The Soldier Cross for Bravery

• Time Period: Pre-WW1
• Year of Institution: 1880
• Country: Bulgaria

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.