Identify Military Medals, Badges & Awards
Welcome to identifymedals.com. This is a free educational site that hopes to inform people about military medals, awards, badges, and orders from around the world. I created this website to help people identify medals in their collection and learn more about the stories behind some of the different insignia, orders of knighthood, and other decorations. I hope that, together, we can keep the memory of those who earned them and their actions alive. After all, we are more than medal collectors; we are guardians of history.
Explore Military Medals and Awards by Time Period:
Explore Military Medals and Awards by Country:
Can’t find your medal’s country? This list is not the complete one! See All Countries in this Link >
Latest Site News & Articles
- Created a new page for Swedish medals.
- Added several new clasps and shields to the Third Reich collection.
- Created a new page for Masonic Medals.
- Created a new page for Vatican medals.
- Created a new page for Nigerian medals.
- Added all four Military Orders of Knighthood of Spain.
- Created a new page for Togolese medals.
Exploring the Nobel Prize Medal
The Nobel Prize medal is a prestigious award given annually for contributions to humanity. Here’s everything about its medal.
All the British 19th Century Campaign Medals – The Complete List
From the Napoleonic Wars to colonial conflicts and imperial campaigns, the 19th century was a period of significant military engagement.
What Is a Military Campaign Badge? Significance & Examples
Campaign badges are awarded to members of a military unit who have participated in a specific campaign or operation. Here’s all about them.
Russia’s Medieval Award: The Kievan Rus’ Grivna Neck Bracelet
During the early Middle Ages in Rus’, a practice emerged where the grivnas and dengis had a significant role as a form of reward.
Pip, Queak, and Wilfred: Three Inseparable Friends of WW1 + Video
Pip, Squeak and Wilfred was a British strip cartoon created in 1919. During World War I, though, the names meant something entirely different!
The Five Napoleonic Wars and Their Medals
The Napoleonic Wars had a profound impact on European history. As such, the saw the issuance of various military medals and decorations.
All the British WW2 Campaign Medals and Where to Find Them
During WW2, certain medals were awarded for participating in specified military campaigns. Here’s the complete list and data.
How to Apply for a US Military Medal: Eligibility and Process
A step-by-step guide to determine if you or another person is entitled to a medal and how to apply for and receive it.
The Highest Military Decorations Awarded by the United States in Order
Discover the hierarchy of the highest military decorations in the United States, and learn about the bravery recognized by these honors.
German Tinnies: What Are They And Why Are They So Collectible?
Campaign shields were military decorations worn on the sleeves of uniforms to denote participation in specific military campaigns or battles.
WW1 – The Great War
Years 1914 – 1918
Many military medals were awarded during WW1, or The Great War. Some of the most commonly given include Pip, Squeak, and Wilfred (the affectionate name of three campaign medals), the Victoria Cross, the Distinguish Service Order and Cross, and the Military Cross. You can click on the link below (or any of the displayed medals) to learn more about the different awards given by the countries involved in the First World War.
The Distinguished Service Cross
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second-highest United States Army military award and is given for extreme gallantry and risk of life.
The Silver Star (USA)
The Silver Star Medal is the United States Armed Forces’s third-highest personal decoration for gallantry and valor in combat.
The Iron Cross (EK 1914)
The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz or EK) is a military decoration established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in March 1813.
The Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest United Kingdom honors system award. It is given for gallantry in the presence of the enemy.
The Inter Allied Victory Medal (Great Britain)
The Victory Medal (also known as Inter-Allied Victory Medal) is a United Kingdom and British Empire First World War campaign medal.
WW2 – Second World War
Years 1939 – 1945
Similarly, a large number of military medals were given to combatants and people who participated in the Second World War, or WW2. These include the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the 1939-1945 Star, the Pacific Star, and many more. In this section (which you can access from the link or any of the images below), you will find all the medals awarded during World War II by all the countries involved in the conflict.
The Dunkirk Medal
The Dunkirk Medal is an unofficial commemorative medal established om 1 May 1960 and created by the town of Dunkirk for the area’s defense.
The Coburg Badge
The Coburg Badge (Das Coburger Abzeichen in German) was the first badge recognized as a national award of the Nazi Party or NSDAP.
The German Cross (Nazi-Germany)
The German Cross (Deutsches Kreuz) was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941 and awarded in gold and silver.
The Pacific Star
The Pacific Star is a British military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 for those who served in the Pacific Campaign.
The 1939-1945 Star
The 1939–1945 Star is a military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for operational service overseas.
Featured Articles About Medals & Awards
War Stories, Deep-Dives into Specific Medals, Battles, Characters, and More
I try to research military medals, awards, and badges on a regular basis. You will always find the latest articles here, on the home page. These include not just posts about insignia but also a variety of other militaria-related topics. For example, the worth and value of medals, how to start collecting them, and finding good display cases. Also the best museums to see medals in person, histories of battles, women during the wars, historical approaches to military research, and much more. I hope you enjoy the articles – and let me know if there’s anything else you’d like me to cover.
