Austria – Empire: Iron Cross of Merit without Crown on wartime ribbon, 1916-1918 issue
Condition: Good Very Fine
The Iron Cross of Merit was instituted on 1 April 1916 in two grades - Iron with and without Crown - as a need had been perceived for a grade below the existing Gold and Silver to reward the many people of lower ranks performing exceptional acts and services in wartime, especially in the support and auxiliary services. Early examples, were in iron but as wartime shortages became more acute, zinc alloy (Kriegsmetall) was substituted.
