A posthumous award is an award that is granted after the recipient has died. Many prizes, medals, and awards can be granted
posthumously.
Military decorations
Military decorations, such as the
Victoria Cross or the
Medal of Honor, are often given posthumously. The title
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union () was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society. The title was awarded both ...
was posthumously given, but the Gold Star medal was not awarded itself. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, many countries practiced the granting of posthumous awards.
In the Soviet Union, the only posthumous award that was physically awarded was the
Order of the Patriotic War. All other awards were not physically awarded. Until 1977, upon the death of an awardee, all medals and awards were returned.
Less commonly, certain prizes, medals, and awards are granted ''only'' posthumously, especially those that honor people who died in service to a particular cause. Such awards include the
Confederate Medal of Honor award, to Confederate veterans who distinguished themselves conspicuously during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
(1861–1865), and the
Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, to military personnel, police, or civilians who died while serving in a
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
peacekeeping operation.
Other fields
Sports awards and titles can be awarded posthumously, for example 1970
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
champion
Jochen Rindt, who died in a crash late in the season, but still had enough points to be named champion.
Australian actor
Heath Ledger won
many awards after his death in 2008, particularly concerning his performance as
The Joker in the film ''
The Dark Knight''.
See also
*
Lists of awards
References
{{Award-stub