Order of Merit of the Hungarian People's Republic

The People’s Republic of Hungary abolished the old Order of the Hungarian Republic in 1947.

It was replaced by a socialist order, the Order of Merit of the Hungarian People’s Republic (Hungarian: Magyar Népköztársaság Érdemrendje). This decoration has a single class.

The order was established by a law in 1953 and reformed in 1963. The decoration was awarded for “merits to the republic and for merit in international cooperation and peace.”

The small red star, bearing a light-blue medallion with the coat of arms of the People’s Republic of Hungary enclosed in a golden laurel wreath, was worn on the left breast from a triangular white ribbon with a red stripe and an unusual stripe made up of red, white and green triangles. Short golden rays are situated between the arms of the star.

Examples are also known with a medallion that has no blue background but is enamelled in the colours of the Hungarian flag.

A serial number appears on the smooth golden reverse.

The star was also awarded to heads of friendly states. See the List of orders and decorations of Marshal Tito.