Awards of Germany - Honorary badges of non-commissioned officers and soldiers for 10 years

The Meritorious Service to Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers badge shown here is 1st Class and was awarded during 10 years of service. The 1st stage had a size of only 25 mm. Level 2 required 16 years of service, and Level 3 was assigned after 22 years of faithful service. Second and third. The steps were 27 mm in size, as was the officer's cross.
Duke William of Nassau established honorary badges for officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers on February 25, 1834. The purpose of the award was to reward faithful service and impeccable behavior in the army and to give an external sign in the spirit of the times. Insignia in 3 stages were established for non-commissioned officers and soldiers. The corresponding Roman numeral for seniority is on the upper cross sleeve. Together with honorary badges for non-commissioned officers and soldiers, a gilded cross for officers was established, which was awarded after 25 years of service. The fund was stimulated by the chiefs of the Nassau infantry regiments. The general command supported this with a statement of December 30, 1833 and pushed the duke to the foundation. Before the foundation, seniority, as, for example, in Bavaria, was determined by chevrons. They were introduced on October 15, 1807. Crosses made of silver-plated or gilded bronze are considered non-statutory or modern. Miniatures of 16 mm are also known, also made of silver. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. II, 1997.

Eight-pointed cross made of silver. The ends of the crosses are only slightly beveled towards the center. Front and rear with a round central shield. Between the tips of the upper cruciform shoulder, the usual eye with a ribbon ring is soldered.

Front side:

• Round central shield with raised smooth edge.
In the surrounded
• field is a large Gothic letter - W - for Wilhelm.
• On smooth polished cross-shaped hands embossed embossed font: from above - X - (10),
• Right - TRUE -, lower (head) - SERVICE -, left - IAHRE -.

Downside:

• Round central shield with raised edge.
• In the nested field, 3-line enlarged font: - 25. -/- FEBRUARY -/- 1834 -.
• (Date of foundation) Cross hands are smooth without font.

Tape:

• blue 35 mm wide, edges 1 mm, side stripes yellow 6 mm.