This guide will address only the Hungarian 1848-49 Order of Civilian Merit 3rd Class. The Hungary 1848-49 Order of Military Merit 3rd Class (Az 1848-1849-es Magyar Katonai Érdemrend ideiglenes III or the Ungarischer Verdienstorden III. Klasse) was established in 1849 for civilian merit during the 28 September 1848 - 2 May 1849 Hungarian War of Independence as a non-combatant.   As Hungary's highest civilian award (in 3 classes), it was retrocative to 1848 and appears to be very short lived, being obsolete prior to the 1860s.  It appears to have been very rarely awarded.   This is a fairly complicated history and I recommend reading about this War so the significance of these awards are more clear. 

 

As a simple red horizontal ribbon (evidence indicates it was about 50 - 80 mm long by about 24 - 30 mm high) there is little distinctive about this since it is exactly the same as the Hungarian Order of Military Merit but lacking the wreath device (also called the War Decoration, kriegsdekoration or KD but is not specified in Hungarian).  The contemporary issued Order of Civilian Merit 3rd Class was normally sewn onto the coat or jacket left inline with the 2nd button (or in that area near the heart) and centered.  If the 2nd Class was awarded, it was added onto the uniform approximately 50 mm away from the 3rd Class.  To date, I've only noted only 2 passing references to this award but the award documents are maintained by the Hungarian National Archives. 

 

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