Order of Vitéz

The Order of Vitéz (Hungarian: Vitézi Rend; frequently spelled in English as 'Vitez') is a Hungarian order of merit which was founded in 1920. It was awarded as a state honour from 1920 to 1944, and continues as a semi-independent order of chivalry under Captain General vitéz József Károly von Habsburg, head of the Palatinal branch of the House of Habsburg, and as separate groups born mainly in the 90s. The largest one of these is the Vitézi Rend under vitéz gróf Molnár-Gázso János.

During World War II, many members of the Hungarian government and military were members of the Order; as such, members were involved in both contributing to the Holocaust as well as leading efforts against it. The United States Department of State lists the Order of Vitéz as having been "under the direction of the Nazi Government of Germany", like the French Police at the time.

The Order of Vitéz has several successors; one, the Order of Vitéz under Captain General vitéz József Károly von Habsburg, is recognised by the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry as an "Institution of Chivalric Character"; and so has become, de facto, comparable to a house order of the Palatinal branch of the House of Habsburg (Palatine of Hungary).