Awards of Germany - Cross "For Military Merit" 2nd Class 1914

The Military Merit Cross for World War I was restored by the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz 1915 retroactively on August 2, 1914. The signs of the order remained the same as those of the previously awarded crosses. The differences were in slightly coarser, grainy cruciform sleeves, as well as in 1914. It consisted of 2 classes. Crosses of the 1st class were worn in the form of a plug cross or on a screw disc. The 2nd class cross was also awarded a red ribbon for special services in charity. Women received a reduced cross, which was otherwise the same. One difference in the way the 2nd Class was worn was that the rear now had to be carried forward.
The 1914 crosses now have the inscription for the first time - FOR DISTINCTION IN WAR - in solid capital letters. A small number of crosses have the former spelling in capital and lowercase letters. Other rare variants have missing Ü clauses or the word - WAR - instead of - WAR -. In the last year of the war, crosses were made of military material (zinc). They are very rare. The makers of the crosses were only AWS from Berlin and Zimmermann from Pforzheim, who made almost all the crosses (large print).
The founding of the Military Merit Cross in Mecklenburg-Schwerin dates back to 1848. Grand Duke Frederick Franz II. On August 5, 1848, the cross was established for the war with Denmark. In 1859, 1864 and 1866, the crosses were again renewed formlessly and equipped with the corresponding dates of the year. There was no first class then. Private productions for officers are known. Wearing as a cross was probably tolerated. Since 1870, crosses have become 1. The class is awarded with a smooth back and badge. Known crosses with dates 1866 (subsequently), 1870 and 1877. Since 1887, crosses have not been returned. For the colonial wars in China and Africa, only crosses 2 were used. The class is assigned. Participants in the Chinese campaign received crosses with the number 1900. There are no fighters in Africa.
The Military Merit Cross 2nd Class 1914 was awarded 76,615 times. 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 cut. On top is a soldered eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• On the cross sleeves at the top: - FOR -, center: REWARD IN -, bottom: - WAR (AND)
-
• Possible register.

Downside:

• On the cross sleeves at the top: - crown -, at the bottom: - 1914 -, in the center - FF -

Tape:

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

.

Photos courtesy of "Münzgalerie-Frankfurter Allee"
10247 Berlin, Frankfurter Allee 106a
Contacts: muenzgalerie.gietzelt@gmx.de