Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria facts for kids

The Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (German: Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich) is a special award from the country of Austria. It is given to people who have done great things for Austria. This award has 15 different levels, or "classes." It is the highest award you can receive in the Austrian honours system.

History of the Austrian Honour

This special award was first created by a law on November 4, 1922. Back then, it had ten different levels. Later, it grew to sixteen levels. In 1934, a different award, the Austrian Order of Merit, took its place.

The award we know today was started again in 1952. The National Council decided to bring it back. It is given to people, both from Austria and other countries, who have provided excellent service to the nation. The Austrian government chooses who gets the award. The President of Austria then officially presents these honours. When someone becomes the President of Austria, they automatically receive the "Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria." They keep this honour for their whole life.

Levels of the Award

The Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria has 15 different levels. These levels show how important the service was. Here are some of them:

• Grand Star (Gross-Stern)
• Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash (Grosses Goldenes Ehrenzeichen am Bande)
• Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver with Sash (Grosses Silbernes Ehrenzeichen am Bande)
• Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star (Grosses Goldenes Ehrenzeichen mit Stern)
• Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver with Star (Grosses Silbernes Ehrenzeichen mit Stern)
• Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold (Grosses Goldenes Ehrenzeichen)
• Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver (Grosses Silbernes Ehrenzeichen)
• Grand Decoration of Honour (Grosses Ehrenzeichen)
• Decoration of Honour in Gold (Goldenes Ehrenzeichen)
• Decoration of Honour in Silver (Silbernes Ehrenzeichen)
• Decoration of Merit in Gold (Goldenes Verdienstzeichen)
• Decoration of Merit in Silver (Silbernes Verdienstzeichen)
• Gold Medal (Goldene Medaille)
• Silver Medal (Silberne Medaille)
• Bronze Medal (Bronzene Medaille), this one is no longer given out.

The "Gold Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria" can also be given as a "Gold Medal with Red Riband." This special version is for people who show great bravery and help save lives.

Famous People Who Received the Award

Many important people from around the world have received this honour. Here are some of the most well-known recipients.

Grand Star Recipients

The Grand Star is the highest level of this award. It is often given to leaders of countries and royal families.

Royal Families

• Elizabeth II, who was the Queen of the United Kingdom for many years (1966)
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, her husband (1966)
• Akihito, a former Emperor of Japan (1999)
• Empress Michiko, his wife (1999)
• Margrethe II of Denmark, the Queen of Denmark (1964)
• Carl XVI Gustaf, the King of Sweden (1967)
• Queen Silvia of Sweden, his wife (1979)
• Albert II, a former King of the Belgians (1958)
• Queen Paola of Belgium, his wife (1997)
• Philippe of Belgium, the current King of the Belgians (2022)
• Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, the current King of the Netherlands (2022)
• Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, his wife (2022)
• Hussein bin Talal, a former King of Jordan (1976)
• Abdullah II, the current King of Jordan (2001)
• Queen Rania of Jordan, his wife (2001)
• Haile Selassie, a former Emperor of Ethiopia (1954)
• Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, a former Emperor of Iran (1958)
• Empress Farah, his wife (1965)
• Olav V, a former King of Norway (1966)
• Harald V, the current King of Norway
• Queen Sonja of Norway, his wife (1978)
• Juan Carlos I of Spain, a former King of Spain (1978)
• Queen Sofía of Spain, his wife (1978)
• Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, the current Grand Duke of Luxembourg (2013)
• Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, his wife (2013)

Politicians

• Adolf Schärf, a former President of Austria (1957)
• Franz Jonas, a former President of Austria (1965)
• Rudolf Kirchschläger, a former President of Austria (1974)
• Kurt Waldheim, a former Secretary-General of the United Nations and President of Austria (1974)
• Thomas Klestil, a former President of Austria (1992)
• Heinz Fischer, a former President of Austria (2004)
• Alexander Van der Bellen, the current President of Austria (2017)
• Josip Broz Tito, a former President of Yugoslavia (1965)
• Suharto, a former President of Indonesia (1973)
• Jacques Chirac, a former President of France
• Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, a former President of Italy (2002)
• Giorgio Napolitano, a former President of Italy (2007)
• Sergio Mattarella, the current President of Italy (2019)
• Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the current President of Portugal (2019)
• Sauli Niinistö, the current President of Finland (2016)
• Moon Jae-in, a former President of South Korea (2021)
• Zuzana Čaputová, the current President of Slovakia (2024)

Other Important Recipients

Many other people have received different levels of this award for their contributions.

• Willy Brandt, a former Chancellor of Germany (Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash, 1972)
• Kofi Annan, a former Secretary-General of the United Nations (Grand Decoration in Gold with Sash, 2007)
• Simon Wiesenthal, a famous Nazi hunter (Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria, 2005)
• Miep Gies, who helped hide Anne Frank and her family during World War II (2009)
• Anna Freud, a famous child psychologist (1975)
• Christoph Schönborn, a leading Roman Catholic Cardinal in Austria (Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash, 2008)
• Andreas Maislinger, who started the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service (Decoration of Honour in Silver, 2005)
• Shoichiro Toyoda, a Japanese business leader (Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star, 1999)
• Henry Steiner, a well-known graphic designer (Decoration of Honour in Gold, 2006)
• Gustav Mak Ka Lok, a composer and conductor (Decoration of Honour in Gold for services to the Republic of Austria, 2022)

See also

In Spanish: Orden al Mérito de la República de Austria para niños