Military Order of the Iron Trefoil

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Military Order of the Iron Trefoil
Order of the Iron Trefoil 2nd Class
Type	Military Order
Awarded for	"particularly successful actions against the enemy"
Presented by	Independent State of Croatia
Eligibility	Military Personnel
Status	dissolved
Established	27 December 1941
Total	968
Total recipients	Ante Pavelić Artur Phleps Slavko Kvaternik

The Military Order of the Iron Trefoil, also known as the Croatian Cross, was the highest military decoration of the Independent State of Croatia. It was awarded for "acts of war, achieved by personal incentive, for efforts and good leadership in ventures, which had remarkable success against the enemy."

The Order had four classes: the 1st Class is worn on a ribbon around the neck, 2nd Class without the ribbon on the left chest, 3rd Class on ribbon on buttonhole, and the 4th Class on triangular ribbon on left chest. For exceptional merits the Order was awarded with Oak Branches. The recipients of the 1st and 2nd Class had the right to the title "Vitez" (Knight).

The Military Order of the Iron Trefoil was awarded rarely. The only holder of the 1st Class with Oak Branches was the Poglavnik Dr. Ante Pavelić, and the 1st Class order was awarded to only two high-ranking Croatian officers, one of them being NDH Vojskovođa and former Austro-Hungarian Colonel Slavko Kvaternik.