Austria - Empire: Karl Troop Cross (Karl-Truppen-Kreuz), 1916, pressed zinc version.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Emperor Karl succeeded to the throne in November 1916 and the cross was instituted on 13 December. The design of the cross strongly recalls that of the Army Cross of 1813-1814 (usually known as the ‘Cannon Cross’ – ‘Kanonenkreuz’) as a reminder of the war with Napoleonic France some hundred years before. The Cross was to be awarded to all military, regardless of rank, who had been part of a front-line formation for three months.
