Cross of Merit (Austria-Hungary)

Cross of Merit (Austria-Hungary)
Golden Cross of Merit with the Crown on the red (civilian) ribbon
Description	Golden Cross of Merit with the Crown Golden Cross of Merit Silver Cross of Merit with the Crown Silver Cross of Merit Iron Cross of Merit with the Crown Iron Cross of Merit
Country	Austria-Hungary
Status	No longer awarded
Established	16 Februar 1850
| Ribbons with which the medals could be awarded
Precedence
Next (higher)	Gold Bravery Medal for Enlisted Men
Next (lower)	Karl Troop Cross

The Cross of Merit (German: Verdienstkreuz) (Hungarian: Érdemkereszt) was a military and civil decoration of Austria-Hungary established 16 Februar 1850. Emperor Franz Josef awarded the cross "to reward loyal and actively proven devotion to Emperor and Fatherland, many years of acknowledged beneficial use in public service or other merits earned for the general good".

History

The establishment took place on February 16, 1850. The decoration came in four classes. During the First World War, the award was extended to include the Iron Cross of Merit with and without a crown on April 1, 1916, for the duration of the war. The latter class was intended exclusively for lower ranking soldiers. As a sign of bravery in the face of the enemy, Emperor Karl I introduced the awarding of swords to all classes of the Cross of Merit on December 13, 1916. When awarded with swords, they were to be placed on either a trifold ribbon or on a ribbon bar. The cross is suspended from a red trifold ribbon in peacetime and the ribbon of the Medal for Bravery in wartime.

Classes

• Golden Cross of Merit with the Crown
• Golden Cross of Merit
• Silver Cross of Merit with the Crown
• Silver Cross of Merit
• Iron Cross of Merit with the Crown
• Iron Cross of Merit

  

  All the classes of the Cross of Merit on the ribbon of the Medal for Bravery