German Awards - Voluntary Social Security Cross during the war 1914-18

This cross, dated 1914 and 1918, is the last variant of the honorary cross for voluntary welfare in war. King Johann presented the first memorial crosses for nursing to the 1870/71 war on March 6, 1871. In this tradition, on March 1, 1912, King Frederick Augustus III established the Memorial Cross for voluntary nursing, which was awarded both in peacetime and later for these merits in the war. It was awarded for recognition of merit in the field of voluntary care for sick men, women and virgins. It was awarded with a certificate/certificate of ownership. The difference in awarding in peacetime is, on the one hand, a red enameled ring on the front medallion and a reverse side with a red enameled red cross on a white background. The cross was not refundable. On October 11, 1915, the order was renamed the Cross of Honor for voluntary nursing. On March 31, 1916, the Cross of Honor was renamed the Cross of Honor for voluntary charitable assistance. Since mid-1916, crosses were minted from one piece, and the shields became flatter and the cross thinner. Here on the reverse the following dates of the year are known: 1914/1915, 1914/1916, 1914/1917 and 1914/1918. In the wreath there are crosses with oak foliage on the left or right. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. III, 1999.

A gilt bronze cross with slightly figured cross sleeves. The cruciform shoulders are granular and limited along the edge by raised, polished edges. Front and back with round central screen (12 mm). Between the cruciform sleeves at a short distance is a wreath of bay leaves on the right and oak foliage on the left. (also vice versa) On the upper cruciform shoulder is a small decoration with a curly ear and a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• The round central shield is surrounded by a wide blue enameled hoop of 1.5 mm.
6
• gold stars are evenly distributed on it.
In
• a closed curly field of rough letters - FAR - there is a crown above it.

Downside:

• Round central shield surrounded by polished edge
In
• a closed marked field, polished annual figures - 1914-1918 -
• They are separated by a horizontal line.

Tape:

• white 35 mm wide, alternating 4 white and 3 green stripes of 5 mm.

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