SILVER CROSS OF JERUSALEM - POLISH ARMED FORCES IN THE WEST

Dimensions of the cross: 47 × 43 mm

The Jerusalem Cross was one of the distinctive insignia worn on uniforms by soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces in the West, particularly those of the 2nd Polish Corps. These decorations, worn on uniforms, served as a testament to a completed pilgrimage and as a personal memento of a stay in Palestine.
The piece shown here is a silver cross of the 2nd class, made of silver.
The cross is suspended from its original ribbon, which ends in a metal clasp with a safety pin on the reverse side; the obverse bears the inscription “JERUSALEM.”
The Pilgrim’s Cross of the Holy Land, Latin: *Signum Sacri Itineris Hierosolymitani*, was established by Pope Leo XIII in 1901. It was awarded on behalf of the Pope by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land to pilgrims visiting Christian holy sites and to those supporting their upkeep.
Condition consistent with photographic documentation