Order of Freedom (Yugoslavia)

Order of Freedom (Orden slobode / Орден слободе; Red svobode; Орден на слободата, Orden na slobodata) was the highest military decoration awarded in Yugoslavia, and the second highest Yugoslav state decoration after the Yugoslav Great Star. It was awarded to the commanders of large military units for skillful leadership and for the outstanding courage of the troops. It was awarded to both Yugoslavian and foreign military commanders, and was the most rarely awarded of all Yugoslavian orders, decorations, and medals, being awarded only 7 times before the breakup of Yugoslavia.

After the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Order of Freedom was awarded in Serbia and Montenegro.

History
The Order of Freedom was founded on 12 June 1945 and was awarded by the Presidium of the AVNOJ (later Presidium of the People's Assembly of Yugoslavia). The recipient could be nominated by the Federal Executive Council (Government) of Yugoslavia, Executive Council of one of the Republics, Federal Secretary for Foreign Affairs or Federal Secretary for Defense.

After the breakup of Yugoslavia, the union of Serbia and Montenegro (formally Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 2003) continued to use some of the decorations of former Yugoslavia, among them the Order of Freedom. It was awarded by the President of FR Yugoslavia (later President of Serbia and Montenegro). It was the highest military decoration in FR Yugoslavia, and the third highest state decoration overall, after the Order of Yugoslavia and the Yugoslav Great Star.

Recipients
The Order was awarded a total of 9 times — 7 times in SFR Yugoslavia and 2 times in FR Yugoslavia (after the 1999 Kosovo War). The recipients were:

FPR and SFR Yugoslavia

 * Josip Broz Tito — awarded on 29 November 1947
 * Ivan Gošnjak — awarded on 22 December 1951
 * Koča Popović — awarded on 22 December 1951
 * Georgy Zhukov — awarded on 20 June 1956
 * Peko Dapčević — awarded on 12 July 1973
 * Kosta Nađ — awarded on 22 December 1973
 * Leonid Brezhnev — awarded on 15 November 1976

FR Yugoslavia

 * Dragoljub Ojdanić — awarded on 26 November 1999
 * Nebojša Pavković — awarded on 26 November 1999