Argentina Archives -

The Order of the Liberator General San Martin

Time Period: Post-WW2
Institution: 30 September 1984
Country: Argentina (Other Countries)

The Order of the Liberator General San Martin (or Orden del Libertador General San Martín in Spanish) is the highest decoration awarded by the Governement of Argentina. It is given to foreign politicians or military, deemed as worthy of the highest recognition by the country and it’s granted by the sitting President of Argentina.

The order receives its name from José de San Martín, Father of the Land and Liberator. The award was established in 1943 (Decree 5000 from August 17th, 1943) and modified on May 21st 1948 (Decree 16628 from 1957, which creates the Order). The rules used today date from December 18th, 1967.

The Grand Master of the Order presides over a national council and is the President of the Nation, same who confers the award. The Order headquarters is the Ministry of Foreign Relations, International Commerce and Cult.

The grades of the Order are:

Collar (Collar)
Grand Cross (Gran Cruz)
Grand Officer (Gran Oficial)
Commander (Comendador)
Officer (Oficial)
Member (Caballero)

The Order of the Liberator General San Martin Medal Design

The medal was designed by Ángel Eusebio Ibarra García. It’s struck in gold and shows a condor, the sable and General San Martin’s portrait in a frame made of sun rays.

Only one Order with the Extraordinary grade was awarded: to Eva Perón in 1952. It was made of 3821 pieces of gold and platinum, and 753 precious stones. It was made by the jewelers joyería Ghiso S.A. and designed by Aída Louzao. After the Military Dictatorship of 1955, the collar was disassembled and the pieces went to auction.

The reverse of the Argentinian $5 bill shows the collar of the Order.

The Medal to the Fighters (Argentina)

Time Period: Post-WW2
Institution: 30 September 1984
Country: Argentina (Other Countries)

The Medal to the Fighters is a decoration given by the Argentinian Republic to everyone who fought in the territorial claim of the Falklands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands between April 2nd and June 14th 1982.

The medal was established September 30th, 1984, during the government of Raúl Alfonsín and through Decree 3522. It was published in the official bulletin on November 9th, 1984.

A medal and certificate were awarded to everyone who fought in the war. The medal only has one class and can be awarded to civilians and military personnel. It can be awarded posthumously. A golden version of the medal is to be created for the 30th anniversary of the war.

The Medal to the Fighters Design

The medal is made of white metal. The obverse shows the Argentinian flag colors, a relief of the Falklands Islands and the last name of the fighter. The reverse bears the inscription “The Honorable Congress of the Nation to the Fighters”. This same text is repeated in the accompanying certificate.

The Cross to the Heroic Valour in Combat (Argentina)

Time Period: Post-WW2
Institution: 1982
Country: Argentina (Other Countries)

The Cross to the Heroic Valour in Combat (or Cruz la Nación Argentina al Heroico Valor en Combate in Spanish) is the highest military decoration of the Argentinian Republic.

The medal was first issued in 1982, and according to the Laws 22 607 (1982) and 24 229 it’s to be awarded to military personnel, security forces personnel, civilian police force, Argentinians or foreigners who, in combat motivated by extraordinary circumstances, exhibit heroic acts in the function of war, isolated or in the exercise of command, or ponderable actions or distinguish themselves in conduct.

A totally of 21 medals were given to Argentine heroes of the Falklands War, all of them having fought
in the war, and eight of them having given the medal post-mortem.

The Cross to the Heroic Valour in Combat Medal Design

The medal is a circular medal cast in bronze and silver. The decoration consists of a silver cross pattée bearing the Coat of arms of Argentina in gold.

The medal is suspended from a chest ribbon of equal light blue-white-light blue stripes.

The Argentine Nation to the Valour in Combat Medal

Time Period: Post-WW2
Institution: 1982
Country: Argentina (Other Countries)

The Argentine Nation to the Valor in Combat Medal (or Medalla de la Nación Argentina al Valor en Combate in Spanish) is the second highest military decoration given by the President of Argentina (the highest one being the Cross to the Heroic Valour in Combat).

The conditions for its award are to “recognize acts during the Southern Atlantic war for merits, valor and heroism in the defense of the Motherland“. The medal can be given to Argentinian citizens as well as foreigners, from the military, police or civilian personnel. A total of 56 people have received this award: 24 Officials, 21 NCOs and 11 soldiers.

The Argentine Nation to the Valor in Combat Medal Design

The medal is a circular medal cast in bronze. The obverse depicts the Coat of arms of the Argentinian Republic and the words “The Argentinian Nation” (“La Nación Argentina“) and “Valor in Combat” (“Al Valor Heroico“).