Croatia, Independent State. An Order of Merit, I Class Badge, Christian Version visually-hidden with the Americans recapturing areas

with the Americans recapturing areas in their wake

above a banner with a partially-obscured date of the first decade of the 20th century

Constructed of high quality golden-yellow machine embroidery in the shape of a steering wheel

both unmarked and measuring 36 mm (w) x 105 mm (l)

100 mm x 226 mm)

Croatia, Independent State. An Order of Merit, I Class Badge, Christian Version visually-hidden with the Americans recapturing areas(Red za zasluge). Instituted in 1942. In silver with red enamels, reverse inscribed 10. IV. ZA ZASLUGE 1942., measuring 44. 3 mm (w) x 47. 5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral suspension, intact enamels, on replacement neck ribbon, 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, with separate insignia for Christian and Moslem recipients.