The Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir () is an order awarded by the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and later the Croatian Council in exile.
History The sovereignty of the State was passed on the May 15, 1941 by the Law on the sovereignty of the crown of Zvonimir which made the Independent State of Croatia a de jure monarchy with the second official name (lesser in usage) being the Kingdom of Croatia as it was proclaimed by Poglavnik Ante Pavelić.Prister, Boris Odlikovanja Nezavisne Države Hrvatske, Hrvatski povijesni muzej, Zagreb, (1997), pp. 24–26 The law made the crown of Zvonimir the fons honorum of the Order.
The Order was established as a "visible sign of decoration for merits done, in peace or in war, for Croatian people and Independent State of Croatia" on May 17, 1941. The bearers of the grand order and bearers of the first class order were given the title of knight (vitez). The Order was awarded to both domestic and foreign individuals, there are 483 recipients of the Order from 1941 until 1945, and around 50 after 1945.
Order insignia Cross A white Croatian cross (also called Croatian trefoil or Zvonimir's cross). On the front in the center it featured the Zvonimir's crown and interlace on the cracks of the cross. The back of the award contained the years 1076 - King Zvonimir's crowning, and 1941 - the establishment of the NDH. with the inscription Bog i Hrvati (God and Croats).Red krune kralja Zvonimira i kolajna krune kralja Zvonimira zakonska odredba, Narodne novine, Zagreb, (1941), pp. 1-9 The cross was designed by colonel Jakov Machiedo who was the first ceremonial of the Order.Prister, Boris Odlikovanja Nezavisne Države Hrvatske, Hrvatski povijesni muzej, Zagreb, (1997), pp. 27
Ribbon For awards in peacetime the ribbon of the Order is white with two red stripes, while for awards in war time (military personnel) red with two white stripes. The Order had a Grand sash, neck ribbon and medal ribbons."Red krune kralja Zvonimira i kolajna krune kralja Zvonimira zakonska odredba", Narodne novine, Zagreb, (1941), pp. 1-9
Leadership of the Order Heads of the Order Ante Pavelić as Poglavnik Head of the Order (1941 - 1959)Prister, Boris Odlikovanja Nezavisne Države Hrvatske, Hrvatski povijesni muzej, Zagreb, (1997), pp. 26–27 Aimone Tomislav II King and Dynastic Head of the Order (1941 - 1943) Stjepan Heffer Appointed successor by Pavelić (1959 - 1973)Group of authors: Zdravko Dizdar; Marko Grčić; Slaven Ravlić; Darko Stuparić ect, Tko je tko u NDH, Minerva, Zagreb, (1997), pp. 153–154
Officers of the Order Džafer Kulenović Doglavnik (1941-1945) and President of the Council (1951-1956) Ivan Perčević Head of the Order office and notary (1941 - 1946) Jakov Machiedo Ceremonial (1941 - 1944) Count Petar Pejačević Minister and Ceremonial (1951 - 1987) Vjekoslav Vrančić Minister (1951 - 1990) Erih Lisak Aide-de-camp (1941 - 1946) Viktor Ivan Prebeg Aide-de-camp (1942 - 1943) Count of the Order office (1943-1945)
Ranks and classes of the Order Grand Order with star and sash - special class Ante Pavelić as Poglavnik and State Head of the Order Aimone Tomislav II Special class as King and Dynastic Head of the Order
Foreign Royals and Heads of State Grand Order with Danica star and sash King Vittorio Emanuele III Regent Miklós HorthyKrizman, Bodan, Pavelić između Hitlera i Mussolinija, Globus, Zagreb, pp. 300–305 King Hussein in 1963.Boban, Mile, Pisma Vjekoslava Maksa Luburića 1952.-1969., Despot infinitus, Zagreb, pp. 255–265 Caudillo Francisco Franco in 1942.Pueblo, El Jefe del Estado con la Gran Cruz de la Corona del Rey Zvonimir, Madrid, Year III, No 623, 8th July 1942, pp. 1 Tsar Boris III in 1942.Libertad, Tambien lo ha sido el Rey Boris, Sabado, Year XII, No 1.14, 18th April 1942, pp. 1
Grand Order with star and sash With the right of the title vitez (knight) Džafer Kulenović as Doglavnik Ivan Perčević Head of the Order office and notary Adolf Sabljak Grand Admiral Erich Raeder Generaloberst Alexander Löhr (with Swords on 30 August 1942)
1st Class Cross with Swords With the right of the title vitez (knight). The swords indicated military personnel or wartime acknowledgment. Johannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp Hans-Erich Voss (26 September 1942) Miroslav Navratil Odilo Globocnik Vilko Begić Fedor Dragojlov Tomislav Sertić Slavko Štancer Gjuro Grujić Artur Gustović Đuro Jakčin Vjekoslav Vrančić Ibrahim Pirić-Pjanić
1st Class Cross with Star With the right of the title vitez (knight) Franjo Lukac Josip Metzger Hans Oster Helmuth von Pannwitz Kornél Oszlányi Erih Lisak Galeazzo Ciano
1st Class Cross With the right of the title vitez (knight) Vladimir Laxa Hans Baur, 1943 Hans Henrici Ferdinand Jodl Otto Kumm Helwig Luz Antun Bonifačić
2nd Class Cross Karl-Wolfgang Redlich
3rd Class Cross Eduard Bunić Ernst Hildebrandt
References
Sources Zakonska odredba o osnutku Reda i Kolajne krune kralja Zvonimira