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 edit
Canada edit
Cuba edit
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011) |
United States edit
- 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- Unofficial
Cold War Victory Medal The Cold War Victory Medal is both an official medal of the U.S. National Guard and an unofficial military medal of the United States. It is awarded by the U.S. states of Louisiana and Texas, and in ribbon form only by the State of Alaska.
Asia edit
Republic of China edit
North Vietnam edit
South Vietnam edit
| National Order of Vietnam | Military Merit Medal | Army Distinguished Service Order | Air Force Distinguished Service Order | Navy Distinguished Service Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
.png) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Army Meritorious Service Medal | Air Force Meritorious Service Medal | Navy Meritorious Service Medal | Special Service Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
.png) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Gallantry Cross | Air Gallantry Cross | Navy Gallantry Cross | Hazardous Service Medal | Life Saving Medal | Loyalty Medal | Wound Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) |
 |
 |
 |
.png) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
.svg) |
 |
 |
North Korea edit
Republic of Korea (South Korea) edit
.svg){kind=small}
Europe edit
East Germany edit
Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany
West Germany edit
- 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 edit
International Organizations edit
Inter-American Defense Board edit
International Commission of Control and Supervision edit
International Commission for Supervision and Control Medal; Indo-China, (1954–1974)
International Commission of Control and Supervision Service Medal, Vietnam (1973)
