Civil Merit Cross

Golden Cross of Merit with the crown on the red ribbon

The six classes (here all on the ribbon of the medal of bravery )

The Civil Merit Cross was donated on February 16, 1850 by Emperor Franz Joseph I and was awarded “ as a reward for loyal and active, proven dependence on the emperor and fatherland, for many years of recognized beneficial use in the public service or for other services earned for the general best ”.

Order classes

The foundation on February 16, 1850 took place 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 teams. As a sign of bravery in the face of the enemy, Emperor Karl I introduced the swords to the Cross of Merit on December 13, 1916 .

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

Medals

The sign of the order is a cross with red enameled cross arms that widen outwards and rounded ends. On the front side are the initials of Emperor Franz Joseph - FJ - on a white enamelled shield , around it the motto VIRIBUS UNITIS . In the middle of the back is the date of the foundation, 1849 . In contrast to the Golden and Silver Cross of Merit, the two versions are made of iron without enamel. The crown was lined with red enamel and unlined.

Ribbon

The award was worn on a crimson ribbon on the left side of the chest. This ribbon corresponds to that of the Knight's Cross of the Franz Joseph Order , to which it is also very similar in other respects - apart from the double-headed eagle behind the cross.

According to the decree of September 20, 1914, people who were awarded the Civil Merit Cross in the war had to wear the decoration on the ponceau red and white striped ribbon of the medal of bravery . The ribbon of the bravery medal was also used for the military merit medal ("Signum Laudis") and the military merit cross ; also for the various levels of the Franz Joseph Order , provided that it was awarded for services in the war.

Known porters

see: Carrier of the civil merit cross

literature

Johann Stolzer, Christian Steeb: Austria's order from the Middle Ages to the present. Academic Printing and Publishing Company, Graz 1996, ISBN 3-201-01649-7 .

Web links

Commons : Civil Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary) - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Military Merit Crosses Monarchy on the website of the State of Styria

Individual evidence

↑ Johann Stolzer, Christian Steeb: Austria's Order from the Middle Ages to the Present. Academic printing and publishing company. Graz 1996. ISBN 3-201-01649-7 . P. 294.
↑ Johann Stolzer, Christian Steeb: Austria's Order from the Middle Ages to the Present. Academic printing and publishing company. Graz 1996. ISBN 3-201-01649-7 . P. 296.

[1] Johann Stolzer, Christian Steeb: Austria's Order from the Middle Ages to the Present. Academic printing and publishing company. Graz 1996. ISBN 3-201-01649-7 . P. 294.

[2] Johann Stolzer, Christian Steeb: Austria's Order from the Middle Ages to the Present. Academic printing and publishing company. Graz 1996. ISBN 3-201-01649-7 . P. 296.