Hungary, Kingdom. An Order Of Merit, Iii Class Officer's Badge, C.1940

(Magyar Érdemrend). Instituted in 1922. In silver gilt with red, white and green enamels, measuring 50.5 mm (w) x 50.7 mm (h), vertical pinback, intact enamels, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary was established on June 14, 1922 by the Regent ofthe Kingdom of Hungary, Vice Admiral Miklós Horthy. After its establishment, the rules of the order were changed numerous times. On December 23, 1935, it became an official distinction recognizing both civil and military accomplishments. From on 1939 to 1944, the highest degree of the order, the Grand Cross with the Holy Crown of Stephen, was awarded to both chiefs of state (i.e. monarchs of presidents) or heads ofgovernment (i.e. prime ministers and chancellors). In addition, the class of the Holy Crown and the Collar was instituted which was awarded exclusively to chiefs of state. All classes of the order could be awarded in recognition of military distinction, the military "division" of the order having crossed swords and a different ribbon which was mostly red rather than the green of the civil division. After the Hungarian monarchy was formally abolished following the abdication of Admiral Horthy and the defeat of Hungary in the Second World War on September 14, 1946, the National Assembly of Hungary disestablished the order and replaced it by the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. After the Communist take over of Hungary and the promulgation ofthe new Hungarian constitution on August 20, 1949, the new order was disestablished. Following the collapse of the Communist regime in Hungary in 1989, a new order, known as Order of Merit of Hungary was established. Though it has a similar appearance, this is a new order and not a re-establishment of the previous order.