Croatia
The Military
Order of the Iron Trefoil
Instituted on 27 April
1941 by Poglavnik Dr. Ante Pavelic as the highest military award. The Order was awarded
for war acts that were performed on the recipient's own initiative and with personal
commitment and through thoughtful execution resulted in a signal success against the
enemy. The following classes were created :
- Grand Iron Trefoil with Oak Wreath (none awarded
or seen)
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- First Class Cross with Oak
Wreath (neck badge),
- only one awarded :
- in 1942, to Dr. Ante Pavelic, Prime
Minister and Leader of Croatia.
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- First Class Cross
(neck badge) - only three seem to have been awarded :
- Marshal
Slavko Kvaternik was awarded his Iron Trefoil on 11th of February 1942
by the Leader of Croatia, Dr. Ante Pavelic.
- Knight
Rafael Boban (recipients of the 2nd class or higher were knighted)
received the Iron Trefoil 1st class on the 22nd of February 1945 after defeating Russian
forces on Tereza's Field near Virovitica. It was awarded by General Moskov in
Koprivnica in 'Hotel Kriz' (Hotel Cross) in the former officers' mess.
- Generalmajor
der Waffen-SS (Gruppenführer) Arthur Phleps of the 7th SS-Freiwilligen-
Gebirgsdivision "Prinz Eugen" was awarded this decoration either in late 1943 or
early 1944 whilst stationed in Croatia.
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- Second Class Cross with Oak
Wreath
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- Second Class Cross
- The 2nd Class consists of a pin-backed
cross worn on the chest.
- (courtesy of Damir Matanic)
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| Third Class Cross
with Oak Wreath |
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Third Class Cross
- The 3rd Class is worn on a ribbon
through the second buttonhole of the tunic.
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| Fourth Class Cross
with Oak Wreath |
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- Fourth Class Cross
- The Fourth Class is worn on a triangular
ribbon on the chest.
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- Copyright Hendrik Meersschaert
1998,2000 ©
