nigeria; Grand Prior: H.E. Bishop Malachi Ramsay; Royal Patrons: H.I. & R.H. Prince Henry III Constantine de Vigo Aleramico Lascaris Paleologue and Consort Princess Francoise; President of the Republic of Free Poland: Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki."

(9) George King states that in 1954 he heard a voice which instructed him to prepare himself to become the spokesman of the "Interplanetary Parliament"whose headquarters was situated on the planet Saturn where the old adepts Aetherius (3500 years old) and Krishna had chosen to live. Later, he received other messages by telepathy from Mars populated by an intelligent people ruled by Jesus and Buddha. George King is Earth's representative on the Interplanetary Parliament. He claims his organisation has 50,000 members world-wide and it objective is to save the world from the "Black forces" which move about in UFOs. King belongs to the "Spiritual Hierarchy" of Earth which is also known as "The Great White Fraternity" - the choice of color applying to the magic involved as opposed to race. His brochures state that the masters of this Great Fraternity are able to move from one continent to the other with no visible means of locomotion, on command and they do not require nourishment.

(10) This decoration was created in 1985 by Mr. Sokolnicki’s Polish Government in Exile.

(11) Fédération des Combattants Alliés en Europe

(12) The full-size medal and diploma are sold for $86(Canadian) and the price of the miniature medal is $50(Canadian)

(13) Colonel and "Count" Poziemski died in 1981. During his lifetime he also dispensed a "Sovereign Order of St. John the Baptist".

(14) Zdrojevski, as mentioned in the paper dealing with the Order of the Temple was the Grand Master of that order and styled himself Count. He himself admitted he received this title in 1949 from "Prince" Amoroso de Aragona, a well-known Italian purveyor of false orders and equally false titles. It has been alleged that in 1982 he was named "Marshall" and "Minister without portfolio" of Mr. Sokolnicki's Polish so-called exile government!!.