| Added by |
 Goldman
, with updated images by  Alain Martineau
|
| General Description : | The Karl Troop Cross (German: Karl-Truppenkreuz) was instituted on 13 December 1916 by Emperor Karl I of Austria-Hungary. The cross was awarded until the end of the First World War to soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Army , regardless of rank, who had been with a combatant unit for at least twelve weeks and who had actually served at the front. It is in the form of a Maltese Cross (cross pattee) with the arms joined by garlands of laurel leaves. The face reads "Grati Princeps et Patria" and "Carolus Imp et Rex" whilst the reverse reads "vitam et sanguinem" and the date of institution, MDCCCCXVI, (1916) below the crowns of Austria and Hungary. Interesting and relatively hard to find in the UK, medals of the Austro-Hungarian Empire are fairly collectable and would make a good addition to any collection. A total of 651,000 were awarded. The design is based on the design of the Army Cross of 1813-1814 (usually known as the ‘Cannon Cross’ – ‘Kanonenkreuz’). The cross was worn on the left chest from a red ribbon with alternate red-white side strips towards each edge. |
| Front Description : | Latin inscription "GRATI PRINCEPS ET PATRIA, CAROLVS IMP.ET REX", (A grateful prince and country, Karl, Emperor and King) |
| Back Description : | Austrian and Hungarian Imperial crowns above the letter "C" (for Carolus) with the inscription "VITEM ET SANGVINEM", (With life and blood) and the date MDCCCCXVI, (1916). |
| Material | Zinc |
| Catalog prices | UNC $20.00 |
