Order of Michael the Brave

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Ordinul "Mihai Viteazul"
The Order "Michael the Brave", as it looked like during World War II, during the reign of Mihai I. Notice the M in the Center of the cross, the King's insignia
Awarded by The President of Romania
Type	Military Award
Eligibility	Military in combat
Awarded for
Status	Awarded in time of war (only)
Statistics
Established	1916
First awarded	1916
Last awarded	1944
Precedence
Next (lower)	Ordinul naţional "Steaua României"
Ribbon of the Order of Michael the Brave

The Order of Michael the Brave (Romanian: Ordinul Mihai Viteazul) is Romania's highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of World War I, and was again awarded in World War II. The Order, which may be bestowed as an individual medal or as a unit award, was named in honor of Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), a late 16th century Prince of Wallachia.

Contents 1 Data 2 Recipients 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Data

Requirements: Awarded to officers only for exceptional deeds on the battlefield. It is the highest ranking Romanian military order.

Classes: 3rd, 2nd and 1st

Date Instituted: September 26, 1916

Number awarded: 2184

During WW1:

1st class: 16

2nd class: 12

3rd class: 336 (of which 43 awarded to military units)

During WW2:

1st class: 15

2nd class: 76 (of which 13 awarded to military units)

3rd class: 1628 (of which 118 awarded to military units)

[edit] Recipients

• Ion Antonescu
• Vasile Atanasiu
• Alexandru Averescu
• Radu Bâldescu
• Nicolae Dabija
• Corneliu Dragalina
• Grigore Gafencu
• Eremia Grigorescu
• Michael I of Romania (as Commander-in-Chief of the Romanian Army in 1941)
• John J. Pershing
• Radu Korne
• Mihail Lascăr
• Leonard Mociulschi
• Ioan Palaghiţă
• Constantin Prezan
• Corneliu Teodorini

During World War II, at a time when Romania was allied with Germany (see Romania during World War II), the Order was awarded to several members of the Axis military forces:

• Erwin Rommel
• Fedor von Bock
• Walther von Brauchitsch
• Karl Dönitz
• Hermann Göring
• Hermann Hoth
• Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
• Erich von Manstein
• Friedrich Paulus
• Wolfram von Richthofen
• Gerd von Rundstedt
• Walter Warlimont

[edit] See also

• List of military decorations#Romania
• National Decorations System (Romania)

[edit] External links

• (English) Order of Michael the Brave at worldwar2.ro
• (Romanian) History of the Order at the Romanian Presidency site
• (English) Order of Michael the Brave and its recipients at ww2awards.com

v • d • e Highest military awards for gallantry Current Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross (Argentina) · Hero of Belarus (Belarus) · Cross of Liberty (Estonia) · Mannerheim Cross (Finland) · Légion d'honneur (France) · Param Vir Chakra (India) · Medal of Valor (Israel) · Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (Malaysia) · Military William Order (Netherlands) · Nishan-e-Haider (Pakistan) · Medal of Valor (Philippines) · Virtuti Militari (Poland) · Order of Michael the Brave (Romania) · Hero of the Russian Federation (Russian Federation) · Nkwe ya Gauta (South Africa) · Laureate Cross of St. Ferdinand (Spain) · Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (Sri Lanka) · Order of Rama (Thailand) · Victoria Cross (United Kingdom • Australia • Canada • New Zealand) · Hero of Ukraine (Ukraine) · Medal of Honor (United States) Obsolete Military Order of Maria Theresa (Austria–Hungary) · Pour le Mérite (Kingdom of Prussia) · Military Order of Max Joseph (Kingdom of Bavaria) · Military Order of St. Henry (Kingdom of Saxony) · Military Merit Order (Kingdom of Württemberg) · Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Nazi Germany) · Order of the Golden Kite (Japan) · Castle of Good Hope Decoration (South Africa) · Vietnam Military Merit Medal (South Vietnam) · Hero of the Soviet Union (Soviet Union) · Order of Lāčplēsis (Latvia)

v • d • e Romanian National Decorations System National decorations National Orders Order of the Star of Romania • National Order for Faithful Service • National Order for Merit National Crosses National Cross for Faithful Service National Medals National Medal for Faithful Service • National Medal For Merit Commemorative decorations Victory Order of the Romanian Revolution of December 1989 • Commemorative Cross of the Second World War, 1941-1945 • Commemorative Cross of the Anti-communist Resistance • Commemorative Medal "150 Years from the birth of Mihai Eminescu" Military decorations in peacetime Military Orders Order of Military Virtue • Order of Aeronautical Virtue • Order of Matitime Virtue • Order of Manhood and Faith Military Medals Military Virtue Medal • Aeronautical Virtue Medal • Maritime Virtue Medal • Manhood and Faith Medal Civil decorations on domains of activity Civil Orders Agricultural Merit Order • Cultural Merit Order (categories A to I)1 • Diplomatic Merit Order • Industrial and Commercial Merit Order • Educational Merit Order • Medical Merit Order • Athletic Merit Order Civil Medals Agricultural Merit Medal • Cultural Merit Medal (categories A to I)1 • Diplomatic Merit Medal • Industrial and Commercial Merit Medal • Educational Merit Medal • Medical Merit Medal • Athletic Merit Medal Military decorations in wartime Order of Michael the Brave • Order of the Star of Romania2 • National Order for Faithful Service2 • National Order for Merit2 • Order of Military Virtue2 • Order of Aeronautical Virtue2 • Order of Maritime Virtue2 • Order of Manhood and Faith2 • Medical Merit Order2 • Military Virtue Medal2 • Medal of Aeronautical Virtue2 • Medal of Maritime Virtue2 • Medal of Manhood and Faith2 • Medical Merit Medal2 Honorific signs The Honorific Sign "The Vulture of Romania" • The Honorific Sign "The Reward for the Work in the Public Service" • The Honorific Sign "In the Service of the Country" for officers and special statute public functionaries • The Honorific Sign "In the Service of the Country" for warrant officers and special statute public functionaries 1 the categories are equal in ranking, an differentiate only the cultural field (A - literature; B - music; C - fine arts; D - performing arts; E - national cultural heritage; F - promotion of culture; H - cults; G - scientific research; I - architecture); 2with two crossed swords (tip up) added (the war insignia)