Military Order of the Iron Trefoil

Military Order of the Iron Trefoil (shorter Iron Trefoil), also known under the name Croatian Cross, was the highest military decoration of the Independent State of Croatia, and it was awarded for "acts of war, achieved by personal incentive, for efforts and good leadership in ventures, which had remarkable success against the enemy."

The Order had four classes, the 1st Class is worn on a ribbon around the neck, 2nd Class without the ribbon on the left chest, 3rd Class on ribbon on buttonhole, 4th Class on triangular ribbon on left chest. For exceptional merits the Order was awarded together with Oak Branches. The recipients of the 1st and 2nd Class had the right to the title "Vitez" (Knight).

The Military Order of the Iron Trefoil was hard to be awarded. The only holder of the 1st Class with Oak Branches was Poglavnik dr. Ante Pavelić, and 1st Class was awarded to only two high-ranking Croatian officer, and one of them was a Vojskovođa and former Austro-Hungarian Colonel Slavko Kvaternik.

This Order is esteemed by collectors because it is very rare and made in high quality.

Holders of the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil

1st Class with Oak Branches

Only one holder:

• Ante Pavelić, Poglavnik of the Independent State of Croatia
• (Awarded, but not presented to, Generalfeldmarschall (field marshal) Friedrich Paulus)^[1]

1st Class

Seven holders:

• Rafael Boban, general of the Croatian Armed Forces
• Paul Dahm, Sturmbannführer
• Walter Stettner Ritter von Grabenhofen, Generalleutnant of the Heer
• Slavko Kvaternik, Vojskovođa and commander of the Domobarnstvo
• Vjekoslav Luburić, general of the Croatian Armed Forces
• Artur Phleps, Obergruppenführer of the Waffen SS
• Werner Sanne, Generalleutnant of the Heer

2nd Class with Oak Branches

Five holders

2nd Class

Twelve holders, one of them is colonel Marko Mesić

3rd Class with Oak Branches

Fifty holders

3rd Class

Sixty four holders:

• Mato Dukovac, captain of the Croatian Air Force; Croatian fighter ace with the most victories
• Jure Francetić, colonel and commander of the Black Legion
• Franjo Šimić, general of the Croatian Armed Forces
• Horst Weber, Schnellboot commander in the Kriegsmarine - awarded May 11, 1944

4th Class with Oak Branches

256 holders, one of them is colonel Eduard Bunić

4th Class

577 holders

Provision

1. Military Order of the Iron Trefoil is founded, Order serves as a visible sign of decoration for a particularly successful actions against the enemy.
2. The Master of the order of the Poglavnik of the Independent State of Croatia.
3. Order of Iron Trefoil is the highest military order of the Independent State of Croatia, and it is rewarded for the acts of war, achieved by personal incentive, for efforts and good leadership in ventures, which had remarkable success against the enemy.
4. The Order confers on officers, NCOs and Home Guards, and Ustashas of Croatian Armed Forces.
   Members of allied or friendly armed forces, who successfully fought to achieve independence of the Croatian State, or who later fought shoulder to shoulder with the Croatian detachments, may also be awarded with this Order.
5. Sign of the Order was made in the form of the Croatian Trefoil of black iron with a narrow silver edge. The ribs of the leaves are made of silver triple wattle ornament. In the middle of Trefoil is located Croatian coat of arms with the Ustasha symbol (the letter "U" in blue, and it burst with a flame). On the reverse of the Trefoil there is inscription in the middle: "READY FOR HOME", above the inscription is "10 IV." and below is "1941." For exceptional merit to any Class can be added two green Oak Branches, which will frame the Croatian coat of arms. Order of the 1st and 2nd Class is rewarded for special military acts, which need to be tested and confirmed by special military commission.
6. Order has four Classes, namely:
   1. First Class, height and width of Trefoil is 52mm, a diameter of the extent in the middle is 13mm; it is worn around the neck on the prescribed ribbon;
   2. Second Class, designed as the First Class, it is worn without ribbon on left chest;
   3. Third Class, height and width is 42mm, a diameter of extent in the middle is 12mm; it is carried on the ribbon on the buttonhole;
   4. Fourth Class, designed as the Third Class; it is worn on triangular ribbon on left chest.
      The ribbon is red with white edge on each side; the width of whole ribbon is 40mm and 6mm of white edge.

1. Holders of the 1st and 2nd Class have right on title "vitez" (knight).
2. The Order is awarded by Poglavnik by a charter.
3. Unauthorized wearing of the order is punishable by judicial imprisonment up to month or a fine up to 50.000 Kunas.
4. The implementation of these legislative provisions is entrusted to the Head of Department of Decorations in Poglavnik's Office, and he will issue regulation on awarding and carrying the Order.
5. This provision will be in legal power on the day of proclamation in the Official Gazette.

Zagreb, 27 December 1941.

Polavnik of the

Independent State of Croatia

Dr. ANTE PAVELIĆ v. R.

Number CDLXIII - 2167-Z-1941.

Minister of Justice and Religion:

Dr. MIRKO PUK, v. R.

References

• Mr. sc. Stjepan Adanić, general bojnik Krešimir Kašpar, prof. Boris Prister i prof. Ivan Ružić "Hrvatska odlikovanja."