Order of Michael the Brave

Ordinul "Mihai Viteazul"
The Order "Michael the Brave" third class, as it looked like in the first years of World War II, during the reign of Mihai I. After the King's Coup the year was changed. Notice the M in the Center of the cross, the King's insignia at that time.
Awarded by The King of the Romanians (1916 - 1947) The President of Romania
Type	Military Award
Eligibility	Military in combat
Status	Awarded in time of war (only)
Statistics
Established	1916 2000
First awarded	1916
Last awarded	1944 disbanded in 1947
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, of Transylvania and of Moldavia.

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)

Recipients

• Ion Antonescu
• Josip Broz Tito
• 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
• Constantin Mihalcea

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
• Wilhelm Schöning
• Walter Warlimont
• Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist

See also

• List of military decorations
• List of Romanian decorations

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 Romanian National Decorations System National decorations National Orders Order of the Star of Romania • Order of the Faithful Service • 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 Valour and Faith Military Medals Military Virtue Medal • Aeronautical Virtue Medal • Maritime Virtue Medal • Valour 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 Orders 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 Valour and Faith2 • Medical Merit Order2 Crosses National Cross for Faithful Service2 Medals Military Virtue Medal2 • Medal of Aeronautical Virtue2 • Medal of Maritime Virtue2 • Medal of Valour and Faith2 • Medical Merit Medal2 Honorific signs Vulture of Romania • Reward for the Work in the Public Service • In the Service of the Country (officers) • In the Service of the Country (warrant officers) 1 the categories are equal in ranking, and 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)