Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr

Decorations of Honour of the Bundeswehr Ehrenzeichen der Bundeswehr
Gold Cross of Honour, for exemplary and meritorious service
Awarded by the Federal Republic of Germany
Type	Military Medal
Eligibility	Soldiers of the German armed forces and of allied nations, civilians who rendered outstanding services to the German armed forces
Awarded for	Valor or meritorious service
Status	Currently awarded
Description	Comes in five classes: gold with clasp for bravery. Gold, silver, bronze crosses & bronze medal
Statistics
Established	October 29, 1980 and October 10, 2008

The Decorations of Honour of the Bundeswehr (German: Ehrenzeichen der Bundeswehr) are a series of military decorations of the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. These honours and awards were introduced in 1980 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Bundeswehr by then Minister of Defence Hans Apel and subsequently approved by President of the Federal Republic Karl Carstens.

The first awards were made on November 6, 1980. In 2008, the decorations were updated and received three grades exclusively reserved for heroic deeds. The new awards were the result of a petition by German citizens to restore the order of the Iron Cross.

The decoration is awarded by the Federal Minister of Defence as a "visible commendation for loyal service and exemplary execution of duties". The minister is usually represented by the commanding officer of the awarded soldier (ranked battalion commander or higher). Those awards made for outstanding achievements or heroic deeds, Honour Cross for Bravery (silver or golden), may be presented to the honoured soldier directly by the minister or even by the head of government. On July 6, Chancellor Angela Merkel awarded the bravery grade of the Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr (Cross of Honour) to four troopers for "valor beyond the call of duty" performed in Afghanistan on October 20, 2008.

Receiving one grade of the award is not a requirement for receipt of the next higher one. If earned, all grades of the award may be worn at the same time. The regular grades of the award for meritorious service may only be awarded after a certain time was served. In special cases they may be awarded prior to that.

The badge of honour comes in seven grades:

The Decorations of Honour are awarded with a black-red-golden ribbon and a certificate of commendation. They are worn in full display on the day of the award or on special occasions. On regular duty they are worn as a ribbon bar.

The Medal of Honour is round, shows a German eagle on a Cross pattée surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. On the reverse it reads FÜR BESONDERE VERDIENSTE BUNDESWEHR (For special merits — Bundeswehr). There is an oak leaf above the word Bundeswehr and that side is also surrounded by an oak leaves wreath.