What is Order of Leopold (Belgium)?
[[File:Ordre de Leopold Chevalier Militaire.jpg|thumb|right|150px|{{Center|The Order of Leopold}}]] [[File:Chevalier Ordre de Leopold.png|thumb|right|100px|{{Center|The Order of Leopold ribbon}}]] The '''Order of Leopold''' ({{lang-nl|Leopoldsorde}}, {{lang-fr|Ordre de Léopold}}) is one of the three (current) [[Belgium|Belgian]] national honorary [[Order (decoration)|orders of knighthood]]. It is the highest [[Order (decoration)|order]] of [[Belgium]]. It is named in honour of [[Monarch|King]] [[Leopold I of Belgium|Leopold I]]. It consists of a military, a maritime and a civilian division. The maritime division is only awarded to personnel of the merchant navy, and the military division to military personnel. The decoration was established on 11 July 1832. It is awarded for extreme bravery in combat or for meritorious service of immense benefit to the Belgian nation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medals.org.uk/belgium/belgium001.htm |title=Kingdom of Belgium: Order of Leopold I |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= 25 December 2012 |website= |publisher=Medals of the World |accessdate=17 March 2012 }}</ref> The Order of Leopold is awarded by [[Royal Decree]]. During the [[Second World War]], the Order of Leopold was awarded to officers of foreign militaries who had helped to liberate Belgium from the occupation of [[Nazi Germany|German]] forces. Famous recipients include [[Brand Whitlock]], [[George S. Patton]], [[Bernard Montgomery]], [[Dwight Eisenhower]], and [[Wesley Clark]]. [[Medal of Honor]] recepient Sergeant [[Francis S. Currey]] was awarded the Order of Leopold for his actions at [[Malmedy]], [[Belgium]] in late 1944.<ref name=NYSenate>{{cite web |url=http://www.nysenate.gov/story/francis-s-currey |title=Francis S. Currey |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=nd |website= |publisher=New York State Senate |accessdate=13 March 2012 }}</ref> The medal was also granted to [[Karel Bossart]] in 1962, and [[Josip Broz Tito]] in 1970. == References == {{reflist}} {{military-stub}}