German Awards - Service Award Cross 1. Class for 40 years

Service award crosses of the 1st and 2nd class, for 40 and 24 years, were established on March 3, 1865 by King Ludwig II. donated. The reason for this was the creation of an order that officers could also be awarded. Donated in 1816, veterans' shields for NCOs and soldiers were replaced by these crosses. This award can now be presented to generals, staff and senior officers and military officials. In the event of promotion or death, the service reward was to be returned. Since 1872, the award was extended to civilian officials of the military administration and the gendarmerie. The award in the gendarmerie ceased after the establishment of the security service award in 1906. In 1876, seniority marks were included in the service award crosses of the 1st and 2nd. The class has been renamed. 2nd class was assigned only to officers, sanitary officers and senior officials. In 1907, the award opportunities were expanded. In addition, lower clerks of military administration could now be awarded, and non-budget masters of technical institutes upon request. The service life in the imperial guard troops in German East Africa was doubly calculated. Periods of service in the Greek army were not counted.

Silver cross. Crosses with raised smooth edges. The inner sides are cross-hatched. The curved cruciform shoulders are laterally beveled at the ends and slightly curved inwards. In the center of each of them is a small ball. Front and back with a large circular embossed central shield. On the ball of the upper cruciform arm there is a second elongated ball through which a tape ring passes.

Front side:

• The edge of the middle shield is formed from a dense oak-leaved wreath.
• It is green enameled, above and below crosswise
In
• the surrounded field is an elevated failed shield with blue enameled and silver Bavarian rhombuses.

Downside:

• The edge of the middle shield is formed from a dense oak-leaved wreath.
• It is green enameled, above and below crosswise
In
• a surrounded field, an elevated failed blue enameled shield
• 3-line silver font: - XL -/- SERVICE -/- YEARS -.

Tape:

35 mm wide, white edges 2 mm, side stripes of light blue/white color 2 mm/3 mm, central stripes of light blue color 20 mm.

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