It was instituted on 19 August 1940 and usually awarded to those workers in factories who significantly exceeded work quotas.

The War Merit Medal was awarded only to Germans and non-Germans civilians, to men and women.

An estimated 4.9 million medals were awarded by the end of the war in Europe.

It was a circular bronze award bearing the design of the War Merit Cross on the front (obverse), and the inscription "For War Merit 1939" (Für Kriegsverdienst) on the reverse side.

It was suspended from a ribbon coloured similar to the War Merit Cross, except for a thin red vertical strip added to the center of the black portion.