Austria, Empire. A Military Merit Cross, Third Class With Small Decoration, C.1917 Hold silver frame (top of the

silver frame (top of the frame had been period re-enforced

000 Reichsmarks in 1934 to 3

Returning soldiers wore colorful ribbons denoting their decorations and service medals

Cross with Iron core

being reduced to the rank of Rifleman

Austria, Empire. A Military Merit Cross, Third Class With Small Decoration, C.1917 Hold silver frame (top of the(Militrverdienstkreuz III. Klasse und Kleiner Dekoration). Issued 1914 1918. A silver cross pattee with red and white enamels; the obverse with a central white enameled medallion inscribed VERDIENST (German Merit); the reverse all in white enamels; on loop for suspension from its period original tri fold ribbon, with a miniature decoration attached to the ribbon for the second class cross with war decoration; marked with an Austrian silver mark for