History:
The decoration was established on April 27, 1941 by Ante Pavelić (formally prime minister of Croatia and head of the Ustasha government), on behalf of the formal sovereign Tomislavo II, as the highest military honor in Croatia. The Order was granted for particular and relevant acts of war carried out directly by the awarded.
Degrees:
The Order had the following classes:
- First class cross with oak crown (only one, Ante Pavelić)
- 1st class cross (seven awarded)
- Class II cross with oak crown (five awarded)
- Class II Cross (twelve awarded)
- III class cross with oak crown (fifty awarded)
- Cross of III class (sixty awarded)
- Class IV cross with oak crown (286 awarded)
- Class IV Cross (577 awarded).
The statute of the Order also provided that for the same and higher grades than the class II cross, the hereditary noble title of "Vitez" (knight) was granted. For exceptional merits the oak crown sign was awarded in addition to each class.
