Instituted on August 19, 1940. Awarded for meritorious service to the Reich during wartime — to both military and civilian personnel who contributed to the war effort without direct combat participation. The obverse features the War Merit Cross with a swastika in the center. The reverse bears the Gothic inscription “Für Kriegsverdienst 1939” (“For War Merit 1939”).
The ribbon is black with a central red stripe and white edges.