Awards of Germany - Cross for military merit of the 3rd class with a crown (3rd form of 1913)

The Military Merit Cross of the Order of Military Merit since 1913 consisted of 3 classes, each with and without a crown. For military merits with swords attached to the agraph of the upper cross sleeve. The presented cross with a crown was awarded only very sparingly. The first 6 awards took place on July 29, 1914 to sergeants of the Royal Saxon Infantry Regiment No. 3 "King Ludwig III. Bavaria." By 1915, only 71 awards had been documented. Thus, this class is one of the very rarely awarded honorary badges of the Cross of Military Merit. Time and again, crosses with crowns and swords (rewards number in the thousands) manipulate and remove swords to preserve this rare class. The Military Merit Cross was established on July 19, 1866. King Ludwig II. It was established together with the Order of Military Merit. The Order of Military Merit was established in 5 classes: the Grand Cross, Komtur, Knights of the 1st and 2nd classes. Military Merit Cross to the Order. The 1st class was made of gilded silver or copper, the 2nd class was made of silver or silver-plated alpaca or copper, and the 3rd class was made in copper tone. 1st and 2nd classes have enameled middle signs on the front side, 3rd class - without enamel. The order could be awarded to all members of the Bavarian army, as well as members of other armies who earned this rank. The peacetime class without swords could also be awarded to civilians for their services to the army. Notable makers of crosses since 1889 are Hemmerle of Munich, Jacob Leser of Straubing, Deschler & Sohn of Munich, Christian Lauer of Nuremberg and Weiss & Cie. from Munich. The firm of Poellath of Schrobenhausen was a sub-supplier of Hemmerle. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. 1 1997.

Eight-pointed cross made of copper. The cruciform shoulders are serrated and bordered by polished edges. Front and back panels with a round 17mm center screen. On the upper cruciform shoulder, between the peaks, there is an agraff, to which the crown is movably connected. A ribbon ring passes through the imperial crown apple.

Front side:

• Round medallion, laced - L - under Bavarian royal crown
• This is surrounded by a wide belt-shaped hoop at the bottom with a buckle.
• It has a curved font in the upper area: - MERENTI - in the lower area of ​ ​ the antennae and points (holes for the belt
)

Downside:

In
• the middle part of the medallion is a Bavarian lion walking to the left.
• This is surrounded by a wide belt-shaped hoop at the bottom with a buckle.
• On it in the upper part the number is curved: - 1866 - in the lower part of the antennae and points (tape holes
)

Tape:

• white 35 mm, edge white 1 mm, side stripes blue 5 mm.

Photos of www.Militariasammlung.de

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