Updated: 02 August, 2005

Bavaria

Cross of the Military Order of Merit (1866-1919) (Depicted here is the medal for war service) (Militar-Verdienstkreuz des MVO 1866-1919). This order is the most commonly encountered and was established by King Louis II in 1866 for acts of a military nature which did not justify the award of the Maximilian Joseph Order. The insignia is one of the most attractive of the German Orders and came in five classes with or without swords added when the award was given in battle. The ribbon is white with one blue and black stripe towards each edge in war time but without the black stripe when awarded in peace time. There is also a Cross of Military Merit, similar in design to the lower degrees of the Order, but made in bronze that was often bestowed on pilots and N.C.0.'s in World War I for bravery in action. (Ref: Medal Ribbons & Orders of Imperial Germany & Austria by D.G. Neville).