The Medal for Bravery (german: Tapferkeitsmedaille) was a

military decoration Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medal ...

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...

established in 1789 and awarded for bravery in battle until the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.

History

Habsburg Empire 1789-1918

The Medal for Bravery was created by

Emperor Joseph II Joseph II (German: Josef Benedikt Anton Michael Adam; English: ''Joseph Benedict Anthony Michael Adam''; 13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from August 1765 and sole ruler of the Habsburg lands from November 29, 1780 un ...

on 19 July 1789 in order to recognize courage in combat by personnel below commissioned rank (courageous acts performed by commissioned officers could after 1757 be rewarded by appointment to the Military Order of Maria Theresa). From 1789 to 1915, the Medal for Bravery existed in three classes: ''Golden Medal for Bravery'', ''Silver Medal for Bravery 1st Class'' and ''Silver Medal for Bravery 2nd Class''. The latter honour was similar in design to the Golden Medal and the Silver Medal 1st Class, but considerably smaller. A fourth class, the ''Bronze Medal for Bravery'', was introduced on 14 February 1915 during World War I. It was the same size as the Silver Medal 2nd Class. Bars denoting subsequent awards within the same class were introduced on 29 November 1915. All versions of the Medal for Bravery bore the portrait of the reigning monarch on the obverse and the inscription "Der Tapferkeit" ("To Bravery") on the reverse. Medals awarded during World War I were minted with the portrait of

Emperor Franz Josef Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until his ...

on the obverse until some months after his death. Starting in April 1917, the visage of his successor, Emperor Charles I, was substituted. On 26 September 1917, Emperor Charles I amended the statutes of the Medal for Bravery and decreed that the ''Golden Medal for Bravery'' and the ''Silver Medal for Bravery 1st Class'' could now also be awarded to

commissioned officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...

s, particularly in cases where their services were not sufficient for the Military Order of Maria Theresa. Commissioned officers wore the same medals as the ranks, plus the letter "K" (in gold or silver, depending on class of the award) superimposed on the triangular ribbon. File:Goldene Tapferkeitsmedaille 1848 59.jpg, Golden Medal for Bravery, 1848 to 1859 version File:Goldene Tapferkeitsmedaille 1859 66.jpg, Golden Medal for Bravery, 1859 to 1866 version File:Silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille gross 1866 1917.jpg, Silver Medal for Bravery 1st Class File:Silver Medal for Bravery (Austria-Hungary) front.jpg, Silver Medal for Bravery 2nd Class File:Bronzene Tapferkeitsmedaille mod.jpg, Bronze Medal for Bravery File:Bronzene Tapferkeitsmedaille (Austria-Hungary) 3rd award, front.jpg, Bronze Medal for Bravery with two Bars (indicating three awards)

Kingdom of Hungary 1920–46

After

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and the dissolution of

, the newly established

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from the Middle Ages into the 20th century. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the coronation of the first king Stephen ...

instituted in 1922 the Medal of Bravery in silver only. By 14 April 1939, gold, large silver, small silver and bronze awards were issued to non-commissioned officers and men and, on 12 September 1942, the gold medal for bravery award (Magyar: Tiszti Arany Vitézségi Érem) for officers was added. A notable recipient was

Hans-Ulrich Rudel Hans-Ulrich Rudel (2 July 1916 – 18 December 1982) was a German ground-attack pilot during World War II and a post-war neo-Nazi activist. The most decorated German pilot of the war and the only recipient of the Knight's Cross with G ...

of the German

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

Endnotes

External links

{{commonscat, Medal for Bravery (Austria) Bravery Medal Awards established in 1789 1789 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire Courage awards