Croatia, Independent State. An Order Of Merit, I Class Grand Officer Star, Moslem Ladies Version, By Braca Knaus, C.1942 Archive for bravery during the fights

for bravery during the fights east of the river Yser

with a central depiction of a Panzer IV rolling across grassy terrain

Badge in silver and enamels

14th (Flying Tigers)

with strips of red and green cotton in the dome

Croatia, Independent State. An Order Of Merit, I Class Grand Officer Star, Moslem Ladies Version, By Braca Knaus, C.1942 Archive for bravery during the fights(Red za zasluge). Instituted in 1942. In silver with red enamels, mounted to a frosted silver star base, maker marked "BK" (Braa Knaus, Zagreb) and hallmarked with a lobster flanked by the Roman numeral "III" and a "1" on the pin, measuring 74. 5 mm (w) x 75. 3 mm (h), vertical pinback, intact enamels, extremely fine. Footnote: The Order of Merit was instituted on April 10, 1942 and awarded in four grades: Grand Cross, I Class, II Class and III Class,