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

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Canada

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  Korea Medal
  Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea
  Special Service Medal

Cuba

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United States

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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

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Republic of China

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Awards and decorations of China

North Vietnam

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  Ho Chi Minh Order
Defeat American Aggression Badge
Vietnam Liberation Order

South Vietnam

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National Order of Vietnam Military Merit Medal Army Distinguished Service Order Air Force Distinguished Service Order Navy Distinguished Service Order
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Army Meritorious Service Medal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal Navy Meritorious Service Medal Special Service Medal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gallantry Cross Air Gallantry Cross Navy Gallantry Cross Hazardous Service Medal Life Saving Medal Loyalty Medal Wound Medal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leadership 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

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Awards and decorations of North Korea

Republic of Korea (South Korea)

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  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

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East Germany

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Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany

West Germany

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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

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Orders, decorations, and medals of the Soviet Union

International Organizations

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Inter-American Defense Board

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  Inter-American Defense Board Medal

International Commission of Control and Supervision

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

United Nations

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  United Nations Service Medal
  United Nations Medal