Westhard Order
The Westhard Order ( Latvian Viestura ordenis ) was founded on July 12, 1938 by the Latvian President Kārlis Ulmanis and named after the Latvian King Viestur (also Vesthard or Westhard ). Since its reintroduction in 2004, it has been awarded “for services to training, increasing and maintaining the armed forces of the state, maintaining and strengthening state security, public order and protecting state borders and educating citizens to be aware of the strength of the state and you Preparation for vigilant service to the state and the country and for the indomitable defense of the state "Awarded in five classes and a badge of honor in three levels ( gold , silver and bronze ).
Classes
The medal, which ranks behind the three-star medal , can be awarded to military personnel with swords. Such an award is subject to the following regulations:
- Badges of honor in bronze for soldiers / sailors up to NCOs
- Medals of honor in silver for sergeants / mate up to senior sergeant-major / boatswain
- Medal of honor in gold for officer candidates up to senior officer candidates
- Order of the fifth class to lieutenant to captain / lieutenant
- Order IV. Class to major / lieutenant in command to lieutenant colonel / captain in command
- Order III. Class to Colonel / Captain
- Order II. Or I. Class awarded (depending on the position held) to Brigadier General / Flotilla Admiral, Major General / Rear Admiral , Lieutenant General / Vice Admiral
Order decoration
The medal is a straight, gold-rimmed, white-enameled cross with clover-leaf ends, which are filled with red-enameled circular discs. In the corners are the four arms of a likewise gold-rimmed white enameled, but eight-pointed cross. In the sword decorations this is replaced by two crossed golden swords. The initials VR (Vesthardus Rex) are in the gold-rimmed, white- enameled central shield . On the back in the middle the year 1219 and all around the inscription CONFORTAMINI ET PUGATE (make yourself strong and fight).
In grades I to V, the Latvian national coat of arms is crowned by three stars arranged in an arc, flanked by a lion on the right and a griffin on the left, between the cross and the carrying ring .
Carrying method
The grand cross is carried on a sash from the right shoulder to the left hip and with a four- pointed breast star . Grand officers and commanders wear a neck medal . Grand officers additionally with a breast star. Officers and knights decorate the medal on the ribbon on the left side of the chest.
The ribbon is purple.
literature
- Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann , Ottfried Neubecker (ed.): Ordens-Lexikon. The Order Collection, Berlin 1962, 1964.
