The Order of the Iron Trefoil

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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
First Class Cross with Oak Wreath (neck badge), only one awarded
First Class Cross (neck badge) - only three seem to have been awarded
Second Class Cross with Oak Wreath (pin-backed cross,)
Second Class Cross (pin-backed cross)
Third Class Cross with Oak Wreath (worn through buttonhole)
Third Class Cross (on ribbon, worn through buttonhole,)
Fourth Class Cross with Oak Wreath (breast badge on triangular ribbon)
Fourth Class Cross (breast badge on triangular ribbon)

Grand Iron Trefoil with Oak Wreath (none awarded or seen)

First Class Cross with Oak Wreath (neck badge),
only one awarded :
in 1942, to Dr. Ante Pavelic, Prime Minister and Leader of Croatia.

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.