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The Order Virtuti Militari (Latin: "For Military Bravery") is Poland's highest military decoration for valour in the face of the enemy. Some foreign medals that are equivalent to the Virtuti Militari are the British Victoria Cross and the American Medal of Honor.
Awarded in five classes, the order was created in 1792 by King of Poland Stanisław August Poniatowski. However, soon after its introduction, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was destroyed in the partitions of Poland of 1795 and the partitioning powers abolished the decoration and prohibited its wearing. Since then, it has been reintroduced, renamed and banned several times, with its fate closely reflecting the vicissitudes of the Polish people. Throughout its existence, thousands of soldiers and officers, Polish and foreign, several cities and one ship have been awarded the Virtuti Militari for valor or outstanding leadership in war. Since 1989, there have been no new awards.