Order of People's Liberation


The Order of People's Liberation or Order of National Liberation was a decoration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the fifth-highest decoration in the series of Yugoslav decorations. The order was founded by Josip Broz Tito's main Headquarters on 15 August 1943. It was awarded for "outstanding contribution in organizing and directing the uprising and the creation and development of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia". The insignia of the order was designed by Croatian sculptor Antun Augustinčić in 1945. It is in the form of a badge worn on the left of the chest.

History

Order of the People's Liberation was among the six orders established by the Supreme Headquarters of the NOV i POJ during the World War II on 15 August 1943 by a Decree signed by Tito. It was the third highest order. According to the Decreed, the Order of People's Liberation was to be awarded "for the merits in the people's liberation". During the war, the insignia of the order was produced in the Soviet Union.
State decorations were formalized in the Law on orders and decorations of 1945. According to the Law, the Order of People's Liberation had one class and was the fourth highest order, beside the orders of People's Hero, Freedom (Yugoslavia)|Freedom], and Partisan Star 1st class. In 1945, the Soviet-produced insignia was abandoned for the new design by sculptor Antun Augustinčić. In March 1945, the Presidium of the National Assembly informed all persons who were awarded the Order of Liberation before its formalization that they can request new-style insignia of the order instead of the old insignia.
The Statute of the Order was adopted in 1946 by the Presidium of the National Assembly. The Statute stipulated that the Order of People's Liberation could be awarded to "distinguished military commanders, or political or public workers who distinguished themselves in the struggle for people's liberation, in the formation of Socialist Yugoslavia, or in the building of people's democracy."
In 1948, new Order of the Hero of Socialist Labour was established, and in 1954, new highest order, the Order of the Yugoslav Star, was established, so from then on, the Order of People's Liberation was fifth highest order, behind the orders of the Yugoslav Star, Freedom, People's Hero, and the Hero of Socialist Labour.
As of 31 December 1968, the Order of People's Liberation was awarded 299 times. Before the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was awarded to 262 Yugoslav citizens and 21 foreign citizens. The rest were awarded to different military units, organizations, etc.

Notable recipients

Beside persons, the order was awarded to numerous military units and institutions of the Yugoslav People's Army, a ship, a newspaper, and to the island of Vis.