The War Cross for Civil Merits () was a civil award of

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

. Established on 16 August 1915 by

Emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...

Franz Joseph I of Austria Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I ( ; ; 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the ruler of the Grand title of the emperor of Austria, other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 1848 until his death ...

, it recognized civilian war service during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. The cross could also be awarded to military officers for their contributions to the war but were not directly involved in combat operations.

Appearance

The War Cross for Civil Merits is in the shape of a

Cross pattée A cross pattée or cross patty (, ), also known as a cross formée or cross formy, or even a Templar cross, is a type of Christian cross with arms that are narrow at the centre and often flared in a curve or straight line shape to be broader at th ...

, 55 mm high and 55 mm across. A laurel wreath surrounds the center medallion, passing under the horizontal arms of the cross, and in front of the vertical arms. The first and second Class crosses are gilded, the third class is silver, and the fourth class is bronze. The first through third classes had white enamel on the arms of the cross. The center medallion, also enameled white, bears the Emperor's monogram FJI (Franz Joseph Imperator), surrounding the letters is the inscription "Merito Civili tempore belli MCMXV" (Civil merit in time of war 1915). The cross was worn as a breast cross directly on the coat or uniform.

References

{{reflist Orders, decorations, and medals of Austria-Hungary Military awards and decorations of Austria-Hungary Awards established in 1915 1915 establishments in Austria-Hungary Military awards and decorations of World War I Awards disestablished in 1918