Order "Military Merit".

[Taz]

Ordinul "Meritul Militar"
1954 - 1989

The Order of Military Merit was instituted in 3 classes on June 10, 1954 with decree No. 211. This was a long service and good conduct order with class III awarded for 15 years of service, class II for 20 years of service and class I for 25 years of service.

The medal is composed of a 5 pointed red enameled star surrounded by a laurel wreath. The central medallion is blue bordered in yellow. Three stars and the words, "MERITUL MILITAR" (translated: Military Merit) are written in gold lettering within this border. The seal of the Romanian Republic (R.S.R or R.P.R) is affixed in the center of the medallion.

The medal is suspended from the distinctive communist tri-fold ribbon. It is light blue flanked with dark blue on the edges. A single thin red stripe runs down the middle of the ribbon.

The 3 grades of the order were differentiated by the color of the wreath. Class I was in gold (gilt), class II was silvered, and the class III was in bronze.

There are 2 types of this order. The 'type 1' medals have a smaller national seal and were awarded under the Romanian People's Rebublic (R.P.R.) R.P.R. can be seen on the national seal's scroll in very tiny lettering.

Type 2 has a larger seal and the letters R.S.R. (Romanian Socialist Republic). Because the seal is larger, the letters can clearly be seen without the aid of magnification.

Eddie.

The image below shows an example of the R.P.R. on the seal.

[Taz]

Order of Military Merit 1st Class for 25 years of service.

[Taz]

Order of Military Merit 2nd Class for 20 years of service.

[Taz]

Order of Military Merit 3rd Class for 15 years of service.

[DutchBoy]

For reference, here are some pics of the 3rd class in a case...

And inside the case...

[Christophe]

What is the ribbon bar below (with the 3 red stripes) ?

Ch.

[DutchBoy]

Originally Posted by Christophe

What is the ribbon bar below (with the 3 red stripes) ?

Ch.

I was wondering the same thing. This set belongs to a buddy of mine, and this is how he got it. I asked him about it at the time but he didn't know if it was a mistake or what...it sure looks like a mismatch to me!!

But then again, it is the 3rd class!!?? :confused:

[Christophe]

Interesting, as the 3 classes have the same ribbon... :confused:

Ch.

[DutchBoy]

I checked the ribbon lists of Romanian awards as best I could, but could not find another medal/order that the ribbon with three red stripes might belong to.

With no evidence to back it up, my theory is that if just the ribbon is displayed, i.e. without the order itself to indicate the class, then there are 1, 2, or 3 stripes on the ribbon to indicate the respective classes. Does this sound plausible??
:confused:

[charlet]

hello all, this order is the most common and cheapest romanian communist order. The medals do have the same identical ribbon, the plating color giving the class. But the ribbon bar do not have same red rays! and it follows a very classical system: one red ray for 1st class, 2 for 2nd, etc...So Dutchboy is the winner! ;)

Originally Posted by DutchBoy

And inside the case...

so this group is perfectly genuine and complete! :D

EDIT: I didn't knew this blue carboard variation abou the box...I know 2 red cardboard variations (one thin fragile cardboard, one solid heavy and plain ), and what I call orange "crocodile skin" boxes.