German Awards - Merit Cross in Voluntary Nursing (1914)

The Cross of Merit for Voluntary Care was established on March 5, 1901 by Prince Regent Luitpold. The award was established on the birthday of the Prince Regent and was in the tradition of 1871 by King Ludwig II. He was awarded the Cross of Merit in 1870/71 for many years and special services in voluntary nursing and for promoting the military sanitary service. The cross was awarded as a military insignia, with a corresponding screed with the dates of the year, and as a peaceful insignia, without a screed. War and peace awards could be worn next to each other at double awards. The same applied to the service award cross. The Merit Cross was refundable. Crosses vary in size from 40-41 mm, as well as 34-35 mm. Large crosses are often awarded to a woman's award. The screed also ranges in size from 32 to 33 mm. For repeated and special merits in the war, a silver crown could be granted on the ribbon. Only 8 awards are known. For military merits, patches were issued with the numbers of the year - 1870/71 - for persons who were already in the war of 1870-71 in the service of the Red Cross, and with the number of the year 1914, for the 1st World War. Clasps with the number of the year - 1866 - would theoretically be possible, but not awarded. The 1914 studs were granted from July 1915. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. I, 1997.

Silver cross with slightly curved outward at the ends of the cross sleeves. The edges of the crosses are raised and polished. The insides are finely indented. Front and back with a round medallion worn. On the upper cruciform sleeve is an ornamented agraf. A ribbon ring with a small ring attached to it is mounted in it. The screed is attached to the tape with 2 cotter pins.

Front side:

• On the inside of the upper cruciform shoulder rises the royal crown.
• Round middle shield with raised, arched, light blue enameled border.
• The enclosed field is covered with white enamel with a red Geneva cross in the center.
• Screed with increased polished edge. On grainy soil, the increased polished number is 1914 -.

Downside:

• Central shield without enamel with a raised rounded edge.
In
• a closed, finely indented field, a figured Bavarian coat of arms.
• Diagonal diamonds are depicted alternately raised or recessed.

Tape:

• Dark blue 35 mm, white side stripes 6 mm.

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