Order of Mihai the Brave

The order was the highest military award of the Romanian kingdom. I was handed over to the officers of the Romanian and Allied armies for making strategically (and tactically) important decisions, competent and effective command and control of the troops, which ultimately led to the successful outcome of the military operation, for courage on the battlefield. The order could be awarded to military units and ships. According to the statute of the order, the awarded have enjoyed the lifelong right of free travel on the railways of Romania and free training in any educational institutions. They and their families were provided with free medical care. Among other benefits, those awarded at the expense of the state receive 5 hectares of arable land and agricultural implements or land for building a house and the necessary building materials. Foreigners awarded the order of Mihai the Brave did not receive any benefits.

The order was established on September 26, 1916 (Royal Decree No. 2968/1916) during the First World War , when Romania sided with the Entente .

The order was named in honor of Mihai the Brave , the legendary Wallachian ruler, who at the end of the 16th-beginning of the 17th centuries stopped Turkish aggression and united the lands of Wallachia , Transylvania and Moldova into a single state.

When Romania entered World War II on the side of Germany, the order of Mihai the Brave was re-established on October 8, 1941.

Among those awarded the Order of Mihai the Brave during the Second World War were such well-known German military leaders as Walter von Brauchitsch , Hermann Goering , Erich von Manstein , Karl Rudolph Gerd von Rundstedt , Friedrich Paulus . Twice the Order was awarded to the Colonel General of the Luftwaffe, Hans Eshonnek .

The third time the order was established on October 18, 1944 - after Romania joined the anti-Hitler coalition and declared war on Germany. After the abolition of the monarchy in 1947, together with other royal orders, it was expelled from the award system.

It was established for the fourth time in 2000 with the change of crown to a laurel wreath and the placement of the golden coat of arms of Romania in the center of the obverse of the cross. On the reverse, new dates 1916-2000. A rhomboid star was first added to the first class.

The order had three classes.

The badge of the order was made in the form of a lily-shaped enameled cross of dark blue color with a thin golden contour. On the obverse in the center of the cross is the crowned monogram of King Mihai I, on the lower beam the year of the renewal of the award is 1941 . On the reverse is the crowned monogram of the founder of the order - King Ferdinand (from two mirror-double letters “F” ) and the year the order was established - 1916. The cross is crowned with a crown, with the help of which it is connected to the order ribbon. The badge of the order of the 1st degree did not have a crown; both monograms and dates were placed on the obverse. The Order of Class III was worn on the left side of the chest, on the ribbon, the Order of Class II - on the neck. The class I order did not have a ribbon and was worn on the left side of the chest between the 2nd and 3rd buttons of a military uniform or on the left breast pocket. Awarded the order at the award ceremony, dressed in a ceremonial order robe in the form of a white robe with a sewn image of the order of Mihai the Brave and a white hat.

In 1944 , after Romania switched to the side of the anti-Hitler coalition, the order of Mihai the Brave remained the highest military award of the kingdom, but crossed swords were added to the cross. On the obverse was only the monogram of Mihai I, on the reverse - the year the award was established in a new quality - 1944.

The ribbon of the order is dark red with woven gold piping (3 mm) at the edges.

• Order of Mihai the Brave at worldwar2.ro
• History of the Order on the website of the President of Romania (rum.)
• The Order of Mihai the Brave and his Knights at ww2awards.com