National Order "For Military Merit".

[d-riemer]

For about 3 years after the overthrow of the old regime in 1944, Bulgaria continued awarding the royal Order for Military Merit just slightly modified. The changes were apparently not tightly controlled and many variations from the main line can be found. All interim orders are identified by the national colors on the reverse. All orders awarded after the establishment of the Republic in 1946 are in addition recognizable by a wreath between ribbon and order. But then the lion state symbol on the order is either with or without a crown, a crown or no crown is suspended above the order and three kinds of ribbon are in use, etc. Supposedly, all these Military Merit Orders were made from parts left by the old regime. The picture shows 4th-class (gold) and 5th-class (silver) interim Orders for Military Merit.

After 1947, an Order for Military Merit did not exist in Bulgaria for 27 years until the new order was initiated.

Here are Breast Stars of the Order of Military and Civil Merit 2nd Class (only 4 points of the exterior rays) for comparison. Both are from the Interim Period after 9 September 1944. The Military Merit Star shows the lion with a crown and a crown is also used as suspension of the neck order (not shown). This order with all the royal symbols was still presented in September 1947 to a lieutenant general, one year into the Peoples Republic Bulgaria. The neck orders of the Military and the Civil award (not shown) have the lion in the front center and the national colors in the center of the reverse. No Cyrillic initial of Ferdinand is anywhere as seen on the face of orders from the time of the monarchy.

[CtahhR]

Here is the Order "For Military Merits" 4th Class With Crown and Laurels. The blue ribbon indicates the award is a wartime award and the laurel leaves denote that it is also a combat award.

[CtahhR]

Here is the Order "For Military Merits" 5th Class With Crown. With a post 9th May 1945 "Peacetime" ribbon.

[CtahhR]

Here is the Order "For Military Merits" 6th Class with Crown also with a post 5th May 1945 ribbon. The case is typical of fatherland front period cases as the imperial cypher had been replaced with a lion.

[CtahhR]

And here is the same award less the crown.

[CtahhR]

Here is the Order "For Military Merits" 4th Class With Wreath and Laurels and "wartime" ribbon. This was awarded for pre-May 1945 actions but has a post 1945 wreath meaning either there was a delay in the issue of this award or the recipient changed the crown for a wreath to de-imperialise his awards.

[CtahhR]

Here is the order "For Military Merit" Silver Class (6th Class) With Wreath (with the wrong ribbon). All of the awards with ribbons so far have been for male recipients. Females were awarded the same awards but with a bow type suspension.

[CtahhR]

The Order "For Military Merit" (Орден „За Военна Заслуга“) was founded by Knjaz Ferdinand on 14th May 1900 as a distinct military Order and "companion" to the Order "For Civil Merit".

Here a cased first variation of the 5th Class Order with Crown with the "peacetime" ribbon as this variation was issued only during times of peace and most probably for long and distinct military service.

[CtahhR]

Here is the 5th Class first variation with the wartime ribbon, for merit during either the Balkan or European wars.

[Ruiz]

Order for Military Merit, 5Th class with war bravery ribbon and laurel wreath. Boris III