Order of Michael the Brave

Ordinul "Mihai Viteazul"
File:Order of Michael the Brave.jpg 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 (since 2000)
Type	Military Award
Eligibility	Military in combat
Status	Awarded in time of war (only)
Statistics
Established	1916 re-instituted in 2000
First awarded	1916
Last awarded	1944 and 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 language: 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

Obverse of the modern (2000) third class order

• 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
• Gheorghe Bâgulescu

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