The Order of Michael the Brave (Ordinul Mihai Viteazul) is Romania's highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of World War I, and was again awarded in World War II. The Order, which may be bestowed as an individual medal or as a unit award, was named in honor of Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), a late 16th century Prince of Wallachia.

Data

Requirements: Awarded to officers only for exceptional deeds on the battlefield. It is the highest ranking Romanian military order.

Classes: 3rd, 2nd and 1st

Date Instituted: September 26, 1916

Number awarded: 2184

During WW1:

1st class: 16

2nd class: 12

3rd class: 336 (of which 43 awarded to military units)

During WW2:

1st class: 15

2nd class: 76 (of which 13 awarded to military units)

3rd class: 1628 (of which 118 awarded to military units)

Recipients

• Ion Antonescu
• Alexandru Averescu
• Radu Bâldescu
• Nicolae Dabija
• Corneliu Dragalina
• Grigore Gafencu
• Eremia Grigorescu
• Michael I of Romania (as Commander-in-Chief of the Romanian Army in 1941)
• Radu Korne
• Mihail Lascăr
• Leonard Mociulschi
• Ioan Palaghiţă
• Constantin Prezan
• Corneliu Teodorini

During World War II, at a time when Romania was allied with Nazi Germany (see Romania during World War II), the Order was awarded to several members of the Axis military forces:

• Fedor von Bock
• Walther von Brauchitsch
• Karl Dönitz
• Hermann Göring
• Hermann Hoth
• Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
• Erich von Manstein
• Friedrich Paulus
• Wolfram von Richthofen
• Gerd von Rundstedt
• Walter Warlimont

See also

• List of military decorations#Romania
• National Decorations System (Romania)

External links

• Order of Michael the Brave at worldwar2.ro
• History of the Order at the Romanian Presidency site
• Order of Michael the Brave and its recipients at ww2awards.com