Between 1947 and 1991, during the years of the Cold War, a large number of military awards and decorations were created by various nations to recognize the undeclared hostilities of the era. Military medals of the Vietnam War and the Korean War are the best known due to the extreme level of the conflicts. The following is a list of military decorations of the Cold War based on the various time periods and specific nations involved.

Americas

Canada

Cuba

United States

Asia

Republic of China

North Vietnam

South Vietnam

North Korea

Republic of Korea (South Korea)

Europe

East Germany

Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany

West Germany

The President of the Federal Republic holds the Sonderstufe des Großkreuzes ex officio. It is awarded to him in a ceremony by the President of the Bundestag attended by the Chancellor, the President of the Bundesrat and the Supreme Court President. Other than the President of the Federal Republic, only a foreign head of state can be awarded with the highest class. There is also the provision of awarding the Großkreuz in a special rare design, in which the central medallion with the black eagle is surrounded by a stylized laurel wreath in relief. which has so far only been used twice: for Konrad Adenauer and for Helmut Kohl.

Soviet Union

International Organizations

Inter-American Defense Board

International Commission of Control and Supervision

United Nations