Badge of Honour of the Bundeswehr
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| Ehrenzeichen der Bundeswehr | |
|---|---|
 Honor Medal, obverse |
|
| Awarded by the Federal Republic of Germany | |
| Type | military decoration |
| Eligibility | Soldiers of the German armed forces and Allied nations |
| Awarded for | Valor or Meritorious service |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Description | Comes in four classes: gold, silver and bronze crosses and a bronze medal |
| Statistics | |
| Established | October 29, 1980 |
 Medal, reverse |
|
The Medal of honour of the Bundeswehr (German: Ehrenzeichen der Bundeswehr) is a decoration of the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany for meritorious service.
The decoration is usually awarded for longevity and meritorious service. However, it may also be awarded for valor in combat and other acts of merit regardless of time of service. It may be awarded to foreign soldiers as well as all German soldiers.
The decoration has four grades:
- Medal of Honour of the Bundeswehr (Ehrenmedaille der Bundeswehr) An individual may become eligible after completing a minimum of seven months of service and being nominated for exemplary service within that period.
- Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr in Bronze (Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Bronze) An individual may become eligible after completing a minimum of five years of service and being nominated for exemplary service within that period.
- Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr in Silver (Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Silber) An individual may become eligible after completing a minimum of seven years of service and being nominated for exemplary service within that period.
- Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr in Gold (Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Gold) An individual may become eligible after completing a minimum of 20 years of service and being nominated for exemplary service within that period.
[edit] Design
The medal is round, on its center is displayed the German eagle on the Bundeswehr version of the Iron Cross surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. On the reverse it reads "FÜR BESONDERE VERDIENSTE BUNDESWEHR" (German: For Special Merits - Bundeswehr). There is an oak leaf above the word Bundeswehr and that side is also surrounded by an oak leaves wreath.
The three higher grades are in the shape of a cross and in the center is the round design of the lowest medal, the reverse reads "For Service".
The ribbon is black with two red stripes beside it and golden stripes on the edges as the colors of the German flag, the ribbon bar has a small clasp of the decoration grade attached to it.
