Awards of Germany - Order of the Württemberg Crown Knight's Cross

The Knight's Cross of the Order of the Württemberg Crown was named the 3rd. The order was established on 23 September 1818 by King William I. The motto is "Fearless and Faithful." The classes were Grand Cross, Komtur and Knights. It was accompanied by a gold and silver medal for merit. The Orders of the Golden Eagle (1807) and the Civil Order of Merit (1806) were united by the new order. In 1864, the Knight's Cross was extended with a crown. In 1870, the knights were divided into 1st and 2nd classes. The award of knights of the 2nd class was no longer associated with personal nobility. During the war of 1870/71, swords were donated for all classes. Knights of the 2nd class were awarded only until 1886. With the foundation of the Honorary Knight's Cross in 1886, the 1st class of knights became honorary knights, and the 2nd class again became a one-class knight. The continuation for the knights since 1892 was the lions between the cross sleeves. When awarded with swords, they (crossed) were attached to the upper cross on the tips. The first crosses were made of gold. Since 1916, crosses gilded with silver (with swords) also began to be made. Famous manufacturers were Eduard Föhr, Stuttgart, F. Steinam, Stuttgart.
The order was subject to return either upon promotion to a higher class or upon the death of the bearer. Sword jewelry could be worn when promoted. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. 3, 1999.

Eight-pointed cross made of gold. The cruciform arms are maroon golden and enameled. Front and rear with a raised round medallion. Between the tops of the upper cruciform shoulder is a 2-arched, ornamented agraph with a parallel ear, through which an elongated, double ribbon ring passes.

Front side:

• The central shield is golden burgundy with a wide dark red translucent enameled ornament.
Hatching (
• flinging) is visible under the red enamel.
• On it is a golden inscription: - Fearless - and - trew - subsequently a decorative touch.
• The enclosed field is enameled in white. Laid gold, decorated letter - F - under the royal crown.

Downside:

• The central shield is golden burgundy with a wide dark red translucent enameled ornament.
Hatching (
• flinging) is visible under the red enamel.
• On it is a golden inscription: - Fearless - and - trew - subsequently a decorative touch.
• The enclosed field is enameled in white. Laying on the golden royal crown.

Tape:

• dark red 35 mm wide, edging 2 mm, side stripes black 2 mm.