Croatia, Independent State. An Order Of Merit, Iii Class For Moslem Women, Very Rare

(Red za zasluge). Instituted in 1942. Three-piece construction, in silver with red enamels, the badge designed with six petals designating it as the Moslem version, smaller in design for a Moslem woman versus the Men's version, obverse bearing the Ustasha insignia, reverse inscribed "ZA ZASLUGE 10.IV.1942", measuring 25.5 mm (w) x 35.3 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, intact enamels, original ribbon folded in the correct style and fed through the loop, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of Merit was instituted on April 10, 1942 and could be received by any citizen of the Independent State of Croatia (Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska = NDH) for "acts of heroism, or for advancing the cause of Croatian independence". It was awarded in four grades: Grand Cross, I Class, II Class and III Class, with separate insignia for Christian and Moslem recipients.