The Civil Cross of Merit (german: Zivil-Verdienstkreuz) was a military and civil decoration of

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...

established 16 Februar 1850.

Emperor Franz Josef Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until his ...

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 World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, 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 Charles I or Karl I (german: Karl Franz Josef Ludwig Hubert Georg Otto Maria, hu, Károly Ferenc József Lajos Hubert György Ottó Mária; 17 August 18871 April 1922) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary (as Charles IV, ), King of Croatia, ...

introduced the swords to the Cross of Merit on December 13, 1916. The cross is suspended from a red trifold ribbon in peacetime and with the ribbon

Medal for Bravery The Medal for Bravery (Serbo-Croatian: ''Медаља за Храброст'', Macedonian: ''Медал за Xраброст'') was a Yugoslav military award created in 1943 for achievements in the line of duty during World War II. It was initial ...

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 Érdemkeresztek (Ausztria)

Endnotes

{{reflist Orders, decorations, and medals of Austria-Hungary Awards established in 1850