Awards of Germany - Oldenburg House and Order of Merit (Big) Commander's Cross with swords and laurels

Depicted here, the Oldenburg Order of Home and Merit, with swords and laurels, is one of the most significant and rare military orders awarded during World War I. The bay leaf was established on October 21, 1918 by the Grand Duke Frederick Augustus as the highest military award. He was awarded only for especially outstanding services. The award of swords has already established the possession of the Iron Cross 1. Ahead is the class and the Prussian Sword Order, or Pour le Merite. In addition, Beliene was supposed to be an Oldenburg and serve in the Oldenburg part of the troops. For laurel branches, the order Pour le Merite was a requirement. Crosses for large-sized comtours were larger than 85 mm x 53 mm, comture - 67 mm x 41 mm. The depicted cross was awarded in the form of a comture cross with swords and laurel leaves, but has the dimensions of a large comture cross. The golden cross was decorated with silver gilt swords by the court jeweler Knauer and laurel branches, also made of gilded silver and enameled. The Grand Commander's Cross with swords and laurel branches was awarded to Major General von Lettov-Forbeck only 1 time in 1919. The Komtursky cross with swords and laurel branches was awarded only 2 times, to Colonel Freiherr von Ledebur and Colonel Wilhelm Heye. Whether this special award was also intended for Komture in sizes designed for large cars should remain open. Grosscomtura wore for distinction, in addition to the order cross, an additional order star.
Grand Duke Paul Friedrich Augustus established the Order of the House and Merit on November 27, 1838. He should have remembered his father's 25-year return. The motto of the Order is "One God is one right, one truth." The meaning of the dates on the cross sleeves: January 17, 1755 - the birthday of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig, July 6, 1785 - entry into the government, May 21, 1829 - the anniversary of the death of the duke, November 27, 1838 - the foundation of the order.
The order consisted of 5 classes. The 1st Grand Cross, divided into the Golden Grand Cross and the Grand Cross, the 2nd Grand Komtur (with a chest star), the 3rd Komtur, the 4th officer and the 5th. Knights are divided into Knights 1. Class, Knight 2. Laurel branches for decorating swords were awarded 1 time to the Grand Cross, 1 time to the Grand Komtur, 2 times to the Komtur, 1 time to the Officer's Cross and 2 times to the Knight's Cross of the 1st class.
The extremely small number of awards of these classes with swords and laurel branches makes price evaluation impossible.

The cross is gold with white enameled cross sleeves and gold edges. In the center, a round medallion with a border is worn on both sides. 2 crossed, silver gilded swords pass through the center. At a short distance from the medallion, laid obverse on swords and the upper 3 cruciform shoulders, 2 golden burgundy and green-enameled laurel branches on the right and left. The stems are soldered to the edge of the lower cruciform shoulder. The last leaves of the branches lie on the upper cruciform shoulder. Angular ear above. Thanks to this, a small corrugated ring to which a movable, golden crown is attached. A ring passes through the imperial apple of the crown, subsequently a double elongated ribbon ring.

Front side:

• A central shield with a gold border outside and inside from the ring.
• Red, translucent enameled ring with gold inscription:
• - ONE - GOD - ONE - RIGHT - ONE - TRUTH - below full stop.
• A closed blue translucent enameled field with a ray wreath in the background.
• Fold the interlocking letters - P - F - L - under one crown.
• Named Peter Friedrich Ludwig.

Downside:

In
• framed by a gold enameled central shield, the coat of arms of Oldenburg with an ermine mantle and a crown.
• On white enameled cross sleeves - gold dates.
• bottom: - November 27, 1838 -, right: - May 21, 1829 -, top: - January 17, 1755 -, left: - July 6, 1785
. -

Tape:

Obverse: Oldenburg House and Order of Merit (Grand) Cross with swords and laurels

Reverse: Oldenburg House and Order of Merit (Big) Commander's Cross with swords and laurel

Established:

November 27, 1838 by the Grand Duke Paul Friedrich Augustus
February 11, 1856 Sword Foundation
October 21, 1918 Laurel Branch Foundation

Awarded:

October 29, 1918

Data:

• Material: gold, silver, enamel
• Size: 85 x 53mm cross, 33 x 27mm crown
• Weight: about 35g in gold (cross without swords and laurel)

estimated collector price:

Unspecified

OEK Number:

1503/1, 1510