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Category: Bulgaria

The Medal for Participation in the European War 1915-1918

The Medal for Participation in the European War 1915–1918 is a Bulgarian military decoration awarded to individuals who served in WW1.

The Medal for Participation in the European War 1915-1918 (or За Участие В Европейската Война) was instituted on 9 December 1933 and awarded to Bulgarian and Bulgarian allied force participants of the “1915–1918” war (The Great War). It was issued to all WWI veterans including military personnel, non-combatants (such as medics, war journalists, and civilians) and relatives of KIAs. Also eligible were NCOs, former officers, and soldiers from Central Powers armies.

The medal was awarded until December 31, 1939. About 249,000 medals were issued (about 50,000 to Bulgarians and about 199,000 to allied forces) in three classes.

The Medal for Participation in the European War 1915-1918 Design

The medal is circular and measures 32,1 mm in diameter. It was made of gilt bronze. They were manufactured by the Lüdenscheid-based company “Gebrüder Gloerfeld” (the first lot of 30,000), the Swiss company “Huguenin Gebr.&Co.” (59,000), the Sofia-based manufacturer Бердж Керестеджиев and “Otto Shiсkle”(60,000 medals in 1939).

The obverse of the medal shows a crowned Bulgarian coat of arms imposed on crossed swords and flanked by laurel and oak branches. The reverse shows the dates of the Bulgarian participation in the Great War (“1915-1918”) inscribed in two lines in the centre, encircled by a wreath of wheat, laurel, oak and roses that symbolized Macedonia, Thrace and Moesia.

The ribbon was made of 39 mm wide silk and followed colors of the Bulgarian flag. The medal was awarded to people who did not participate directly in war activities with a central white stripe in the ribbon. Medals for next of kin had a central black stripe.

The Bulgarian Wound Badge

The Bulgarian Wounded Badge was instituted in 1941 and awarded to those wounded on active service. The number on the obverse indicates the number of wounds.

The Wound Badges were issued with a crown on the top during the Regency period. After September 9, 1944, during the Republican period, royal symbols were removed from awards and the crown of the Wounded Badge was exchanged for a plain wreath or a communist red star.

The Bulgarian Wound Badge Design

The Bulgarian Wounded Badge is an oval zinc alloy badge measuring 37 by 52 millimeters and made in silver gilt and enamels. It consisted of multiple pieces such as a main silver-colored element with wreath, a red-enameled middle-plate, a brass lion, and a nickel-plated backplate with the hallmark of the maker.

The obverse features a wreath of oak and laurel encircling a hatched ground, a pale blue painted cross pattée with scalloped ends to the arms bearing a gilt Bulgarian lion, a helmet in its right paw, an escutcheon bearing the number of wounds in its left, the royal crown with flying pendelia (tassels) above, and a scroll below inscribed ‘За БЪЛГАРНЯ’ (translated “for Bulgaria”). The reverse has a pinback for wear.

The Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius

The Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius is an award conferred by the Republic of Bulgaria and first established on 18 May 1909 by Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. The second incarnation is from second on 13 December 1950 by the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, and the third from 29 May 2003 by the current Republic of Bulgaria.

The Royal Order only has one class: Knight, represented by a collar, sash and breast-star. The first Grand Cross of the order to be awarded to the highest state officials. Former King Simeon II of Bulgaria considers this version of the order to be his dynastic order and wears it – from left shoulder to right hip – on official occasions.

The 1950 version was awarded as an honor in the fields of science, culture, or painting and consisted of three classes: First class, Second class and Third class.

The 2003 version is awarded for merit in the fields of art, science, education and culture and has three grades: Collar, 1st Class (Officer) and 2nd Class (Knight).

The Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius Design

Royal order:

The badge of the Order is a gilded Byzantine cross enameled in light blue. In the cross angles, green enameled beams are mounted, on each of which is a stylized lily. In the medallion resting figures of Saints Cyril and Methodius are seen standing side by side. The medallion is edged with a golden ring on the blue enameled inscription “EX ORIENTE LUX” (light coming from the east). The breast star has the shape of a Maltese cross and is made of silver. In the cross angles, blazing flames are seen with applied lily. In the center of the cross is a representation of a seraph. The ribbon is pale orange.

1950:

The medal is worn on the left chest and it’s round with red, blue or white enamel background. It shows the image of the Saints in relief. On the left side, Cyril, who holds a scroll with the first four letters of the Cyrillic alphabet in the hands. Slightly offset to the right behind Methodius with a Bible under his arm. One five-pointed star is seen on the top of the medal, hanging from a light-blue ribbon. First class: gold medal with red enamel. Second class: silver medal with blue enamel. Third class: silver medal with white enamel.

2003:

The order’s insignia is inspired by the shape of the tsarist era. The medal of the first two grades is a silver-plated Byzantine cross with gilded-silver edges, the 3rd grade is only totally silver-plated. The flames in the cross angle are no longer subject to a lily. On the reverse, instead of the crowned cipher names, the national colors of the country can be found. The ribbon of the Order is orange.

The Order of Civil Merit (Bulgaria)

The Order of Civil Merit was an Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Bulgaria instituted in 1891 and given to civilians for exemplary service.

The Order of Civil Merit was an Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Bulgaria instituted on 2 August 1891 and conferred only on civilians and for exemplary service or acts of merit earning the gratitude of the country. The order had six classes. It could be awarded to Bulgarian and foreign citizens with the personal benevolence of the monarch for great merit to the development and consolidation of the civil society.

In 1908, the crown suspension changed from the ‘Knyaz’ (Princely) form to the ‘Tsar’ form, as in this example, when Bulgaria was declared a kingdom.

The following grades exist:

  • Knight/Dame Grand Cross.
  • Knight/Dame Grand Officer.
  • Knight/Dame Commander.
  • Knight/Dame Officer.
  • Knight/Dame.
  • Medal.

The Order of Civil Merit Design

The Order was made in gilt and enamels and measures 61 mm by 122 mm including crown suspension and loop.

The ribbon was white with a green stripe on either side and a red Stripe on either edge (the colors of the Flag of Bulgaria).

The Order of Military Merit (Bulgaria)

The Order of Military Merit is an order established with a decree of the Knyaz in 1900, during the Kingdom and the Republic of Bulgaria.

The Order of Military Merit (or Орден за Военна Заслуга in Bulgarian) is an order established with a decree of the Knyaz on 19 May 1900, during the Kingdom of Bulgaria and the Republic of Bulgaria.

It was given to military figures for immaculate service and special merit; for great contributions for the development and the consolidation of the Bulgarian Army, for participation in peacekeeping, peacemaking and humanitarian operations, for long and immaculate service and contribution for the national security and civil order in Bulgaria.

The following grades exist (the Grand Cross was added in 1933):

  • I grade, Grand Cross. Awarded to senior state officers and military personnel.
  • II grade, Grand Officer. Awarded only to generals.
  • III grade, Commander. Awarded to commanders of regiments (colonels and lieutenant colonels).
  • IV grade, Officer. Awarded to majors and captains who commanded companies.
  • V grade, Knight. Awarded to commanders with rank up to captain, Opalchentsi, volunteers in the Serbo-Bulgarian War, the Balkan Wars, and others.
  • VI grade, Silver Cross. Awarded to sergeants, Opalchentsi, volunteers in the wars and others.

In the 1950s the order was abolished. It was restored in two grades in 2004.

The Order of Military Merit Design

The order has the shape of a Pisan cross with its arms covered in red enamel. There are two swords between them with edges pointing to the top.

In the center of the obverse is the monogram of the founder Knyaz Ferdinand, surrounded by a ring in green enamel with inscription ЗА ВОЕННА ЗАСЛУГА (translated “For Military Merit”). During the war, a laurel wreath was added on top of the arms of the cross, along with a white ring.

The reverse resembles that of the Order of Civil Merit but with a green ring.

The Order Of Saint Alexander

The Order of St Alexander was established by Knyaz Alexander I on 25 December 1881 and named after his patron saint, Alexander Nevsky.

The Order of St Alexander (or Орден “Свети Александър” in Bulgarian) was established by Knyaz Alexander I on 25 December 1881 and named after his patron saint, Alexander Nevsky. It was the second-highest Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

The order was awarded to Bulgarian and foreign citizens with the personal benevolence of the Bulgarian monarch, who was the Grand Master. Four grades and Grand and Lesser Necklace were formed and in 1908 a Grand Cross was added. Later, wartime grades with swords in the middle and above the cross were created.

The following grades exist:

  • Great Cross of the Order of St Alexander, Grand and Lesser Necklace.
  • I grade, Grand Cross. Awarded to senior state officers and military personnel.
  • II grade, Grand Officer Cross.
  • III grade, Commander Cross.
  • IV grade, Officer Cross.
  • V grade, Officer Cross.
  • VI grade, Silver Cross.

The Ottoman sultans Abdul Hamid II and Mehmed V were respectively awarded the Grand and Lesser Necklace of the Order of St Alexander with diamonds. They are currently kept in the collection of the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul.

The Order Of Saint Alexander Design

The insignia of the order was a white enameled cross pattée with golden or silver edges according to the grade.

On the pendant of the obverse, there’s a stylized inscription with the name of the order and on the surrounding ring there was the motto СЪ НАМИ БОГЪ (translated “God with us“) with laurel wreaths below.

On the reverse, there’s a white background with inscription 19 ФЕВРАЛЪ 1878 (translated “19 February 1878“), the date of the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano. Above the cross is a royal crown.

The Grand necklace consisted of thirty interconnected medallions with crowned lions, alternated with the monogram of the founder Knyaz Alexander I and eight edges Orthodox cross.

The Soldier Cross for Bravery

The Soldier Cross for Bravery was first established on January 1880 and was awarded to officer candidates, NCOs, and enlisted men, as a token of their exceptional valor and courage during the clashes with the enemy.

This award is the most widely distributed decoration of all the royal Bulgarian decorations. It was presented to both Bulgarian and foreign soldiers as a mark of their outstanding bravery on the battlefield during the six wars fought between 1877 and 1945 and the civil conflicts in the very early years of the new Principality.

The medal was awarded in these classes:

  • 1st Class
  • 2nd Class
  • 3rd Class
  • 4th Class
  • 5th Class

The Soldier Cross for Bravery Design

The medal measures 34mm wide and is a silver/silvered or yellow/gilded Maltese Cross with crossed swords between its arms and circular center. The first type of the crosses was of outstanding quality, possibly of Imperial Austrian manufacture.

On its obverse, the central medallion bears a crowned lion rampant. On the outer ring of the central medallion is inscribed “ЗА ХРАБРОСТЬ” (translated to “For bravery”) and either nine decorative elements, the years “1915” or “1941”, depending on the issue.

The reverse central medallion bears Prince Alexander I’s crowned cypher and on the outer ring is inscribed “КНЯЗЬ НА БЪЛГАРIЯ“ (or “КНЯЗЬ НА БЪЛГАРИЯ”, translated as Knyaz (Prince) of Bulgaria and the year 1879, separated via two stars or dots.

The ribbon is sky-blue with a silvery stripe near both edges.

The Order for Bravery (Bulgaria)

The Order of Bravery was established in 1880 with a decree of Knyaz Alexander Batenberg and is considered the most esteemed Bulgarian order.

The Order of Bravery (or Орден за Храброст in Bulgarian) is an order established on 1 January 1880 with a decree of Knyaz Alexander Batenberg and it’s considered the most esteemed Bulgarian order and the second highest in the Kingdom of Bulgaria and fourth highest in the Republic of Bulgaria. The recipients of the order are called cavaliers.

The Order was modeled after the Order of Military Merit of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, which existed until 1866. It was first awarded on 17 April 1880 to 33 participants of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). On 24 April, the order was awarded for the first time to a civilian person.

On 15 September the Order of Bravery ceased to exist.

There were the following classes or grades:

  • Grand Cross of the Order of Bravery: Awarded only to the ruler (who was a Grand Master of the order), five emissions.
  • Order of Bravery I Grade: 1st class (four emissions), 2nd class (awarded to Bulgarian and foreign generals and foreign rulers).
  • Order of Bravery II Grade: Two emissions.
  • Order of Bravery III Grade: 1st class (until 1915 it was called Order of Bravery III grade), three emissions. 2nd class (since 1915), five emissions.
  • Order of Bravery IV Grade: 1st class (until 1915 it was called Order of Bravery IV grade), seven emissions. 2nd class (since 1915), ten emissions.

The Order for Bravery Design

Between 1937 and 1940, the sign of the I grade, 1st class was used as a symbol of the Bulgarian Air Force in analog with the Iron Cross which was the traditional symbol of the Luftwaffe. Several German officers received this award during World War II.

The Grand Cross consisted of a necklace, a star, and a mantle.

The ribbon is light blue with silver stripes on either side.