German Awards - Military Merit Cross without Number of the Year

The Military Merit Cross was established by the Grand Duke in 1905. The award was given mainly for fighting in South West Africa in 1905-1906. The absence of a year is probably due to the fact that the fighting stretched over several years. In contrast to the Chinese Crusade of 1900-1901, the year was abandoned. For this cross, an award number of about 250 pieces is supposed. Execution in the form of a plug cross is unknown. The Military Merit Cross was first established on August 5, 1848 by the Grand Duke Frederick Franz II. For the campaign against Denmark. In subsequent wars, it was again granted formlessly, but with a corresponding year change on the lower cross sleeve. So, crosses were granted with numbers 1848, 1849, 1859, 1864, 1866, 1870, 1877, 1900 and subsequently this cross without a year number. For World War I, on February 28, 1915 (from August 2, 1914), the Grand Duke Frederick Franz IV established a new fund. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. II, 1997.

Gilded cross in bronze. Along the edge of the cruciform shoulders is a raised shaded edge. The insides are finely indented. On top is a soldered eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• On the crosses at the top: - crown - center - FF -.

Downside:

• On the cross sleeves at the top: - For -, in the center: - Reward - in -, below: - Wars -
• (Font is always uppercase and lowercase)

Tape:

• Width 35 mm, side stripes red/yellow 3 mm each, middle stripes light blue.

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