German Awards - Military Order of Merit 1st Class with Swords

The Order of Military Merit of the 1st class was established on November 24, 1905 by Prince Regent Luitpold. He reorganized and expanded the order. The corresponding thoracic star belonged to the 1st class. The 8-rayed star shown here has a laid order cross with a flame between the cross arms and is smaller than that of the Grand Cross. (Large cross about 95 mm, 1st class about 70 mm) The manufacturer of the breast star here was Hemmerle from Munich.
The orders awarded before this continued to be worn according to new statutes and names. New Cross 1. The class was assigned with and without swords and ranked up to 2nd. After the Grand Cross. Swords, as shown here, were awarded for military merit.
Classes after reorganization were Grand Cross, 1st Class with Star, 2nd Class with Star, 2nd Class, Officer's Cross, 3rd Class, 4th Class with Crown, and 4th Class. the cross of military merit was divided into 1st and 2nd classes. from 1918 the first 3 classes could also be awarded a crown.
The Order of Military Merit was established by King Ludwig II. It was created for brave military exploits, which were not enough to be awarded the Order of Max Joseph, but which, nevertheless, should have been appreciated. Initially, the award consisted of 5 classes: Grand Cross, Comtour, Knight 1st Class, Knight 2nd Class and Cavalier Cross for military merit. On February 26, 1900, an officer's cross was added to the order.
Crosses of the 1st class until 1916 were made of gold, after which they were gilded with silver. Other materials for manufacture were criminalized. Notable manufacturers were the Hemmerle brothers, Munich and Jakob Leser, Straubing. The order was subject to return. Heirs could, in exceptional cases, at will, acquire a distinction.

Eight-pointed silver star. Between 8 main beams, 4 intermediate beams graduated to the center. Single rays are bordered laterally by thin lines. On the front side there was a gold and enameled order star of the 1st class with a flame between the cross sleeves. Above it, on the upper cross sleeve, 2 crossed, ancient, golden swords are riveted, which cling to the center. The reverse is smooth silver with a perpendicular pin with a response hook. In the center is a round overlay with the manufacturer's designation. The pin has a silver score of 900 -.

Front side:

• The cross with golden borders is dark blue, translucently enameled.
• Including a herringbone-shaped band. The medallion is laid out in the 3 part.
In
• the black enameled midfield, gold, pretentious - L - under the Bavarian royal crown.
• This is surrounded by a wide white enameled belt hoop at the bottom with a buckle.
• It has a curved gold font at the top: - MERENTI - at the bottom of the antennae and points (belt holes).

Downside:

• The body of the star is smooth and silver. There are 8 rivets on the rays with which the cross is fastened.
• The central round covering plate is surrounded by a pearl margin, subsequently raised margin in the form of an 8-petal flower.
• Central 4-line - GEBR.-/- HEMMERLE -/- VORM.-/- ELCHINGER -.
• Curved Top - JEWELERS - Curved Bottom - MUNICH -.

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Front side: military order "For Merit" 1st class with swords

Reverse: Military Order of Merit 1st Class with Swords

Established:

July 19, 1866 by King Ludwig II.
November 24, 1905 1st Class Foundation

Awarded:

1905 – 1918

Data:

• Material: silver, gold, enamel
• Size: 70mm, swords 3 x 38mm
• Weight: about 62.5g

estimated collector price:

7000 – 7600 €

OEK Number:

393