German Awards - Iron Medal to Volunteers of the V German Army Corps 1814

This medal was established by Duke Ernst of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld as commander and general of the V German Army Corps. The message is dated June 21, 1814. This award was received by all volunteers, without distinction of military rank and nationality, who, during the blockade of Mainz from February to May 4, 1814, were in the V Army Corps under the command of the Duke. The grand ducal mountain volunteer jaeger battalion and jaeger squadron, the Nassau volunteer jaeger corps, the united ducal Saxon volunteer jaeger company, the volunteer jaeger company of the principalities of Lippe and Waldeck, as well as the banner of the royal Saxon volunteers had the right to the medal. It consisted of 6 companies of infantry, 1 company of sappers, 1 six-pound battery, 2 squadrons of hussars, 2 squadrons of dragoons and 2 squadrons of horse rangers. Officers were awarded the same medal as non-commissioned officers and soldiers, with the difference that the silver border was 4 mm wide. The lower ranks got medals with a border 1 mm wide. The fund does not report anything about various projects. This follows from a letter to the chief of the General Staff of the V Army Corps, the ducal Nassau brigade commander von Bismarck. The medals were made in the summer of 1815 at the Saalfelder Mint. Only 1708 pieces came to the award, of which 130 medals for officers. Source: Dr. Waldemar Hesse Edlen von Hessenthal and Georg Schreiber, Die tragbareb Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Reich..., 1940.

Round medal made of black cast iron with a silver border. On top is a soldered eye with a ribbon ring. (original hole from top to bottom with extended ring)

Front side:

• The inscription in the old font is distributed on the 9-line medal:
• - Den - Freiwilliger - Vaterlands-Verheideren - Fifth German Army Corps -
• - From his commander - General - E. Kh. To S. - 1814 -
• Below it is a short horizontal line.

Downside:

In the
• center are tied 7 spears with an oak wreath and flying ribbons.
• Around the edge there is an inscription in old font: - Unity - strength - strength -
• - Love for the fatherland - irresistible - below one point.

Tape:

• Width 40 mm, edging yellow, side stripes black/green/yellow 5 mm each, central stripes black 9 mm.

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