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Category: Post-WW2 Medals

The Grand Order of Mugunghwa

The Grand Order of Mugunghwa is the highest order awarded by the government of South Korea and takes its name from the rose of Sharon.

The Grand Order of Mugunghwa (무궁화대훈장 in Korean) is the highest order awarded by the government of South Korea. It takes its name from South Korea’s national flower, the rose of Sharon (a cultivar native to the Korean peninsula and has great cultural significance in Korean history).

The medal is awarded to the President of South Korea (it may also be awarded to their spouse), heads or former heads of state of South Korean allies, and their spouses for “outstanding meritorious services in the interest of promoting the development and security of the Republic of Korea.”

The Grand Order of Mugunghwa Design

The Order may be made of gold, silver, ruby, and amethyst and consists of an insignia worn around the neck, a badge affixed to sash worn over the shoulder, and a star with a ribbon and a lapel badge as necessary.

The Dunkirk Medal

The Dunkirk Medal is an unofficial commemorative medal established om 1 May 1960 and created by the town of Dunkirk for the area’s defense.

The Dunkirk Medal is an unofficial commemorative medal established on 1 May 1960 and created by the town of Dunkirk to commemorate the defense of the area during May and June 1940.

The allocation of the award was managed by the French National Association of Veterans of the Fortified Sector of Flanders and Dunkirk (and later administrated by the now-disbanded Dunkirk Veterans Association).

The award was initially awarded to only French service personnel (with approximately 30,000 medals issued). In 1970 it was also awarded to any Allied member involved in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Allied forces from the Dunkirk area between 29 May and 3 June and those soldiers evacuated from the beaches.

All British servicemen from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy, and the civilian little ship volunteers were eligible to receive the award. For citizens of the United Kingdom, the medal may be worn on the right breast, but as it is not designated an official medal it is not to be mounted with other British official medals and awards.

The History of the Dunkirk Medal

The Dunkirk evacuation, also known as Operation Dynamo, took place between May 26 and June 4, 1940. During this operation, a vast number of British, French, and other Allied troops were evacuated from the French coast as they faced encirclement by German forces. The operation involved a large-scale mobilization of various naval vessels, merchant ships, and civilian boats that braved enemy fire to rescue the stranded troops.

The unofficial Dunkirk Medal was created by private organizations or individuals to recognize the courage and sacrifice of those involved in the evacuation. These commemorative medals are often privately produced and are not officially sanctioned or recognized by the UK government. They may be available for purchase or awarded by certain veterans’ organizations as a way to honor the memory of the Dunkirk evacuation and the servicemen and civilians involved.

A Note About Unofficial Medals

It’s important to note that unofficial commemorative medals do not hold the same status as official military awards and decorations. They do not carry the same level of recognition or entitlements as official honors, such as the campaign medals and service medals awarded by the UK government.

The Dunkirk Medal Design

The Dunkirk Medal is struck in bronze and is 44mm high and 36mm wide.

The medal’s obverse depicts a shield bearing the arms of Dunkirk (a fish and in chief, a lion passant) superimposed on an anchor and laurel wreath, crossed swords above. The reverse features a burning oil lamp over a tablet with the inscription: DUNKERQUE 1940.

Beneath the ribbon suspension of the medal are crossed swords. A named certificate was issued with each medal though the medal itself was not inscribed. The medal ribbon measures 36mm wide and has a wide central chrome yellow stripe with one wide and one thin red stripe each side with two further chrome yellow bars and two very thin black stripes.

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The Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor

The Belisario Domínguez Medal (Medalla Belisario Domínguez del Senado de la República in Spanish) is the highest decoration that the Mexican Senate gives to eminent citizens.

The name honors Belisario Domínguez, a Chiapas Senator who opposed the Dictatorship of  Victoriano Huerta – a position that cost him his life. He was murdered on October 7th, 1913.

Every year, on Octobre 7th, the Senate and the President of Mexico awards the Belisario Domínguez Medal. Since its inception, the decoration has been given 69 times – eight of them posthumously.

The award includes the medal and a diploma.

The Belisario Domínguez Medal Design

The medal is struck in bronze. The obverse bears the inscriptions “Belisario Domínguez” on the top and “Ennobleció la Patria” (“Made the country more noble“) at the bottom. On the sides of the Belisario Domínguez portrait are the words “Octubre 7” (October 7) and “de 1953” (of 1953).

The Miguel Hidalgo Order

The Miguel Hidalgo Order (Condecoración “Miguel Hidalgo” or Miguel Hidalgo Decoration) is the highest award that the Mexican State gives to its citizens. The Order forms part of the Mexican Honor System.

The Miguel Hidalgo Order is awarded for eminent or distinguished merits, relevant services rendered unto the Nation or to Mankind, exemplar conduct or life’s work, or heroic acts.

The Order is named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753-1811), a Mexican Catholic priest and main leader of the Mexican War of Independence. The award was officially issued in 1975 by  President Luis Echeverría and the Executive Branch of the Government of Mexico.

The Miguel Hidalgo Order Design

The Order consists of four classes, which are represented by a collar, a cross, a band, and a plaque. The Collar is awarded for heroic acts and exemplary conduct, and for services rendered unto the Nation or to Humanity that are of a transcendent and extremely beneficial nature. The cross is awarded for eminent merits,  outstandingly exemplar conduct, and heroic acts which would not merit a collar. The Band is given for distinguished merits and exemplary that warrants making it public knowledge. The plaque is awarded for merits not contemplated by the previous grades.

The badge of the Order is a cross in silver and gold with an eagle on the obverse.

The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (Taiwan)

The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal is a Taiwanese medal established in 1980. The medal is decorated in gilt and enamels.

The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal is a Taiwanese medal established in 1980. The medal is decorated in gilt and enamels and measures 45 by 50 millimeters.

The Order of Liberation

The Order of Liberation is a Chinese military award given to heroes of the Liberation of mainland China during the Second Chinese Civil War.

The Order of Liberation (解放勋章 in Chinese, Jiěfàng Xūnzhāng in pinyin) was a Chinese military award awarded to heroes of the Liberation of mainland China during the Second Chinese Civil War between 3 September 1945 and 30 June 1950.

The Order was established by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and awarded by the President of the People’s Republic of China. The recipients of the award were the soldiers and civilian personnel of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the former members of the Republic of China Army who participated in the uprising.

The medal was awarded in three grades:

  • First Class Medal.
  • Second Class Medal.
  • Third Class Medal.

The Order of Liberation Design

The liberation medals bear a central red star and Tiananmen Square. It’s rumored that the First Class Liberation Medal is struck in pure gold.

The ribbon has one, two, or three red vertical red bars on a yellow background, depending on the class.

The Order of Independence and Freedom

The Order of Independence and Freedom is a military award of the Rep. of China created in 1955 and given for conspicuously gallantry.

The Order of Independence and Freedom (独立自由勋章 in Chinese, Dúlì Zìyóu Xūnzhāng in pinyin) was a military award from the People’s Republic of China created in 1955. It was decided by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and awarded by the President of the People’s Republic of China. The medal was in use since 1955 but has now been suspended.

The Order was given in recognition to men who distinguished themselves “conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity” in combat with an enemy of China in the Second Sino-Japanese War (a military conflict primarily waged between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan).

There are three grades for the Order of Independence and Freedom:

  • First Class Medal: Awarded to brigade-level and above of the Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army.
  • Second Class Medal: Awarded to brigade-level and above of the Eighth Route Army, the New Fourth Army, and the Anti-Japanese Guerrilla
  • Third Class Medal: Awarded to the battalion and company ranks.

The Order of Independence and Freedom Design

The outer contour of the medal is an octagonal star, and in the middle is the Yan’an Pagoda Mountain under the shining red star, which symbolizes the brilliance of the anti-Japanese armed forces led by Yan’an, the seat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China during the Anti-Japanese War.

The medal is struck in golden or gold-silver metal. The ribbon style is one to three yellow vertical bars on a green background indicating the level.

The Order of Bayi

The Order of Bayi is a Chinese military award awarded to heroes of the Liberation of China during the First Civil War between 1927 and 1949.

The Order of Bayi (八一勋章 in Chinese, Bā Yī Xūn Zhāng in pinyin) was a Chinese military award awarded to heroes of the Liberation of China during the First Chinese Civil War, between 1927 and 1949. The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang (KMT)-led government of the Republic of China (ROC) and forces of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The Communists gained control of mainland China and established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, forcing the leadership of the Republic of China to retreat to the island of Taiwan. o armistice or peace treaty has ever been signed.

The Order was established in 1955 and given to soldiers and civilian personnel of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. The award has been suspended since its last batch in 1957.

There are three grades for the Order of Bayi:

  • First Class: Awarded to cadres above the divisional level at that time.
  • Second Class: Awarded to regiment and battalion cadres at that time.
  • Third Class: Awarded to thse that participated in the First Front Army of the Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army before October 20, 1935, the Second Front and Fourth Front Army of the Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army before September 30, 1936, and the Northern Shaanxi Red Army and the North Shaanxi Red Army before September 30, 1935.

An August 1st medal was awarded to personnel other than the above-mentioned personnel who participated in the Red Army of the Chinese Workers and Peasants before July 6, 1937.

The Order of Bayi Design

The medal is round and decorated in gold, silver, and red enamels. The August 1st Medal have the August 1st Military Emblem as the central pattern and is a blunt pentagram.

The ribbon is one to three yellow bars on a red background indicating the rank of the medal.

The Order of Friendship

The Order of Friendship is one of the highest orders of honor of the People’s Republic of China and bestowed to foreigners for contributions.

The Order of Friendship (or 友谊勋章 in Chinese; Yǒuyì Xūnzhāng in pinyin) is, alongside the Order of the Republic, the People’s Republic of China’s highest order of honor.

It was established by law (Article 3 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on National Medals and National Honorary Titles) on December 27, 2015, by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) and constituted on January 1, 2016.

The Order of Friendship is set up by the State and bestowed on foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to China’s socialist modernization, the promotion of exchange and cooperation between China and foreign countries, and the protection of world peace. It can be directly awarded to foreign dignitaries, international friends, and other foreigners. The award is given accompanied by a medal, a National Honorary Title and a certificate.

The first Friendship Medal was awarded to:

  • Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, on June 8, 2018. In recognition of his commitment to promoting the development of China-Russia good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation during his presidency, and for making important contributions to this end.
  • Nursultan Nazarbayev, first President of Kazakhstan, on April 28, 2019. In recognition of his creation and promotion of the China-Kazakhstan comprehensive strategic partnership, and the promotion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Conference on Mutual Cooperation and Confidence Measures in Asia to flourish.
  • Raul Castro Ruth, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, on September 29, 2019. For establishing relations with China as the priority development direction of Cuban diplomacy, and firmly committed to carrying forward the friendship between Cuba and China, firmly supporting China on major issues, highly agreeing with the proposal of General Secretary Xi Jinping to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
  • Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Main member of the Chakri dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand, on September 29, 2019. For promoting Chinese traditional culture, spreading China-Thailand friendship, and making irreplaceable and outstanding contributions to the development of China-Thailand relations.
  • Salim Ahmed Salim, Former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
    Tanzania, on September 29, 2019. For outstanding contributions to consolidating and promoting the friendly cooperation between China and Tanzania and China and Africa and restoring China’s legitimate seat in the United Nations.
  • Galina Vini Aminovna Kulikova, First Vice Chairman of the Russia -China Friendship Association, on September 29, 2019. For developing friendly relations with China and for outstanding contributions to the promotion of Sino-Soviet (Russian) non-governmental diplomacy.
  • Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France, on September 29, 2019. For his long commitment to promoting Sino-French friendship and all-round cooperation between China and France and for vigorously promoting the “Belt and Road” project.
  • Isabel Kluk, Lifetime Honorary Professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University, on September 29, 2019. For innovating in English teaching and education reform and for cultivating a large number of foreign language talents for New China, making outstanding contributions to China’s education and friendly exchanges with foreign countries.
  • Norodom Monnier, Queen Mother of Cambodia, on November 6, 2020. For actively devoting herself to the cause of friendship between China and Cambodia and actively supporting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

The Order of Friendship Design

The medal is round and made in gold and blue colors.

The obverse features the the peace dove, earth, a handshake, and a lotus. The medal hangs from a chain made of Chinese knots, evergreens, peonies, jade, and bluegrass. It’s decorated with filigree inlays and enamels.

The Order of the Republic

The Order of the Republic is the highest order of honor of the People’s Republic of China. It was established on 29 September 2019.

The Order of the Republic is the highest order of honor of the People’s Republic of China. It was established on 1 January 2016 and first awarded on 29 September 2019.

The Order is awarded for great contributions to the defense of the country and outstanding service to Chinese society. Eligible recipients are military and civilians of Chinese nationality. The Order of the Republic was established by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

For 2019, eight people were recommended. This included researchers who participated in the development of China’s first-generation nuclear submarine. For 2020, the recognition of an exemplary figure covered outstanding contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The recipients so far have been:

2019
  • Yu Min (于敏)
  • Shen Jilan (申纪兰)
  • Sun Jiadong (孙家栋)
  • Li Yannian (李延年)
  • Zhang Fuqing (张富清)
  • Yuan Longping (袁隆平)
  • Huang Xuhua (黄旭华)
  • Tu Youyou (屠呦呦)
2020
  • Zhong Nanshan (钟南山)

The Order of the Republic Design

The medal is a five-pointed star in gold and red colors.

The obverse features the Yellow River, the Tangtye River, mountain peaks, and the peony flower. The medal hangs from a chain made of Chinese knots, the handicraft ruyi, orchids, andother elements. It’s decorated with filigree inlays and enamels.