What’s your guys’ favorite medal from both sides? For the Allied side, I have to go with the Medal of Honor. And for the Axis, the Iron Cross with Oakleaves and Diamonds. What about you?
It has to be the Victoria Cross IMHO. So rarely awarded that it means that the recipient really has done something special.
Slightly off topic, am I right in thinking that the Iron Cross could not be awarded posthumously?
I am not 100% sure about the correct answer to your question, but I do believe that the Iron Cross could only be awarded to a living soldier. But that may be false. I’ll look into it for you.
I’d have to agree about the Victoria Cross.
Apart from anything else, in plain bronze with a simple crimson ribbon, it’s so understated, so damn dull, that you know it has to be something special. 
I think the VC is typically British, full of understatement.
I prefer it over the flashy medals of other nations.
Jan
Just for comparison for those who may not have seen them :
Congressional Medal of Honor
Knights Cross with Oak leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Victoria Cross
MoH looks fancy, colorful. In looks I like the victoria cross or the Iron cross.
Another vote for the VC.
Still being cast from the bronze of captured Russian guns from the Crimean War. I forget which battle, maybe Sevastapol. I think the Russians had previously captured the guns from the Chinese.
Since the Victoria Cross seems to be a popular medal here, I did a little research. Here it is;
General Info:
The Victoria Cross (official post-nominal letters “VC”) is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. It is only awarded for bravery “in the face of the enemy”.
The medal takes the form of a cross pattée, 1.375 inches (35 mm) wide, bearing a crown surmounted by a lion, and the inscription “FOR VALOUR”. This was originally to have been “FOR BRAVERY”, until it was changed on the recommendation of Queen Victoria, who thought some might erroneously consider that only the recipients of the VC were brave in battle. The medal, suspension bar and link weigh about 0.87 troy ounces (27 g). The ribbon is crimson, 1.5 inches (38 mm)
Victoria Cross History:
The VC was first issued on January 29, 1856, recognising acts of valour during the Crimean War of 1854-1855. All VCs are cast from the bronze cascabels of two cannon of Chinese origin that were captured from the Russians at the siege of Sevastopol, although during the First World War metal from guns captured from the Chinese during the Boxer Rebellion was also used. The barrels of the cannon in question are stationed outside the Officers’ Mess at the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich. The remaining portion of the only remaining cascabel, weighing 358 oz, is stored in a vault by 15 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps at Donnington. It is estimated that approximately 80-85 medals could be cast from this source. A single company of jewellers, Hancocks of London, has been responsible for the production of every VC awarded since the medal’s inception.
Awards:
A total of 1,355 Victoria Crosses have been awarded since 1856. Originally, the Victoria Cross could only be awarded to surviving recipients and could not be awarded to colonial troops (although it could be awarded to their European officers). Not until the 20th century was it made available to be awarded posthumously and to all troops in the service of the Crown (the first Indian soldier received it in 1914).
The largest number of VCs awarded in a single day was 24 on November 16, 1857 at the relief of Lucknow. The largest number awarded in a single action was 11 at Rorke’s Drift on January 22, 1879.
Since the end of the Second World War the VC has been awarded only twelve times. Four were awarded during the Korean War, one in the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation in 1965, four in the Vietnam War, two during the Falklands War in 1982, and one in the Second Gulf War in 2004.
Only three people have been awarded the Victoria Cross twice, Noel Chavasse, Arthur Martin-Leake, both members of The Royal Army Medical Corps, and New Zealander Charles Upham. The second award is designated by a bar worn on the suspension ribbon of the original decoration and this is thus known as a VC and Bar and since a small cross device is worn on the VC ribbon when worn alone, a recipient of the VC and bar would wear two such crosses on the ribbon.
The Victoria Cross featured on a Canadian postage stamp
EnlargeThe Victoria Cross featured on a Canadian postage stamp
The VC has, exceptionally, been awarded to the American Unknown Soldier; the US Medal of Honor was reciprocally awarded to the British Unknown Warrior. As the VC is awarded for acts of valour “in the face of the enemy”, it has been suggested by some that the changing nature of warfare will result in few VCs being awarded. Only one in ten VC recipients in the 20th century is said to have survived the action for which they received the VC. The corresponding honour for acts of valour that do not qualify as “in the face of the enemy” is the George Cross.
Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Victoria-Cross
^Yet another Pic I found^
EDITED by South African Military to include Source :arrow:
my fav is the iron cross.
I vote for Iron Cross 1st class, Michael the Brave Order (with swords - Romanian, and Military Bravery Order - Romanian.
Michael the Brave order:
Military Bravery Order:
Interesting link (speaking of German WW2 awards, medals and so on): http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/
Edited: It is very interesting the fact that Romanian awards and medals were awarded in both stages of war (for Romanians): fighting amongst Germany side and after 23rd August 1944 fighting amongst Allied (in fact Soviet) side.