Awards of Germany - Order of the Red Eagle - 2nd class cross with swords 1854-1918
For military merits he was awarded the Order of the Red Eagle of the 2nd degree with swords (through the center). After the Grand Cross and 1st class with swords, this is the 3rd highest class of the Order of Military Merit and was awarded mainly to senior servicemen. The main share of awards fell on the 1st World War (516 units). Crosses were made hollow in gold until 1916. Swords are also hollow, gold soldered from 2 parts and screwed into a medallion cylinder. In the last years of the war, crosses were also made of silver with gilding. A famous manufacturer was Wagner and a son from Berlin with a fluted stamp - W - on the lower cruciform shoulder. Since 1864, orders with swords were awarded through the center on a black and white ribbon.
The Royal Order of the Red Eagle originated from the highest Brandenburg Order of the Red Eagle. On June 12, 1792, King Frederick William II confirmed. (Great) this order as a royal award. As changes, he introduced the Prussian royal crown, instead of the princely crown, and the letters F-W-R (Friedrich, Wilhelm, Rex, that is, the king) on the reverse. During the existence of the award, many changes have been made. In 1810, the order was established by King Frederick William III. expanded to the 2nd and 3rd grade. Oak leaves for grades 1 and 2 were donated in 1811. In 1848, swords were established for military merit. In the period from 1848 to 1854, orders with a purple eagle and a raspberry eagle met in the medallion. Since 1854, the crimson color of the eagle in the medallion has been replaced by scarlet. Additional extensions of the order were swords for military merit, a loop to the 3rd class, a crown, anniversary numbers, and the upper classes have oak leaves, a crown and a scepter, a bandeau to the order of the crown, a chest star and a large cross with a chain, as well as an Johannite cross. The Order of the Red Eagle of the 2nd degree with swords was awarded until 1918 only 564 times. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. II, 1997.
The cross is made of gold. The cross hand is golden burgundy and enameled. Front and back with an enameled round middle shield. 2 crossed, ancient, golden swords pass through the center. On top is a soldered parallel eye with a double ring. On the lower cruciform shoulder, the notch mark is W -.
Front side:
- Gold medallion with raised border. In the center on a white background is a red eagle with a hohenzoll chest shield
- On the head is a golden Prussian royal crown, between the catches is a green laurel wreath
Downside:
- Gold round medallion with raised border. On a white background, rough letters - F - W -.
- Golden Prussian royal crown. Crown and letters with fine puncture.
Tape:
- Collar 57 mm wide black ribbon, edges 3 mm, white side stripes 11 mm.
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Obverse: Order of the Red Eagle - 2nd Class Cross with Swords 1854-1918
Reverse: Order of the Red Eagle - 2nd Class Cross with Swords 1854-1918
Established:
June 12, 1792 by King Frederick William II.
January 18, 1810 Foundation of the 2nd and 3rd class of King Frederick William III.
1848 - Sword Foundation
Data:
- Material: gold, enamel
- Size: 52.26 x 47.7mm
- Weight: 24.78g
estimated collector price:
2900 - 3100 € in gold
2000 - 2200 € silver-gilded
Awards of World War II