History

This decoration was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I. It was awarded to Officers in the Austrian Army who displayed extraordinary courage and merit in wartime, or who rendered outstanding service in peacetime.

On January 12, 1860 an Imperial decree added a War Decoration to the cross. The War Decoration is a gilt laurel wreath between the cross arms. It was added to the cross of recipients that had courageously faced the enemy during wartime.

Consequently, from 1860 onward the peacetime awards do not feature a laurel wreath, and the wartime awards do have a laurel wreath.

There were several changes made to the cross during Type II (1914-1918).

On September 23, 1914 the Order was amended by an Imperial decree that divided the cross into three separate grades, I Class, II Class, and III Class. Furthermore, on December 13, 1916 crossed swords were added to all crosses awarded for wartime merit, alongside the War Decoration.

The Type II II Class Cross also has varying levels of the War Decoration, including the regular War Decoration, and the III Class War Decoration.

The regular War Decoration is a large enamelled laurel wreath between the cross arms, it continued to be awarded to Officers for wartime merit.

The III Class War Decoration is a small laurel wreath without enamel that surrounds the centre medallion. The III Class War Decoration was added to the II Class Cross when the recipient had previously been awarded the III Class Cross (with War Decoration). If the recipient had previously been awarded the III Class Cross (with War Decoration and swords), silver-coloured crossed swords and the III Class War Decoration were added to the II Class Cross.

If the recipient was awarded the II Class Cross a second time, a surmounting laurel wreath was added to the award between the cross and the suspension.

The Small awards, also known as Kleine Dekorationen or Small Orders, were worn as less formal versions of the crosses. The Small awards adopted the form of the III Class Cross (with War Decoration) and feature miniature devices on the ribbon.

The Small II Class Cross has a miniature II Class Cross on the ribbon.

The Small II Class Cross (with War Decoration) has a miniature II Class Cross with a large laurel wreath on the ribbon.

The Small II Class Cross (with War Decoration and gold swords) has a miniature II Class Cross with a large laurel wreath and crossed gold swords on the ribbon.

The Small II Class Cross (with War Decoration and silver swords) has a miniature II Class Cross with a large laurel wreath and crossed silver swords on the ribbon.

The Small II Class Cross (with III Class War Decoration) has a miniature II Class Cross with a smaller laurel wreath with enamel on the ribbon.