Awards of Germany - Medal of the Red Cross 1st class of 1898

The Red Cross Medal was established on October 1, 1898 by King and Emperor William II. donated. The foundation was inspired by his wife, Queen Auguste Victoria, who, as the highest defender of the Red Cross societies, wanted to establish an award for the work of societies in peacetime. Until then, merit in the Red Cross during the war was judged by awards such as the Common Badge of Honour or the Order of the Crown with the Red Cross conferred. The Red Cross Medal is awarded in 3 classes. 1st class was a cross, 2nd and 3rd. He has medals in silver and bronze, respectively. The award was given to men, women and virgins who have earned it through years of Red Cross activity or outstanding action. The prerequisite for achieving higher class was lower class ownership. Provided for at least 5 years. The second class could be obtained immediately. In this case, 3rd grade was borrowed. 2 and 1. The class was subject to return upon death.
Despite the fact that the fund did not provide for differences in status, the 1st class was awarded only to the upper classes or departments. This award was awarded extremely rarely (about 220 pieces) and, accordingly, very rarely. There are many copies and manufactured second parts. The royal crowns of the originals are always complete and not pierced. Attention should also be paid to the needle and hook mounted on the crowns .

A plugging cross in the form of a Geneva cross made of gilded silver. At the 4 ends of the cross is a gilded Prussian royal crown. The cross is covered with red enamel on the front side. At the back is a vertical pin.

Front side:

• A red glass-enameled cross, silver edging, royal crowns at the ends of the cross are gilded.
• Hatching shines through the glass enamel.

Downside:

• Gilded, smooth with pin, without manufacturer designation.