German Awards - Service Award Cross for Officers

Duke Leopold Friedrich of Anhalt-Dessau established the Service Award Cross on February 1, 1848, along with service awards in the form of a buckle for non-commissioned officers and soldiers. The reason was the already established service awards in Anhalt-Köthen and Anhalt-Bernburg. Officers of the Anhalt-Dessau military (1848-1855) were awarded. From 1855 to 1864, officers and doctors in the officer rank of the combined military Dessau and Köthen were awarded after 25 years of service. The service life of a non-commissioned officer and soldier was credited. Military officials were not eligible for admission. The war years were doubly numbered. Time in captivity was not counted. Previously received service awards were to be removed and returned to the military command. After the actual term of service, the service award was allowed to continue to be worn. After death, she was subject to return. The presentation included credentials. Award numbers from Anhalt court and state directories indicate 19 awards. However, it can be assumed that not all awards have been determined. According to the military convention with Prussia of 1867, Prussian officers were awarded only a service award for 25 years. Source: Gerd Scharfenberg, Order and Badge of Honor of the Anhalt States, 1999.

Eight-pointed cross in the form of Johannites made of gilded bronze. Front and back with a round medallion (13 mm) worn. Transverse levers have raised polished edges with inner line. The inner sides of the arms are finely indented. An eye with a bandage ring is soldered between the tops of the upper cross.

Front side:

• Medallion with a gold, raised, grooved border.
• The inner side is made of white glazed porcelain or enamel.
• It has an ornamented letter in gold - L - in fractional font. (Mostly fading here)
• Above it is a floating, uninhabited ducal crown.

Downside:

• Medallion with a gold, raised, grooved border.
• The inner side is made of white glazed porcelain or enamel.
• On it in gold the Roman number is XXV. – 25. (Mostly fading here)

Tape:

35 mm dark green (irrigation)

Photo: Private collection of Maximilian Ferdinand Leopold Prince of Anhalt

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