Cross of Liberty (Estonia)
The Cross of Liberty (Estonian Vabadusrist ) is an Estonian Medal, which was awarded from 1919 to 1925.
History
On February 24, 1919, one year after the proclamation of Estonia's independence, founded the Estonian Prime Minister Konstantin Pats the Cross of Liberty.
The freedom Cross was awarded for special achievements during the Estonian War of Independence ( 1918-1920 ). In addition, ten persons were honored with the Cross of Liberty, who were involved in the suppression of the Communist coup in Estonia in 1924.
The last winner of the Freedom Cross was awarded in 1925. The Law of the Estonian Parliament on 19 June 1925, the award was discontinued. But the Cross of Liberty can still be awarded in the event of war for the defense of the Estonian freedom.
In many cases, the award of the Freedom Cross was associated with a cash prize, the allocation of a piece of land or a training scholarship.
Departments and religious levels
The Cross of Liberty has three departments:
- I. Abteilung (White) for military services
- Department II (black) for bravery in battle
- III. Department (blue) for civil services
Each department has three religious classes. The first medal of the second class department has never been awarded.
The order is specified with the abbreviation VR, the department in Roman numerals and the Arabic numeral class.
The Order itself was designed by the Estonian artist Nikolai Triik ( 1884-1940 ). They are inspired by the Finnish Order of the Cross of freedom and to the Cross of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. The blue-black- white national colors of Estonia are incorporated.
Award
The Cross of Liberty was awarded in its history so far 3224 times, a total of 3130 people.
Known awardees
- The unknown British soldier VR I / 1
- The unknown French soldier VR I / 1
- The unknown Italian soldier VR I / 1
- The city of Verdun VR I / 1
- King Albert I of Belgium VR I / 1
- David Beatty VR I / 1
- Stanley Baldwin VR III / 1
- Arthur Balfour VR III / 1
- Aristide Briand, VR III / 1
- Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood VR III / 1
- Austen Chamberlain VR III / 1
- King Christian X of Denmark VR I / 1
- Georges Clemenceau VR III / 1
- Gaston Doumergue VR III / 1
- Ferdinand Foch VR I / 1
- Pietro Gasparri VR III / 1
- King George V VR I / 1
- King Gustav V of Sweden VR III / 1
- Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig VR I / 1
- Miklós Horthy VR III / 1
- Kyösti Kallio VR III / 1 and I / 2
- Julius Kuperjanov VR II / 2 and II / 3
- Johan Laidoner VR I / 1 and III / 1
- David Lloyd George VR III / 1
- Benito Mussolini VR III / 1
- Karl Parts VR I / 1, II / 2 and II / 3
- Philippe Pétain VR I / 1
- Józef Piłsudski VR I / 1 and III / 1
- Johan Pitka VR I / 1
- Jaan Poska VR III / 1
- Konstantin Pats VR I / 1 and III / 1
- Nikolai Reek VR II
- August Rei VR III / 1
- Carlo Sforza VR III / 1
- Władysław Sikorski VR III / 1
- Otto Strandman VR III / 1
- Karlis Ulmanis VR III / 1
- King Victor Emmanuel III. of Italy VR III / 1
- Aleksander Warma VR I / 3
- Maxime Weygand VR I / 1