Awards of Germany - Medal "For sacrificial assistance in distress on the water" 1888

The medal was established after the flood in Mecklenburg in 1888 by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III. The medal was awarded to persons who received special merits in the fight against flooding and its consequences. The medal is very rare.
The winter of 1887-1888 was very strong and snowy. When the melting of ice and snow began in the spring, Elba could no longer cope with the huge masses of water. Despite the fact that the area is accustomed to flood levels, the water level exceeded previously known heights. As a result, there were several breakdowns. One of them, in the area of ​ ​ the city of Demitz, almost completely flooded the cities of Demitz and Boizenburg, as well as the surroundings with the settlements of Voosmer, Heidhof and Heiddorf. The peak was measured on March 22-23, 1888. Comparable in scale to the water disaster of 1888 with the so-called water flood of 2002. However, it exceeded the level of 1888, which has so far been the highest. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. II, 1997.

Round medal made of dark bronze with a raised border. Above is an eye connected to the medal by a narrow jumper. Elongated double band ring passes through eye.

Front side:

• Along the edge is a circular thin pearl thread. Then - rewriting:
• - FRIEDRICH - FRANZ - GRAND DUKE - VON - MECKLENBURG -.
In the
• center is a portrait of the Grand Duke, facing right.

Downside:

• Along the edge is a circular thin pearl thread.
• Evenly distributed 5-line enlarged font:
• - FOR -/- VICTIMS -/- HELP -/- IN - WASSERSNOT -/- 1888 -.
• 7 5-ray stars are curved above and below the font.
• They are alternately small and slightly larger. 4 smaller and 3 larger stars.

Tape:

• Width 25 mm, crimson.

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