Awards of Germany - Order of Berthold First Knight's Cross

The knight's cross of the order presented here is made of silver with gilding. Early crosses were made of gold. The Order of the Knights was established on September 9, 1896 by the Grand Duke Frederick I during the transformation into an independent order. For services to the enemy, he could be awarded swords, like all other classes. The Order of Bertold the First was established by the Grand Duke in 1877 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the reign of Grand Duke Frederick I as the "Order of Bertold I of the Zeringen Lion" on April 29, 1877. He was the highest class of the Order of the Tseringen Lion. The order was supposed to remind of Bertold I (1024-1078), who was considered the ancestor of the clan of the Dukes of Tsering. He was Duke of Carinthia. First Berthold II. (1078-1111) - the first duke of Zeringen. The Order of Bertold I, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Frederick I, became an independent order and lost its addition from Zäringer Löwen. The charter was adopted on September 9, 1896. The order became a four-year order and henceforth consisted of the Grand Cross, commander of the 1st and 2nd. Class as well as Knights. There was a principle of higher service. In the event of an increase or death of the awarded, the order was to be returned. When awarding swords, sword adornment and civilian adornment could be worn side by side. The slogan or motto of the order was "Justice is power." The order was awarded regardless of class and birth for faithful service and as a distinctive sign of special recognition and benevolence. The reigning duke was grand master of the order. The Knight's Cross as a civil class was awarded 347 times. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. I, 1997.

An eight-pointed cross made of gilded silver or gold. Cruciform arms are covered with gold and covered with white enamel with small gold balls at the tips of the cruciform arms. Lying inside a short distance from the edge is a golden line. Between the cross sleeves on the golden, openwork ducal crown. Front and back with a gold medallion worn. Between the tips of the upper cruciform shoulder is an ornamented agraf. Above is a movably connected 5-arched, open crown. A ribbon ring passes through the imperial crown apple. On the lower cruciform shoulder there is an expanded shield with - D - for a double.

Front side:

• A medallion with a wide, gold, pearl rim.
• The closed field is slightly arcuate and red, transulently enameled.
• He hung a decorated gold code - F - W - L - for Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig.
• Above it is a 5-bulbous crown.

Downside:

• A medallion with a wide, gold, pearl rim.
• The enclosed field is slightly arched and enameled with red.
• Laid gold ducal crown with 3 tips.
• The swords on the back of the ducal crowns are covered with smooth backs.

Tape:

• Dark red 37 mm, edges 1.5 mm, side stripes golden 4 mm,

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