German Awards - Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Promotion of Science Membership Badge

The membership badge of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Promotion of Sciences presented here does not belong to the Prussian award system and was officially allowed to be worn by members only in the buttonhole. Several exceptions are known when the badge was worn on buckles or miniature chains. The project was developed by Professor Otto Rohloff from Berlin, who also took over production. The membership badge was awarded in a dark brown case with a gold imperial crown on the lid (77 mm x 83 mm x 15 mm), most likely from Godet. Until 1918, Professor Rohloff made about 290 honorary badges after Lothar Tevez. The returned badges were repaired and reissued. Enamel work was very sensitive and often had damage (like ermine here). The Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Promotion of Science was founded on January 11, 1911 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. founded. The impetus for its creation was given back in 1909 by the Berlin professor of theology Adolf Harnack, who was also the director of the Royal Library, and later became the first president on January 23. Membership was appointed by the emperor, members had to pay an introductory amount of at least 20,000 marks. The authorized capital of the company was almost ten million marks. The member badge presented here was awarded to members of the Society and was an external hallmark of members who advocated the advancement of science. Among them were industrialists and bankers such as Gustav Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach and banker Ludwig Delbrück, who acted as deputies. The Kaiser Wilhelm Society was under the protectorate of His Majesty William II. German Emperor and King of Prussia. Various research institutes dedicated to basic research have been established. Since 1927, a new membership badge was awarded. The successor organization is the Max Planck Society in Berlin. Source: Jörg Scharfenberg, Zur Geschichte der Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Promotion of Science and its membership badge, in the BDOS 2001 yearbook.

The sign of the high oval of gilded silver is partially enameled. The middle medallion is horizontally and vertically rigidly connected to the wreath. On top is a soldered eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• The outer wreath is formed from a green enameled golden burgundy laurel wreath.
• Above and below, as well as on the right and left, the central light blue 6-leaf bloom is white inside.
• The leaves of the wreath from the center are directed up and down, respectively.
In the
• center is an oval gilded medallion with a wide written ring with raised edges.
• It has a relief font: - GUILELMUS - ° - II - ° - REX - ° BOR - ° - IMPERATOR - ° - GERM - ° -.
In the
• center of the picture is a portrait of William II. in a cuirass and webbed ermine fur.
• The cuirass is enameled blue, the ermine cape is white-black enameled.
• On the chest is a golden order chain.

Downside:

• The outer wreath is formed from a green enameled golden burgundy laurel wreath.
• Light blue 6-leaf bloom above and below, white inside.
• On the side, the wreath is held by two dark blue enameled brackets.
• The leaves of the wreath from the center are directed up and down, respectively.
• On a gold medallion in the center under the imperial crown is blue enameled - W -.
• The crown bands in the background extend laterally to - W -.
• Below - W - Roman numeral - MCMX - (1910).

Tape:

20 mm orange with green side stripes 2.5 mm, orange 2.5 mm and horizontal stripes green/orange.

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