Medal for Bravery (Serbia)

The Medal for Bravery or Courage (Serbian: Medalja za hrabrost/Медаља за храброст), commonly known as the Medal of Miloš Obilić, is a state decoration awarded by the Republic of Serbia, and before that by the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, for heroic acts.

Not to be confused with Obilić Medal.
Medal for Bravery
Gold Medal for Bravery first degree
TypeMedal
Awarded forGreat personal courage
Presented by
Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Republic of Serbia
StatusActive
Established1913
First awarded1913
Service ribbon

History

It was founded on 12 July 1913 by King Peter I and granted to soldiers for acts of great personal courage or for personal courage demonstrated on the battlefield. The medal was awarded in two degrees (Gold and silver medals). The medal started being awarded during the Second Balkan War, continued during World War I 1914–1918, and during World War II, 1941–1945, to members of the Yugoslav Army and of Allied forces. On the obverse of the coin is the ideal figure of Miloš Obilić, the Serbian medieval knight who sacrificed his own life at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, by assassinating the Ottoman Sultan Murad I.[1]

The Medal for Bravery was worn on a red ribbon. The author was Đorđe Jovanović.[2]

In 2009 the Republic of Serbia adopted a law regulating medals and continued to award the Medal for Bravery (2 Classes: Golden and silver medal) and in 2010 extended its name to include "Miloš Obilić" (the Medal for Bravery "Miloš Obilić").[3]

First version (1912)
Main article: Medal for Bravery (1912)

Prior to this version, the original medal for bravery in Serbia was established on 14 November 1912. This medal had two degrees (gold and silver medal, which differed in appearance). The gold medal was worn on a red ribbon, while the silver medal was worn on a tricolor ribbon (red-blue-white mimicking the colors of the flag of Serbia). This medal was used very briefly and was soon superseded by another model. The reason for the replacement was because Serbia was represented by an allegorical female figure on the medal's obverse. According to some historians, the female figure was based on Serbian heroine Milica Stojadinović-Srpkinja.[4] The female figure was considered to be an unfitting motive on the medal for bravery for the Serbian soldier. Serbian officers openly expressed dissatisfaction, after which it was decided to change the model to the one depicting Miloš Obilić.[2]

Medal for Bravery (1912 version)
  • 1912 obverse
    1912 obverse
  • 1912 reverse
    1912 reverse

Notable recipients

In 2012 it was posthumously awarded to Srđan Aleksić, a young Serb killed while defending his Bosniak friend.[5]

See also

References
  1. Judah, T. (1997). The Serbs: History, Myth, and the Destruction of Yugoslavia. Yale University Press. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-300-07113-9.
  2. Worldwide Army Medals of World War I - A Personal Collection: A Selection of Global Army War Crosses, Medals, Commemorative and Service Medals. First Issue. LANCE SMALLSHAW. 2018. p. 54.
  3. "Закон о изменама и допунама Закона о одликовањима Републике Србије". National Parliament of Serbia. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  4. "Serbia Dinar 04-1997". Scribd. 2010-07-09.
  5. "Srđan Aleksić died 27 Years Ago".
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