Awards of Germany - General Badge of Honor in Bronze For Merit in 1914 with a sword

The common badge of honor with the inscription on the back - "FOR MERIT IN 1914" - was formally donated by the Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst in 1914. The reason for this was the recognition of the merits associated with the First World War. For services to the enemy he was awarded a sword. The addition of a year number for a campaign or war on a badge of honor was first made in 1870. The sword was first introduced or donated by Grand Duke Charles Alexander on 22 September 1870. Once again, swords were awarded for the South West Africa campaign. The general insignia did not have a year number on the reverse. The sword had the color of the corresponding level of the Common Badge of Honor, gold, silver or bronze. Gold medals were awarded to senior officer officers. Silver medals - to non-commissioned officers, and bronze - to soldiers. Only Weimar soldiers, who mainly served in the 5th Thuringian Infantry Regiment No. 94 and its reserve troops, as well as Weimar soldiers who served in other parts of the German armed forces, were eligible for awarding.
The Stampelschneider of the Common Badge of Honor under the Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst was Arthur Kruger, a medalist and since 1875 the holder of the Berlin Coin Medal. The 1914 badges of honor no longer have a signature at the bottom of the front side. By the end of 1918, medals also began to be made in bronze from military metal (zinc alloy). The number of copies sold is about 12,300. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. III, 1999.

Round bronze medal with raised border. An ordinary ear is soldered on top. A rectangular ribbon buckle with soldered, crossed, ancient swords is suspended in them. The tape is pulled through 2 soldered brackets on the back of the screed.

Front side:

In the
• center of the picture is a portrait of Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst.
• Along the edge is the inscription: - WILHELM - ERNST - GRAND DUKE - VON - SAXONY -

Downside:

A
• dense oak-deciduous wreath is tied crosswise along the edge above and below.
• In the included field, three-line font:
• - DEM -/- MERIT -/- 1914 -.

Tape:

• Width 39 mm, side stripes green/yellow 5 mm each, central stripes black 19 mm.

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