Vasa Medal

Vasa Medal (Swedish: Vasamedaljen, VGM/SM[1]) was established by King Oscar II of Sweden in 1895 as a reward medal for general civil virtues.[2] It was given in gold and silver of the 8th and 5th sizes.[3] The medal shows a royal crown but without the king´s picture. It is worn in the ribbon of the Order of Vasa; green.[1] It carries the cross of the Order of Vasa and the reverse a globe coated with the Three Crowns of the coat of arms of Sweden. It ceased to be awarded in 1974.

Torsten Stålnacke and Stig von Bayer and nine other Swedish soldiers was awarded the Vasa Medal between 1962 and 1964 for their services during the Congo Crisis.[4] Stålnacke was nominated for För tapperhet i fält, but in Sweden a general understanding was that it was not suited with a medal whose statutes spoke of "fight against the enemies of the kingdom". When the "Swedish war decorations" (Svenska krigsdekorationer) had been investigated in 1944 and 1951, one did not have the idea that Swedish soldiers would experience war situations without the kingdom formally being in a state of war. The result was that the 11 soldiers who distinguished themselves by acts of valor received the Vasa Medal. Those who "only" were wounded got nothing. It was not considered with the times to publicly honor such sacrifices.[5]

Vasa Medal, gilded silver, 8th size. Engraver: Lea Ahlborn
Vasa Medal, silver, 5th size. Engraver: Lea Ahlborn

References

Braunstein, Christian (2007). Utmärkelsetecken på militära uniformer [Decorations on Swedish military uniforms] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 12 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. p. 48. ISBN 978-91-976220-2-8. SELIBR 10423295.
"Vasa". Svenska Akademiens ordlista (in Swedish). 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
"Vasaorden" [Order of Vasa] (in Swedish). Royal Court of Sweden. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
Sjöstrand, Carl, ed. (2006). Utlandsstyrkan i fredens tjänst: försvarsmaktens internationella insatser (in Swedish). Malmö: Arena. p. 226. ISBN 91-7843-225-1. SELIBR 10271824.
"För sårade i strid – nu och då" [For the wounded in battle - now and then]. www.phaleristica.com (in Swedish). 13 April 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2019.

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[Braunstein_(2007),_p._48-1] Braunstein, Christian (2007). Utmärkelsetecken på militära uniformer [Decorations on Swedish military uniforms] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 12 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. p. 48. ISBN 978-91-976220-2-8. SELIBR 10423295.

[2] "Vasa". Svenska Akademiens ordlista (in Swedish). 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2019.

[3] "Vasaorden" [Order of Vasa] (in Swedish). Royal Court of Sweden. Retrieved 7 March 2019.

[4] Sjöstrand, Carl, ed. (2006). Utlandsstyrkan i fredens tjänst: försvarsmaktens internationella insatser (in Swedish). Malmö: Arena. p. 226. ISBN 91-7843-225-1. SELIBR 10271824.

[5] "För sårade i strid – nu och då" [For the wounded in battle - now and then]. www.phaleristica.com (in Swedish). 13 April 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2019.