Order of the Falcon (Czechoslovakia)

The Order of the Falcon of Štefánik (), also known unofficially as the Štefánikův Order was a Czechoslovak order established in November 1918.

History The establishment of the Order of the Falcon in 1919 resulted from a proposal in September 1918 by the Minister of War Milan Rastislav Štefánik (hence the unofficial name) and was intended to recognise achievements that contributed to the liberation of Czechoslovakia. Membership of the order was primarily conferred upon members of the Czechoslovak Legions who served in Siberia during the Russian Civil War. The order was short-lived as all Czechoslovak orders were abolished in 1919, soon after the Czechoslovak Republic declared independence; they were 'regarded as undemocratic'. One of the most famous officers to be appointed a Knight of the Order of the Falcon was Major General Jan Syrový. During the Russian Civil War, Syrový commanded all anti-Bolshevik forces in Siberia from October 1918 to January 1919 and, in September 1938 as the Czechoslovak Prime Minister, he was forced to accept the terms of the Munich Agreement.

Composition Appointments to the Order were in either the Military or Civilian divisions. The order was intended to consist of five classes: Grand Cross (), Class I Grand Officer (), Class II Commander (), Class III Officer (), Class IV Knight (), Class V In practice appointments were only made to the lowest class.

Insignia Badge. The badge of the order is an inverted star (point down) comprising a convex central white enamel disc, edged white with a gilt border, the whole surrounded by five pattée moussé, edged white with gilt borders. The obverse of the center disc is charged with three hills in blue with gilt borders, surmounted by four gilt falcons in flight. The reverse of the convex center disc is charged with the monogram ČS in blue with gilt borders, surmounting the date 1918 in gilt and surrounded on either side by a branch of gilt laurel leaves.

Suspension device. The badge for civilian awards is suspended from a circlet formed from gilt laurel leaves, whilst gilt crossed swords are added to the suspension device for military awards.

Ribbon. The badge of the order is suspended from a red moire silk ribbon divided by a central narrow white stripe, with a thin white stripe set in from either edge.

Star. Appointments could also be made with a star affixed to the ribbon signifying additional distinction.

Štefánik had the first insignia produced in Tokyo; these were supplied in a lacquered balsa wood box.

Knights

The following is an incomplete list of people appointed as knights of the Order of the Falcon: + List of knights with sword Name Birth Death RankRank Service branch Notable appointments Ref18901973Maj laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18901957Maj laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18861949Maj laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18951972LtCol laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18861945Maj laterDivGen MemInf OffrCS Army18861930DivGenInf OffrCS ArmyHead of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Aviation18931961Capt laterBdeGenInf andEngr OffrCS ArmyCommander III Corps Engineers18891985Col laterBdeGenInf andCav OffrCS Army18911944Capt laterDivGen MemInf OffrCS ArmyChairman of the Czechoslovak Red Cross in exileMember of the Czechoslovak National Council in exile18831983LtCol laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18911972Capt laterBdeGenInf OffrCS ArmySecretary General of the Czechoslovak Inter-ministerial Council for Matters of National Defence18751937LtGenCav OffrRu ArmyCommander of the Czechoslovak LegionsMilitary Affairs Minister18911945Capt laterDivGen MemInf andCav OffrCS Army18871955Maj later(Bde)GenInf OffrCS Army 18831974Maj laterMajGenInf OffrCS Army1894?Maj laterBdeGenCav OffrCS Army18921948DivGenInf OffrCS ArmyDeputy Chief of Staff for the Czechoslovak ArmyNational Fascist Community politician18821942LtCol laterChiefGenMSMemMed OffrCS ArmyChief of Czechoslovak Army Corps Medical Services18931960LtCollater ArmyGenInf OffrCS ArmyCzechoslovak Minister for Transport and Technology18831958Maj laterBdeGenEngr OffrCS Army18871943Maj laterArmyGen MemInf OffrCS ArmyCommander VII Corps1887?Maj laterDivGenInf OffrCS Army18941967Maj laterDivGenInf OffrCS ArmySecretary of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence18931972LtCol laterDivGenInf OffrCS ArmyCzechoslovak Minister for Railways18851954Capt laterDivGenInf OffrCS ArmyCommander IV Corps18621946LtGenlater LtGenInf OffrFr ArmyCommander VII Corps (French Army)Commander-in-Chief Czechoslovak Legion Headquarters18791934LtCol laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18801961Col laterArmyGenArty OffrCS ArmyCommander IV Corps18931941Capt laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18871977Capt laterBdeGenInf andArty OffrCS ArmyCommander VI Corps Artillery1892?Col laterGenTOSAInf andOrd OffrCS ArmyAviation Materiel Department Head, Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence18881947LtCol laterDivGenInf OffrCS Armydivision commanderand military attaché18861939Capt laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18811950Maj laterDivGenEngr OffrCS Army18821935Maj laterDivGen Inf OffrCS Army18901961Capt laterDivGen MemCav OffrCS ArmyCommander Czechoslovak Tank Corps18901972Col laterArmyGenInf OffrCS ArmyCommander-in-Chief Czechoslovak Armed Forces18791936LtCol laterDivGenInf OffrCS Army18841964Maj laterMajGenArty OffrCS ArmyHead Artillery Department, Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence18841951Maj laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18951961LtCol laterArmyGen MemInf OffrCS ArmyCommander III CorpsCommander V Corps18891963Maj laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18891959Capt laterDivGenInf OffrCS ArmyCommander I Corps18911944Maj laterArmyGen MemInf OffrCS ArmyCommander IV CorpsCommander V Corps18901940LtCol later(Bde)GenInf OffrCS Army 18861945Maj laterDivGen MemInf OffrCS Army18871968Maj laterDivGenInf OffrCS ArmyCommander VI CorpsChief of Czechoslovak Missions to Middle East, 21st Army Group and Allied Headquarters1887?Maj laterBdeGenInf OffrCS ArmySecretary General of the Czechoslovak Inter-ministerial Council for Matters of National Defence18851967Maj laterBdeGenArty OffrCS ArmyArtillery Department Head, Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence18861975LtCol laterDivGenInf OffrCS Army18851945Maj laterDivGenArty OffrCS ArmyArtillery Department Head, Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence18911964Maj laterDivGenInf OffrCS ArmyChief of Staff, Czechoslovak Armed Forces Headquarters18871953Maj laterBdeGenEngr OffrCS ArmyCommander I Corps EngineersCommander Army Engineers18891963LtCol laterDivGenInf OffrCS ArmyCzechoslovak Minister of Public Works18851940Maj laterBdeGenArty OffrCS Army18911988Maj laterBdeGenArty OffrCS ArmyCommander IV Corps ArtilleryCommander Land Artillery Command18881938Maj laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18851957Col laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18861968Col laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army1874?Maj laterGenMSMed OffrCS Army18921963Col laterArmyGenInf OffrCS ArmyMinister of Finance, Interior and Transport, Autonomous Carpathia and RutheniaCommander Czech and Slovak Legion18881955Maj laterDivGenArty OffrCS ArmyCommander 1st Army ArtilleryCommander Land Artillery Command18871965Maj laterGenMSMed OffrCS Army18721954Col laterGenMSMed OffrCS Army18881980Lt laterDivGenArty OffrCS ArmyDeputy Commander II Corps18961968Lt laterBdeGenArty OffrCS ArmyCommander VII Corps Artillery1889?Maj laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18861963Maj laterMajGenInf OffrCS ArmyCommander I Corps (ru)18681940LtGenInf OffrCS ArmyCommander-in-Chief Allied Forces, Siberian Theatre1882?Capt laterGenLSInf andLegal OffrCS ArmyAttorney General, Office of the General Military Prosecurtor18831966Capt laterBdeGenInf andEngr OffrCS Army18811966Maj laterChiefGenISInf andOrd OffrCS Army18881941LtCol laterDivGen MemInf OffrCS Army18881970MajGenlater ArmyGenInf OffrCS ArmyCzechoslovak Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence18941981Maj laterBdeGenArty OffrCS Army18781937Capt laterBdeGenInf OffrCS Army18931976LtCol laterDivGenInf OffrCS ArmyCommander II Corps18861979Maj laterBdeGenArty OffrCS ArmyCommander Land Artillery Command18901945Maj laterArmyGen MemInf OffrCS ArmyCommander 1st ArmyMinister of State, Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence in exile18871978Lt laterBdeGenArty OffrCS ArmyCommander II Corps Artillery (ru)18831951MajGenlater ArmyGenInf OffrCS ArmyCommander 1st Army18851941Maj laterMajGenArty OffrCS ArmyCommander Headquarters Land Artillery18831943Col laterDivGenInf OffrCS Army18931942LtCol laterDivGen MemArty OffrCS ArmyCommander VIII Corps18831953Maj laterGenMSMed OffrCS ArmyHead Health Service Corps18911970LtCol laterDivGenInf OffrCS Army18901942Capt laterDivGen MemArty OffrCS ArmyCommander IV Corps Artillery18891942Maj laterDivGen MemInf OffrCS Army

Legend

Ranks ArmyGen = Army General, equivalent to General (4-star rank) LtGen = Lieutenant General (3-star rank) DivGen = Division General, equivalent to Major General (2-star rank) ChiefGenIS = Chief General of the Intendent Services, equivalent to Major General ChiefGenMS = Chief General of the Medical Services, equivalent to Major General BdeGen = Brigade General, equivalent to Brigadier General (1-star rank) (Bde)Gen = General, equivalent to Brigadier General GenLS = General of the Legal Services, equivalent to Brigadier General GenMS = General of the Medical Services, equivalent to Brigadier General GenTOSA = General of the Technical Ordnance Service of Aviation, equivalent to Brigadier General Mem = in memoriam, rank was granted posthumously Service/Branch Arty = Artillery, Engr = Engineering, Inf = Infantry, Leg = Legal, Med = Medical, Offr = Officer, Ord = Ordnance CS = Czechoslovak, Fr = French, Ru = Russian

References