Austria-Hungary Austo-Hungarian Signum Laudis & Bravery Medals

[gjw]

Hi all and Happy Thanksgiving!!! I would like to know if anyone can tell me the difference between these awards in regards to award criteria, who was awarded what, order of precedence or any other info on these awards?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks again and God Bless!!!!!

Greg

[Josef Rietveld]

Hi Greg,

Bravery medals were given from 1789/90 to 1917 ONLY to soldiers, NCOs and ensigns

They were only awarded for deeds in face of the enemy therefore the never have swords on the trifold ribbon.

From 1790 to 1848 only existed the silver and the golden bravery medal (diameter 40mm, 28 gramm in Gold, 17 gramm in silver)

1848 they created the kleine silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille or Silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille 2. Klasse (30 mm Diameter, also 17 gramm, thicker medal!)

1915 the bronzene Tapferkeitsmedaille (30 mm; 15-16 Gramm) was founded because of the demands of the industrialized mass war for small (low) decorations.

On November 29th 1915 an edict defined multiple awards of the same Bravery medal. The repeated award was indicated by a wiederholungsspange (a bar of white metal, silvered metal, rare in real silver) on the ribbon. Upt to four times the same medal (three bars) were possible.

On 15th September 1917 Emperor Charles decided to create a Golden Bravery medal and an Silver Bravery medal 1st Class for Officers. Both medal have the royal Cypher C for Charles on the trifold ribbon

From 1849 onwards it was alowed to wear all Bravery medals on the chest. The brayery medals are always on first place.

Ranking: Gold, Silver 1st, Silver 2nd, Bronze

All receipients (exept the bronze medal) received a honoraray extra pay, but it wasn't multiplied for repeatet awards. This honoraray payment was given and regulated again in 1931 and 1958

From 1789 t0 1918 the existed 29 different stampings of the bravery medal.

The Golden officers bravery medal is worn before the Milit?rverdienstkreuz IIIrd Class, the Silver 1st Class after the Milit?tverdienstkreuz (Military merit Cross). Oders llike Franz-Josef-Order, Iron Crown, Lepold etc. rank are always before the officer bravery medals.

ensigns who got bravery medals wear them after their officers decorations. for example:

Milit?rverdienstkreuz, Silver Military merit medal, bronce military merit medal, bravery medal 2nd class (as ensign),bronce Bravery medal, karl-truppen-kreuz karl-troop-cross)

The Signum Laudis or Milit?rverdienstmedaillen (military merit medal) were decorations ONLY for officers.

The bronce Signum laudis war given from 1890 to 1918

The silver Signum laudis from 1911 to 1918

there exist two different medal-types showing emperor franz josef (-1916) and emperor charles (1917/18)

before 1890 officers got a document called allerh?chste belobende anerkennung (= utmost (?) praising recognition) as lowest decoration for officers. After 1890 the medal was given instead. 1911 the silver merit medal was created for a second bestowal of the belobende anerkennung.

in peacetime the medals had an red trifold ribbon in wartimes the classical kriegsband as for bravery medals, military merit crosses, merit crossses, iron merit crosses etc.

1916 (13th decmber) swords were introduced for decorations won in frontline service.

from april 1916 on the silver merit medal could be multiple awarded (maximum three times = two silver bars). ONLY the silver one, because if you received a second bronce won it was automatically a silver merit medal.

The wartime merit medals rank before the peacetime awards. an example: Military merit cross IIIrd class, Silver Merit medal, Bronze merot medal, bronce merit medal on red ribbon, etc.

regards

haynau

[gjw]

Thanks so much for the info and your time in answering me, just what Iwas looking for - GREAT!!!

God Bless!!!!

Greg

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

Just to complete the excellent description by haynau: there also existed the Large Gold Milit?rverdienstmedaille, established by emperor Franz-Joseph on April 1, 1916. Unlike the silver and bronze ones, the gold medal was intended to general officers only. It was larger (38 mm) and the surmounting crown was surrounded by a laurel wreath. A laurel wreath also surrounded the obverse of the medal. It was worn on the war ribbon and could be conferred up to four times, the subsequent ones being denoted by gold bars. It was a very high decoration, ranking right under the Order of the Iron Crown 1st Class and the Commander of St. Stephen and before the Grand Cross of the Order of Franz-Joseph. In 1917 the effigy of Franz-Joseph was replaced by that of emperor Karl.

The medal was one of the rarest Austro-Hungarian awards. It was bestowed upon only 30 persons, most of which three-star generals or higher, out of which four persons received it twice. The only two known instances of the medal being awarded to a non-general were Oberstleutnant Pokorny from the Austrian General Staff Corps and linienschiffsleutnant Freiherr von Banfield (1890-1986), an eminent pilot and recipient of the Order of Maria Theresia.

Lukasz

Edited December 16, 2006 by Lukasz Gaszewski

[Humberto Corado]

Hello all,

This is an old thread but I would like to know if any of you could help me to correctly understand.

the Signum Laudis was awarded to officers as bravery medals until the Golden Bravery medal and an Silver Bravery medal 1st Class for Officers were created??? if it so the Signum Laudis were continued to be awarded after the institutuion of the Bravery medal for officers???

Thanks in advance!!

[Guest Rick Research]

Yes. The Signum Laudis medals remained the basic awards for officers to the end. It is very awkward trying to sort out which Austro-Hungarian award was appropriate for what (rather like the Soviets later-- too many choices), but a Gold Bravery Medal ALWAYS required the absolute highest degree of bravery regardless of who received one, and the Large Silver Bravery Medal for officers was also an exceptional rather than usual award, while a Signum Laudis in either grade was nothing special for them.

[Humberto Corado]

Yes. The Signum Laudis medals remained the basic awards for officers to the end. It is very awkward trying to sort out which Austro-Hungarian award was appropriate for what (rather like the Soviets later-- too many choices), but a Gold Bravery Medal ALWAYS required the absolute highest degree of bravery regardless of who received one, and the Large Silver Bravery Medal for officers was also an exceptional rather than usual award, while a Signum Laudis in either grade was nothing special for them.

Many thanks Rick!!!

[ccj]

Cna anyone show and example of the Large Gold Milit?rverdienstmedaille?

[Taz]

Cna anyone show and example of the Large Gold Milit?rverdienstmedaille?

CCJ,

Is the one you are looking for here?

http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/signum.htm

Regards Eddie

[ccj]

CCJ,

Is the one you are looking for here?

http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/signum.htm

Regards Eddie

Yes, Thanks.

Does anyone one or can anyone show this beside a regular medal for size comparison?

[ccj]

Yes, Thanks.

Does anyone one or can anyone show this beside a regular medal for size comparison?

Is this Bavarian Feldmarshall wearing the large golden Signum Laudis?

[Josef Rietveld]

Is this Bavarian Feldmarshall wearing the large golden Signum Laudis?

I think so

josef

[Iver]

Only 4 germans were awarded "great SIGNVM LAVDIS"...

GFM Paul von Beneckendorf und von Hindenburg

German crown prince Friedrich Willhelm

Bavarian crown prince Rupprecht

GFM Duke of Wuerttemberg Albrecht...

On the photograph is an old man...

Rupprecht was 48 when he was awarded...

Albrecht 52

Hindenburg 68

Friedrich Wilhelm 35