German Awards - Order of Bertha Women's Merit Cross

The Women's Merit Cross of the Order of Bertha presented here is the third class of the Order of Bertha and was established on May 30, 1910 by Prince Leopold IV. donated. Only those women and virgins who have earned themselves selfless activities in the field of charity, in the church or social sphere, as well as many years of merit or outstanding individual acts should be awarded. The classes were the Order of Bertha with Crown, the Order of Bertha without Crown, the Women's Cross of Merit and the Women's Medal of Merit. The order with the crown belonged only to the princess. Without a crown, it was awarded only to princely or noble ladies. The women's cross "For Merit" depicted here was intended for female officials. The design of the order was developed by the court jeweler J. Gaudet from Berlin, who also took over production until 1918. Since 1918, K. F. Simmerman in Pforzheim took over the production of all classes. Zimmerman crosses have the usual wire lug. A total of 15 women's merit crosses were awarded. 12 crosses, with spherical ears, made by Godet. Zimmerman made 5 more. It was worn on a female loop on the left side of the chest. Like all classes, the cross is very rare and not appreciated. Source: Rainer Schwark, order and badge of honor of the principality of Lippe Detmold 1778-1933, works of the Lipp Land Museum B. VI.

Dark bronze cross. Crosses with raised smooth edges are rounded at the ends. The insides are finely indented. Round medallions measuring 21 mm. On the upper cruciform shoulder is a pupate ear with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• A medallion with a narrow, raised border.
• Along the edge is a laurel wreath with fruits tied from below.
• On the left and right there are 6 groups of leaves and 5 x 2 fruits.
In
• the surrounded field, ornamented letters - L - B - rise under the princely crown.
• On the lower cross sleeve number of the year - 1910 -.

Downside:

• A medallion with a narrow, raised border.
• Along the edge is a laurel wreath with fruits tied from below.
• On the left and right there are 6 groups of leaves and 5 x 2 fruits.
• In the included field, a 3-line enlarged font:
• - DEM -/- WOMEN -/- MERIT -.

Tape:

Yellow 35 mm, 2 red side stripes 3 mm.

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