Decorations of Honour
Decorations of Honour of the Republic of AustriaOverview
- General Information
- Ranking of the Decorations of Honour
General Information
Like most countries, the Republic of Austria honours both Austrian and foreign leading figures who have been of special service to our country, by conferring “visible honours” upon them. The Federal President of the Republic of Austria confers the following Decorations of Honour:
The law establishing the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria was enacted in 1952 by the National Assembly. The Federal President confers these honours upon receipt of a proposal from the appropriate member of the federal government, the President of the National Assembly or the President of the Federal Council, depending on the nature of the services to be honoured.
Anyone is free to suggest a candidate for a Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (although one cannot suggest oneself or a close family member). Suggestions may be directed to the appropriate federal ministry.
Federal President Dr. Heinz Fischer feels that it is particularly important to hold to a strict standard in suggesting candidates for this distinction, in order to respect the intentions of the legislators, which were that the Decoration of Honour should be conferred only upon persons having acted in such a way as to provide outstanding public benefit and/or excellent services to the Republic of Austria.
The Austrian Decoration of Honour for Science and Art, the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class, and the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art were created by a federal law in 1955, and are conferred by the Federal President upon receipt of a proposal by the members of the federal government responsible for the arts and sciences. The awards honour Austrians and foreign leading figures who have “distinguished themselves and earned general acclaim through especially superior creative and commendable services in the areas of the sciences or the arts.”
The Decoration of Honour for Services in Connection with the Austrian Liberation (created in 1976) is a special distinction for men and women who actively resisted the Nazi regime and thus contributed to Austria’s liberation from Nazi rule. The Federal President confers these honours upon receipt of a proposal of the Federal Chancellor based on a report from the “Committee on the Austrian Liberation Decoration of Honour.”
The Military Merit Decoration was created in 1989. Names of candidates can be proposed by the Federal Minister for National Defence to the Federal President. This award can be conferred upon persons who have rendered outstanding military or civilian services in the area of national defence.
Ranking of the Decorations of Honour conferred by the Federal President of the Republic of Austria:
| Gentlemen | Ladies | |||
 |  |  | Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria | |
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Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria | |
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Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria | |
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Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria | |
 |  |  |
Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria | |
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Austrian Decoration of Honour for Science and Art | ||
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Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria | ||
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Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria | ||
 | | Military Merit Decoration | ||
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Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art I. Class | ||
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Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria | ||
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Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art | ||
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Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria | ||
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Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria | ||
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Decoration of Honour for Services about Austrian Liberation | ||
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Decoration of Merit in Gold to the Republic of Austria | ||
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Decoration of Merit in Silver to the Republic of Austria | ||
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Gold Medal with Red Ribbon for Services to the Republic of Austria | ||
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Gold Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria | ||
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Silver Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria |
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