Germany Awards - 1915 War Service Medal in Bronze

The badge of honor for merits in the war was established by Duke Bernhard on March 7, 1915. It was awarded in openwork form as a "cross" to officers and as a medal to non-commissioned officers and soldiers, both fighters and non-soldiers on another ribbon. Members of regiments owned by the Duke or Duchess were eligible. These included infantry regiments No. 32 and No. 95. Citizens who served in other units also had the right to serve. Since 1917, the assignment of the 1st class as a plug cross was also envisaged, but this was no longer implemented. The manufacturer was an AWES coin (A.Werner & Söhne) in Berlin. The medals were struck in bronze and by the end of the war, due to lack of materials, were bronze in military metal. In 1918, Chr. Nuremberg-based Lauer took over war metal production.
This award was intended for merits in the war mainly for non-commissioned officers and soldiers who earned in the war. Non-combatant awards took place on a non-combatant ribbon.

Round bronze medal with raised border. Above is a soldered ordinary eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• Along the edge is an oak-leafy wreath, the last in each quarter is tied with 2 crossed ribbons.
In the
• center is a curved cross with a border and a round central shield with the letter - B - in the center.
• Between the cruciform branches in the shape of a leaf in the center of 3 leaves (diamond crown)
In the
• upper cross is a crown.

Downside:

• The central part enclosed in a circle with a curved cross and a round central shield.
In the
• central shield, the coat of arms of Saxony is stylized with transverse stripes and an oblique diamond crown.
• Between the cruciform hoses of the weave in the form of a sheet in the center of 3 sheets
• Between the central part and the edge of the circular font: from above - FOR - FOR MERIT -,
• bottom - IM - WARS - 1914/15 -, In the middle separated by two points
.

Tape:

Ribbon 1 fighter: 40 mm wide, edge stripes white/green cross-striped 6 mm, side stripes yellow 6 mm, middle stripes black 15 mm.

Volume 2 Non-combat: 40 mm wide, green edges 3 mm, side stripes white/yellow 4 mm/6 mm, central stripes black 13 mm.

Photos courtesy of "Münzgalerie-Frankfurter Allee"
10247 Berlin, Frankfurter Allee 106a
Contacts: muenzgalerie.gietzelt@gmx.de