Top 10+ Highest Military Awards 🎖️ [MCQs]

Correct Answer: B. Order of Leopold

Explanation: The Order of Leopold is Belgium’s highest military and civil honor. It was established on 11 July 1832 by King Leopold I of Belgium. It was named after the first King of Belgium, it symbolizes the highest honor Belgium can bestow. It has five classes and the Grand Cordon is the highest class.

Correct Answer: D. The Bundeswehr Cross of Honour for Valour

Explanation: The Bundeswehr Cross of Honour for Valour is Germany’s highest military decoration in modern times. It was established on 29 April 2008 by Federal President of Germany / Bundeswehr leadership.

Correct Answer: A. Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross

Explanation: The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was Nazi Germany’s highest military award during World War II. It was established on 1 September 1939 (by Adolf Hitler) awarded to soldiers of any rank for exceptional valor or leadership in combat.

Correct Answer: C. Param Vir Chakra

Explanation: The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military honor, awarded for bravery in the presence of the enemy. It was established on 26 January 1950 by President of India (on behalf of the Government of India)

Correct Answer: B. Gold Medal of Military Valor

Explanation: Italy’s highest military decoration is the Gold Medal of Military Valor, awarded for exceptional bravery. It was established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia.

Correct Answer: C. Order of Victory

Explanation: The Order of Victory was the highest Soviet military decoration, awarded to top commanders during WWII.
Order of Victory = highest in prestige and rarity, awarded for strategic military leadership.
Hero of the Soviet Union = highest for personal heroism, awarded to any rank.
Order of victory was rare it had only 20 recipients. Hero of the Soviet Union was widely awarded, it had more than 12,000 recipients. Hence, “Order of Victory” outranks Hero of the Soviet Union.

Correct Answer: B. Order of St. George

Explanation: The Order of St. George is Russia’s highest military decoration, revived from the Imperial era. It was established on 26 November 1769 by Empress Catherine the Great. It was awarded to officers who displayed courage, leadership, and heroism in battle. After the Russian Revolution (1917), the award was abolished, then restored by the Russian Federation in 1992 by President Boris Yeltsin.

Correct Answer: A. Victoria Cross

Explanation: The Victoria Cross is the highest military honor in the UK, awarded for bravery in the face of the enemy. It was established on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria. Only 1,358 Victoria Crosses have been awarded since 1856.

Correct Answer: A. Medal of Honor

Explanation: The Medal of Honor is the USA’s highest military decoration, awarded for acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. It was established on March 3, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. Congress. It was created during the American Civil War to recognize exceptional acts of bravery.

Correct Answer: B. Nishan-e-Haider

Explanation: Nishan-e-Haider is Pakistan’s highest military award, given for acts of extraordinary bravery in battle. It was established on March 16, 1957. It was first awarded to Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed. It is named after Hazrat Ali (RA), titled “Haider” — meaning “The Lion” — revered for his bravery in Islamic history.

Correct Answer: D. Legion of Honour

Explanation: The Legion of Honour is France’s highest distinction for military and civil merits. It was established by Napoleon Bonaparte, (First Consul of France) on May 19, 1802

Correct Answer: C. War Order of Virtuti Militari

Explanation: The War Order of Virtuti Militari was established in 1792 by King Stanisław II August Poniatowski. It is awarded for extraordinary heroism and courage in combat against an enemy. It has five classes, the Grand Cross (1st Class) to the Silver Cross (5th Class).

Correct Answer: B. Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria

Explanation: The Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is the country’s highest award, conferred for both civil and military service. (Austria does not currently have a separate wartime valor medal).

Correct Answer: B. Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor

Explanation: The Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor is Turkey’s highest military decoration, awarded for extraordinary acts of heroism and service. It is presented by the Chief of the Turkish General Staff on behalf of the state. It was established on 27 July 1967. It replaced the Ottoman-era military decorations, which became obsolete after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1922, such as, Gallipoli Star and Order of Osmanieh.

Correct Answer: C. Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand

Explanation: Spain’s highest military honor is the Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand, awarded for extraordinary bravery in battle. It was established on 31 August 1811 by the Cortes of Cádiz (Spanish Parliament) during the Peninsular War against Napoleon’s France. It is named after Saint Ferdinand III, King of Castile and León (13th century), canonized in 1671, who symbolized Christian knightly valor and patriotism.

Correct Answer: A. Order of St. Stephen

Explanation: The Order of St. Stephen is Hungary’s highest state and military honor. It was established on August 5, 1764 by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria-Hungary. It was named after Saint Stephen I of Hungary (c. 975–1038), the first King of Hungary.

Correct Answer: B. Hero of Ukraine

Explanation: The title “Hero of Ukraine” is the nation’s highest award, given for extraordinary personal heroism or significant service to the state. It was established on 23 August 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma. The order comes in two distinctions. The first one is Order of the Gold Star awarded for acts of heroism, mainly in military service.

Correct Answer: D. None of these.

Explanation: The Order of the Golden Kite was Japan’s highest military decoration, awarded from 1890 until 1947 for bravery and leadership in battle. Whereas, Order of the Rising Sun was awarded for civil and military merit. It is still in use today as a civilian honor, while its military use has mostly ceased post-WWII.

Correct Answer: B. August 1 Medal

Explanation: The August 1 Medal is the highest military award in China. It is named after August 1, 1927, the founding date of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. It was established in 1955 and reinstated/modernized in 2017.

Correct Answer: A. Gold Star Order

Explanation: The Gold Star Order is Vietnam’s highest decoration, awarded for exceptional service to the country and military valor.

Correct Answer: B. Taegeuk Order of Military Merit

Explanation: The Taegeuk Order of Military Merit is South Korea’s highest military honor, awarded for acts of exceptional bravery and leadership.

Correct Answer: B. Order of Kim Il Sung

Explanation: The Order of Kim Il Sung is North Korea’s highest decoration, awarded for outstanding military and political service to the state.

Correct Answer: C. Both of A and B

Explanation: The Order of the Golden Kite was Japan’s highest military decoration, awarded from 1890 until 1947 for bravery and leadership in battle. Whereas, Order of the Rising Sun was awarded for civil and military merit. It is still in use today as a civilian honor, while its military use has mostly ceased post-WWII.