Uniform Insignia Forum

I believe, that since orders and medals are an important part of most military uniforms (actually, today with the almost complete demise of black tie and the diplomatic uniforms these are almost the only ones that can show up the full insignia of any order) we should start digging a bit about them. So, if you agree, I'll just list here a few links for various countries decorations hoping that you will add yours.

Miklós

Well, thats not a very bad idea at all!

Romania
http://www.presidency.ro/static/Canord/Start!.htm (in Romanian)
http://www.presidency.ro/static/Canord/Vol64%20Decoratii.pdf (in English)


Hungary
http://www.keh.hu/decorations

Russia
http://www.gov.ru/nagrad (Russian only, unfortunately)

UK
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page347.asp (includes also orders of chivalry)

France
http://www.legiondhonneur.fr/shared/us/actus/factu.html

Germany
http://eng.bundespraesident.de/top/sonstige/The_role_of_the_Federal_President/Work_in_Germany/Honours_and_decorations/ix4476_25152.htm

Also a LOT of Germany
http://www.hdg.de/Final/deu/page21.htm

Hello All,

May I direct your attention to Medals of the World, located at http://www.medals.org.uk/ . This is a very good starting point for anyone interested in medals and orders, and I recommend to everyone that they should check it out.

Czech Republic
http://www.hrad.cz/en/stat_vyznamenani/

Thanks, JazzGuy! Really great site!

I looked at the site, the Romanian section at least it's ok. Some minor errors, but generally speaking it's accurate and reliable. Also some errors on the Hungarian page. Guess I'll just write a few lines for the editor of the site.

Greek War Medals:

[url]http://www.army.gr/n/g/archive/rewards/metallia.pdf[/url]

It's in PDF & in Greek so I'll try to tranlate:
1- Supreme Medal for Bravery
2- Medal for Bravery-Gold & Silver Medal for Bravery
3- War Cross- A,B,C Class
4- Exquisited Service Medal (the left one)-Distinguished Service Medal
5- Military Value Medal-A,B,C Class
6- Distinguished Service Medal (NCOs)-A,B,C Class

Greek Orders:

[url]http://www.army.gr/n/g/archive/rewards/parasima.pdf[/url]

1- The Grand Cross of the Order of the Saviour
2- The Cross Of the Supreme Taxiarchs (Star of Supreme Taxiarchs & Cross of Supreme Taxiarchs)-The Golden Cross of the Order of the Saviour-The Silver Cross of the Order of the Saviour
3- The Grand Cross of the Order of Honor
4- The Cross of the Supreme Taxiarchs (Star of Supreme Taxiarchs & Cross of Supreme Taxiarchs)-Golden & Silver Cross of the Order of Honor
5- The Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix
6- The Cross Of the Supreme Taxiarchs (Star of Supreme Taxiarchs & Cross of Supreme Taxiarchs)-Golden & Silver Cross of the Order of the Phoenix
7- The Grand Cross of the Order of Charity
8- The Cross Of the Supreme Taxiarchs (Star of Supreme Taxiarchs & Cross of Supreme Taxiarchs)-Golden & Silver Cross of the Order of Charity

Scandinavian Orders and Decorations

Sweden: http://hem.passagen.se/jonar242/fortjanstordnar.htm (with links)
http://hem.passagen.se/jonar242/barande.htm
http://hem.passagen.se/jonar242/gruppl.htm
http://hem.passagen.se/jonar242/kuriosa.htm

Norway: http://www.pdmt.politiet.no/publikasjoner/reglement/politi/600000_police_dress_regulations/610201.htm#Tildelt/godkjent%20av%20Hans%20Majestet%20Kongen

http://www.saintolav.com/pages/921522/index.htm

Iceland: http://www.saintolav.com/pages/912409/index.htm

Finland: http://home.att.net/~david.danner/militaria/finland.htm

Denmark: http://www.royaldenmark.us/pages/1/index.htm

Estonia: http://www.riik.ee/teenetemargid/contents.html

Lithuania: http://www.president.lt/ordinai/index_e.phtml

General index site for orders and decorations:

http://www.geocities.com/athens/4795/Reference.htm#L

Norwegian ribbons:
http://www.webstaff.no/850000%20Ribbons%20of%20the%20World/850126%20Norway.htm

Danish ribbons:
http://www.webstaff.no/850000%20Ribbons%20of%20the%20World/850106%20Danmark.htm

Decorations of Israel
http://www.take-a-pen.org/MedalsOfIsrael.htm

If somebody is interested in German decorations there is a nice homepage: www.bandschnallen.de. It is a page for collectors and if you want to buy a lost decoration, but it is also interesting for somebody who want to have a overview to decoration in Germany (not only German decoratins, also NATO, UN, EU and others).

In Memoriam of the New Zealanders who fought during the WWII for the freedom of Greece, follow this link:

[url]http://www.geocities.com/greekmedals/[/url]

[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Bahgulf1.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Bahgulf1rev.jpg[/img]
Bahrain-Gulf War (1990-91) Service Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Bravcross2.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Bravcross2rev.jpg[/img]
Bulgaria-Bravery Cross for Soldiers (1915)
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/CHMedalofArmy.jpg[/img]
China-Medal of the Army
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Natnlmerit.jpg[/img]
Congo-National Merit Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Winterwarswrds.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Winterwarev.jpg[/img]
Finland-Winter War (1939) Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Croixdeguer.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Croixdeguerrev.jpg[/img]
France-WWI Croix de Guerre
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Croixdeg2.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Croixdeg2rev.jpg[/img]
France-WWII Croix de Guerre
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Verdienst1.jpg[/img]
Germany-Federal Merit Cross 1st class
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Sangram.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Sangramrev.jpg[/img]
India-Sangram / War with Pakistan Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Iraqmob.jpg[/img]
Iraq-Wissam 'Uum al-M'aarak / Mother of Battles Medal, 1990-91
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Bathparty.jpg[/img]
Iraq-Ba'ath Party Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/1904-5war.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/1904-5warev.jpg[/img]
Japan-Ruso/Japanese War, 1904-05
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/NKMilmerit.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/NKMilmeritrev.jpg[/img]
N.Korea-Military Merit Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Tamgha-i-Jang.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Tamgha-i-Jangrev.jpg[/img]
Pakistan-1965 War Medal,Tamgha-i-Jang
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Tamgha-i-Jang71.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Tamgha-i-Jang71rev.jpg[/img]
Pakistan-1971 War Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Caucasusrvc.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Caucasusrvcrev.jpg[/img]
Russia-MVD Medal for Service in Chechnya
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Chechnya1.jpg[/img]
Russia-Army Medal for Service in Chechnya
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/UNKorea.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/UNKorearev.jpg[/img]
UN-Korean Service Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/UNOSOMalia.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/UNrev.jpg[/img]
UN-Somalia Service Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/UNIKOM.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/UNrev.jpg[/img]
UN-Gulf War (1990-91) Service Medal
[img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Natoyugo.jpg[/img][img]http://rustyknight.topcities.com/images/Natoyugorev.jpg[/img]
NATO-Yugoslavia Service Medal

[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser1.JPG[/img]
Kingdom of Serbia WW1 merit cross with swords. Medal in bronze with trifold ribbon.
King Peter I to obverse, dates 1914 and 1918 to top and bottom. Reverse has Serbian double headed eagle and dates 1914,1916, 1917 to sides and bottom
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser3.JPG[/img]
Serbia/Yugoslavia- medal for merit of the Royal House.
This is the Alexander I type of the medal, 3rd class (silver medal with crown). It is of pre 1929 type, hard to establish exact date (it was early in Karageorgevich dynasty though).
This type was used when the Kingdom was called Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes - so not quite a Yugoslavian time yet. The Medal was conferred upon Royal Household staff for long and faithful service.
As with all those types medals (not awarded to general public/army), numbers were limited. Original ribbon has much wear especially around the eyelet. Royal crown as suspension.
King's effigy to obverse with inscription. Maker's name below: ''-Kovnica A.D.-'.
Reverse of Royal coat of arms with inscription. Much silver-plating worn and showing bronze base metal beneath.
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser5.JPG[/img]
1389 - 1889, Kingdom of Serbia 500th anniversary of Battle of Kosovo.
At that time Kosovo was in the center of advanced Serbian Kingdom. Serbians and other Slavs for centuries fought against the Turks in the Balkan region.
Battle of Kosovo was in eyes of many historians one of more important (and possible the largest) conflicts of medieval Europe. In 1389 over 200,000 soldiers had waged the battle.
The mighty Ottoman Empire had prevailed and established a long lasting imprint of Islam in Europe.
Medal in bronze. Cyrillic inscriptions. Serbian National eagle to obverse. King Lazarus's crown to reverse.
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser7.JPG[/img]
Kingdom of Serbia Order of White Eagle. Knight's class. This was Serbia's highest ranking Order.
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser8.JPG[/img]
Kingdom of Yugoslavia Civil Merit medal - 1st class (gold). These were given for extraordinary services to the royal house and country.
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser9.JPG[/img]
Civil Merit medal - 2nd class (silver).
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser11.JPG[/img]
Kingdom of Serbia, 1876-1878 campaigns for independence service medal.
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser13.JPG[/img]
Kingdom of Serbia Order of Takovo, 5th class cross.
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser14.JPG[/img]
Kingdom of Serbia Military Sharpshooter's medal
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser15.JPG[/img]
The Kingdom of Serbia Commemorative Cross for the second Balkan War (1913 - against Bulgaria). Awarded to officers, NCO's and other ranks who participated. Awarded to Serbs and Montenegrians.
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser16.JPG[/img]
Commemorative medal for the Albanian campaign/retreat (1915).
The Serb/Allied Army was forced to withdraw as Austrian, Bulgarian and Turkish forces were overwhelming. They made their way through Albania and boarded ships bound for Corfu Island (Greece).
Medal was established in 1920 and awarded to all taking part in the retreat/campaign.
Very well designed medal with National Albanese eagle clawing center disk of Serb legend. Suspended from Serb Royal crown.
[img]http://www.antiquesandmilitaria.com/Ser/Ser18.JPG[/img]
Kingdom of Serbia Order of Saint Sava. Knight class (V) of the order.

Icelandic medals on my page.
http://www.kaldi.is/merkjavara/icelandmedals/falkaordan.htm
and other Icelandic medals.
http://www.kaldi.is/merkjavara/icelandmedals/skatamerki.htm

Here you can get some Latvian military decoraions..
http://www.lvnslinga.lv/attribute.htm

US Ribbons - USCG and others

[img]http://www.dirauxwest.org/images/004rib.gif[/img]

Source: www.dirauxwest.org