List of wound decorations by country

Last updated December 19, 2024

This list of wound decorations is an index of articles that describe notable awards given for wounds; usually, though not exclusively, to military personnel during wartime.

Country	Award	Description
United States	DEA Purple Heart Award	Awarded by the Drug Enforcement Administration to honor individuals who had lost their lives or been seriously injured enforcing the drug laws of the United States
United Kingdom	Elizabeth Cross	For next of kin of members of the British Armed Forces killed in action or as a result of a terrorist attack after World War II
United States	Fidelity Medallion	For soldiers who participated in the capture of Major John André, of the British Army, who had been the contact to Benedict Arnold and had helped organize his defection during the American Revolutionary War
France	Insigne des blessés civils	Civilians, irrespective of age or sex, who have been injured or maimed as a result of war.
France	Medal for the War Wounded	Wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, World War II deportees and internees from the French Resistance, and soldiers wounded in more recent conflicts
Canada	Memorial Cross	Mother, widow, widower, or next of kin of any member of the Canadian Forces who loses their life in active service, including peacekeeping, and other such international operations
France	National Medal of Recognition for victims of terrorism	French or foreign nationals who are victims of terrorism in France or abroad
Croatia	Order of the Croatian Cross	Croatian and foreign nationals who were severely wounded while participating in the Croatian War of Independence
United States	Purple Heart	Those wounded or killed while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the United States Armed Forces
Canada	Sacrifice Medal	Members of the Canadian Forces or allied forces wounded or killed in action, and to members whose death under honourable circumstances is a result of injury or disease related directly to military service
United States	Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom	Civilian employees of the United States Department of Defense who are killed or wounded in the line of duty
Sweden	Swedish Armed Forces Medal for Wounded in Battle	Swedish Armed Forces personnel wounded directly or indirectly as a result of battle during international mission
Sri Lanka	Desha Putra Sammanaya	Service personal wounded in a manner that is classified 'moderately severe' in action against the enemy, or died as a result of such an injury
Sri Lanka	Uththama Pooja Pranama Padakkama	Next of kin of all servicepersons of the military and police of Sri Lanka in recognition of a serviceperson's death in the line of duty
Germany	Wound Badge	Soldiers of the German armed forces that were wounded between 1918 and 1945, and civilians wounded in air raids
United States	Wound Chevron	Wounds which were received in combat against an enemy force or hospitalization following a gassing. Replaced by the Purple Heart in 1932
Poland	Wound Decoration	Wound or injury sustained in action against an enemy in defense of the country during the Polish–Soviet War
Austria-Hungary	Wound Medal	Soldiers and civilians attached to Austro-Hungarian military units who were wounded in combat, became disabled or suffered serious health damage in connection with military actions during World War I
Croatia	Wound Medal	Those who, as homeland defenders, were wounded or injured during combat with the enemy during World War II
India	Wound Medal	Those who sustain wounds as a result of direct enemy action in any type of operations or counter-insurgency actions
South Vietnam	Wound Medal	Personnel of the South Vietnamese military who, while engaged in armed combat with enemies of the Republic of Vietnam, were either wounded or killed in action
Norway	Wounded in Action Medal Killed in Action Medal	Awarded to personnel that through combat action have been wounded. Can be awarded more than once, this is shown with a silver star on the ribbon. Presented to the next of kin to personnel in or with the Norwegian Armed Forces that has been killed in action. As of 2022, 10 medals have been awarded.
International (Rojava)	The Medal for the Martyrs	Presented to the next of kin to the international fighters and volunteers with the Kurdish forces that were killed while in Syria or died as a result of their service in Syria.

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The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York.

The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military awards and decorations</span> Award, usually a medal of some sort, mark of honor

Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion.

The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Médaille militaire</span> Award

The Médaille militaire is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, after the Legion of Honour, a civil and military order, and the Order of Liberation, a Second World War-only order. The Médaille militaire is therefore the most senior entirely military active French decoration.

The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award was established in 1916, with retrospective application to 1914, and was awarded to other ranks for "acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire". The award was discontinued in 1993, when it was replaced by the Military Cross, which was extended to all ranks, while other Commonwealth nations instituted their own award systems in the post war period.

The orders and decorations conferred upon civilians and military personnel in the Republic of the Philippines are listed by orders of precedence. Philippine civilian orders and decorations are conferred by the President of the Philippines in his or her capacity as head of state. In certain instances, the conferment of certain orders and decorations requires the concurrence of the Congress of the Philippines, or of certain advisory bodies.

The Wound Medal or Parakram Padak is an Indian Military award given to those who sustain "wounds as a result of direct enemy action in any type of operations or counter-insurgency actions." The medal was established in 1973, by the President of India for wounds back dated to 15 August 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desha Putra Sammanaya</span> Award

The Desha Putra Sammanaya is a military decoration awarded as a wound medal to servicepersons of the Military of Sri Lanka, equivalent to the United States Purple Heart. The Sri Lanka Police awards an equivalent, related award for its service personnel.

The Lint voor Wonden is a South African military campaign award. It was instituted on 21 December 1920 as a retrospective award for Boer veteran officers and men of the 1899–1902 Second Boer War who had been wounded in action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honoris Crux Silver</span> Award

The Honoris Crux Silver, post-nominal letters HCS, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for exceptional acts of bravery while in great danger. The Honoris Crux Silver was the third most senior in a set of four classes of Honoris Crux decorations, which together replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.

Portugal has a system of orders, decorations, and medals as a means of honouring individuals for personal bravery, achievement, or service to Portugal.

Orders, decorations, and medals of the German Empire covers those decorations awarded by the states which came together under Prussian leadership to form the German Empire in 1871. For convenience's sake, this category also covers the decorations of the various German states which were no longer in existence in 1871, mainly because they had been annexed by Prussia during the Wars of Unification or before.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medal for the War Wounded</span> Award

The Medal for the War Wounded was originally a mere insignia in the form of an ribbon awarded for wounds received in the line of duty while facing an enemy. The insignia was established by the law of 11 December 1916, based on an idea by the nationalist writer Maurice Barrès. Although originally established as a temporary measure, the insignia survived for a century in some form or another. It could be awarded to wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, to World War II deportees and internees from the French resistance and to soldiers wounded in more recent conflicts. A variety of unofficial medals in the form of a red enamelled star suspended by the same ribbon appeared very early on and although tolerated for wear by the authorities, were not official until recently.

The honours system in the Republic of Austria is a means of rewarding individuals' personal achievement, or service to Austria by state decorations and medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insigne des blessés civils</span> Award

The Insigne des blessés civils is a French distinction for civilians, irrespective of age or sex, who have been injured or maimed as a result of war.

This is a list of orders, decorations, and medals of Austria-Hungary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honoris Crux (1975)</span> Former South African military decoration

The Honoris Crux of 1975, post-nominal letters HC, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. The decoration was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for bravery in dangerous circumstances. It was the junior in a set of four Honoris Crux decorations in four classes, which together replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.

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List of wound decorations by country

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