German Medals of pre WW1 and during WW1

Honour Cross

also called the

"Hindenburg Cross"

or General Service Medal

The example (left ) has the swords that indicate it was awarded to a combatant.

Another version without swords was also available to non-combatants who did exemplary work (see right)

Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-18 (Cross of Honour for the Great War, 1914-1918) The Honour Cross is a general service medal, recognizing service during the war. Three classifications were instituted as one of the last acts of President Hindenburg on 13 July 1934. Since Germany did not win the war, it cannot be construed as a "victory" medal, but it was awarded in much the same manner.

These crosses are easily the most common German decoration of WWI -- by 15 November 1936 more than 8 million were already issued. Both crosses and ribbons were derived from the 1870-71 War Commemorative Medal, (itself a Prussian award) using the same ribbons and very similar crosses (but for the dates). The reverse of all crosses is plain (mostly with a maker's mark) and the obverse is identical.
Awarded in three categories:
- The Cross for frontline service (above left) is bronzed and has crossed swords between the cross's arms. The colours black white and red were used for the ribbon, rather than the black, red, gold of the republic, reflecting the imperial era. The combatants cross was awarded to all who had served in a battle or a siege or any other action on land, sea or in the air. 6,202,883 combatant crosses were distributed. Awards to military personnel still on active duty are not included in these figures and awards continued till 1944, so the total number is much higher.
- The Cross for other troops and serving personnel (above right) was the same bronzed iron cross, but without swords, and a wreath of oak leaves instead of laurel. The same ribbon was used, however. The war participants' cross was awarded to all German subjects who were engaged in war service for Germany or her allies, but not in direct fighting or a combat zone. 1,120,449 bronze crosses without swords were distributed to war participants.

345,132 black Honour Crosses were distributed to widows and 373,950 to parents.

The "Black Cross"

or "Widow's Cross"

The Honour Cross (Hindenburg Cross) for the widows and parents of the fallen (irrespective of whether in combat, died from wounds or died as POW's) was of the exact same design as the participants' Honour Cross, but was of blackened iron instead of bronze.

The ribbon differed from the troop's Honour Crosses in that it reversed the black and white stripes.

This is the way a female would wear the "Widow's Cross". with the ribbon displayed as a bow.


Medal/badge awarded to the 47th Reserve battalion of "The Iron Division". The badge carries a facsimile of the Iron Cross.	Stormtroopers (Sturmtrupp) Badge

It was originally a twelve-place bar but two have been removed. Having said that, there is a legal and historical reason those two decorations are missing. Many kingdoms, duchies, and grand duchies of Imperial Germany required that when the holder of certain decorations died his family was obligated by law and decree to return those decorations to the Ordenkanzler. Most of the medal bars that we see today range from about 1900 to after WW I, and with the fall of the royal houses all over Germany in 1918 the orders and decorations were not returned. The owner of this bar DID die well before 1918, so his family did return two of the orders. The decorations removed were from position #2 a Zähringer Lion Knights Cross from Baden, and a Prussian Crown Order (most likely a 4th Class but possibly a 3rd) from position #10. This medal bar (actually more correctly called a "Frack Bar.") belonged to a native son of Prussia who fought in wars against Denmark in 1864 and France in 1870-71. His Baden decorations were mounted to the far left, as was correct, and his Prussian decorations which took preference were to the right. From left to right these are the decorations and blank ribbons on the medal bar, which measures nearly 11 inches (28 centimetres) across: Saxe-Weimar Golden Jubilee (1842-1892). Missing but was for the Zähringer Lion Knights Cross 1st Class Weiße Falken (White Falcon) 1st Class in GOLD - Saxe-Weimar Wilhelm I Centennial Medal Campaign 1864 Franco-Prussian War Combatants Medal with Colombey-Nouilly and Metz campaign bars. Campaign Cross Düppel 1864 Campaign Cross Alsen 1864 Prussian Officer 25 Year Long Service Award Missing but was for the Prussian Crown Order 3rd or 4th Class. Red Eagle 4th Class with Swords, 2nd Model. This is a very rare decoration as it is clearly from the Franco-Prussian War, being a 2nd Model. 1870 Iron Cross 2nd Class with 25 Year Oak Leaves. A unique medal bar with history and personality.

This is a very high caliber, five-place medal bar for an officer from Baden. He saw service in the German Southwest Africa colony early in the 20th Century. From left to right, we see:
- Order of the Zähringer Lion 1st Class - Baden in GOLD.
- Baden War Service Cross.
- Prussian War Service Cross.
- Landwehr Long Service Award 2nd Class.
- Southwest Africa Service Award for Non Combatants 1904-1906.
The two real stars of this marvelous five-place medal bar are the Zähringer Lion 1st Class in GOLD and the Southwest Africa Non Combatant's decoration.