Awards of Germany - Order of Zäringer Löwen Knight's Cross 2. Oak Leaf Class

The Knight's Cross 2nd Class with Oak Leaves, as the lowest class of the order, will also be awarded oak leaves as a special badge of honour. With oak leaves, 1,452 were awarded. The Knight's Cross 2nd Class was also awarded with swords and oak leaves. Most of the awards are during the 1st World War. The Order of Zäringer Löwen was presented by Grand Duke Karl Friedrich on December 26, 1812, in the name day of his wife Stephanie. The statutes of the order were issued only on June 17, 1840 by the Grand Duke Ludwig. The foundation of the 2nd Order of the House was proposed back in 1809 by the hereditary Grand Duke Karl. The primary 3 classes, Grand Cross, Commander and Knight, were supplemented by a 2nd class commander. 1st class commanders additionally received a 4-beam breast star. Oak foliage could be added to all classes for special merits. From 1877 to 1896, the Knights of the Order of Berthold I were led as the upper class. In 1889, the Merit Cross was added. In 1815, golden oak foliage with a letter was donated. Swords for military merit for all classes were established in 1866. The gold chain of the order has been awarded since 1868 and has been introduced by statute since 1889. In 1896, the knights became in the 1st and 2nd Class divided and the Order of Bertold I now existed independently. The crosses of the upper steps are made of gold. The knight's cross of the 2nd class is made of silver. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. I, 1997.

Silver cross with outward-flaring cruciform sleeves. The cruciform shoulders are filled in front with a green semicircular raised glass stream. At the ends, the filling is beveled. The gaps of the cross sleeves are filled with silver decorations (braces). The back of the cross sleeves is smooth and silver. Front and back with a medallion. On the upper cruciform shoulder is a soldered ordinary ear. They hang hollow oak leaves consisting of 3 leaves. A band ring is suspended over the oak foliage.

Front side:

• Round medallion with gold raised border. It's obliquely shaded.
In
• a closed field, a round tower enamels the ruins of the Zähringen family castle.
• The tower is made in red upper and side green foliage.
• Below is a green bottom with 3 stones. Background (sky) in very bright blue.

Downside:

• Round medallion with gold raised border. It's obliquely shaded.
In
• a surrounded field on a red background is a golden, erect lion screaming to the right.

Tape:

• 39 mm with green edges, side stripes of 4 mm golden yellow, central stripes green 28 mm.

Photos of www.militariasammlung.de

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