Military decorations of the Cold War

Between 1947 and 1991, during the years of the Cold War, a large number of military awards and decorations were created by various nations to recognize the undeclared hostilities of the era. Military medals of the Vietnam War and the Korean War are the best known due to the extreme level of the conflicts.

The following is a list of military decorations of the Cold War based on the various time periods and specific nations involved.

Americas

Canada

Korea Medal
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea
Special Service Medal

United States

Federal Service Medals
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Medal for Humane Action
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
National Guard
Cold War Victory Medal (Alaska & Louisiana only)

Asia

Republic of China

Awards and decorations of China

North Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh Order
Defeat American Aggression Badge
Vietnam Liberation Order

South Vietnam

National Order of Vietnam Military Merit Medal Army Distinguished Service Order Navy Distinguished Service Order Air Force Distinguished Service Order
Army Meritorious Service Medal Navy Meritorious Service Medal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal Special Service Medal
Gallantry Cross Air Gallantry Cross Navy Gallantry Cross Life Saving Medal Wound Medal
Armed Forces Honor Medal
(First Class)
Armed Forces Honor Medal
(Second Class)
Staff Service Medal
(First Class)
Staff Service Medal
(Second Class)
Technical Service Medal
(First Class)
Technical Service Medal
(Second Class)
Training Service Medal
(First Class)
Training Service Medal
(Second Class)
Civil Actions Medal
(First Class)
Civil Actions Medal
(Second Class)
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation

North Korea

Awards and decorations of North Korea

Republic of Korea (South Korea)

South Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Korean War Service Medal
Order of National Security Merit
Tong-il Medal
Gugseon Medal
Cheon-Su Medal
Sam-il Medal
Gwangbog Medal
Order of Military Merit
Taeguk Cordon Medal
Eulji Cordon Medal
Chungmu Cordon Medal
Hwarang Cordon Medal
Inheon Cordon Medal

Europe

East Germany

Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany

West Germany

Order of Merit
Sonderstufe des Großkreuzes (Grand Cross special class)
Großkreuz (Grand Cross 1st class, special design)
Großkreuz (Grand Cross 1st class)
Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband (Grand Cross with Star and Sash)
International equivalent: Großkreuz 2. Klasse (Grand Cross of Merit, Second class) or Großkomturkreuz (Grand Commander's Cross)
Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern (Knight Commander's Cross or Grand Cross with Star)
Großes Verdienstkreuz (Halskreuz) (Commander's Cross or Grand Cross (Neck cross))
Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse (Officer's Cross)
Verdienstkreuz am Bande (Cross) International equivalent: Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross)
Verdienstmedaille (Medal)

The President of the Federal Republic holds the Sonderstufe des Großkreuzes ex officio. It is awarded to him in a ceremony by the President of the Bundestag attended by the Chancellor, the President of the Bundesrat and the Supreme Court President. Other than the President of the Federal Republic, only a foreign head of state can be awarded with the highest class. There is also the provision of awarding the Großkreuz in a special rare design, in which the central medallion with the black eagle is surrounded by a stylized laurel wreath in relief. which has so far only been used twice: for Konrad Adenauer and for Helmut Kohl.

Soviet Union

Orders, decorations, and medals of the Soviet Union

International Organizations

Inter-American Defense Board

Inter-American Defense Board Medal

International Commission of Control and Supervision

International Commission for Supervision and Control Medal; Indo-China, (1954–1974)
International Commission of Control and Supervision Service Medal, Vietnam (1973)

United Nations

United Nations Service Medal
United Nations Medal
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