Awards of Germany - Knight's Cross of the Order of Wilhelm

The Order of William was established on August 20, 1851 by Elector Friedrich Wilhelm. The Order of the House of the Golden Lion, donated by Elector Wilhelm in 1818, was transformed with the addition of a class of holders. The lower classes of the Order of the House now belonged to the Order of William. Since 1851, the order was again one-class. The order was established in 5 classes. Grand Cross, commander of the 1st and 2nd. Class, Knight's Cross and Cavaliers Cross. The motto is "VIRTUTE ET FIDELITATE" ("For Virtue and Fidelity"). After the annexation of Prussia, the order continued to be awarded by William I until 1875. The Grand Cross award was tied to at least the rank of lieutenant general, the 1st class commander's cross could be awarded from the rank of major general. The commander of the 2nd class and the knight's cross were not tied to any specific rank. To reach the next upper class, possession of the lower class was a prerequisite. The order was subject to return both at the death of the lent and upon promotion to another class. The Knight's Cross has been awarded 106 times. Source: Jörg Nemmergut "German Orders and Insignia until 1945" Volume 1, 1999.

Eight-pointed cross made of gold. Front and back with an oval middle shield superimposed. Cruciform bracket gold border with wide white enameled edging. The inner sides are crimson-red enameled. Between the tips of the upper cruciform shoulder, the usual eye with a ribbon ring is soldered.

Front side:

• Oval central shield with a golden rounded border. Outside is a wide ring.
• This enameled is red and bounded inwardly by a gold ring.
• It has a golden solution: - VIRTUTE - ET - FIDELITATE - below one point.
In
• a surrounded field on a blue enameled background is a golden crowned lion.
• It rises and moves to the left.

Downside:

• Oval central shield with a golden rounded, beveled inward border.
• The enclosed field is enameled in blue. It has a crowned monogram - W K -.

Tape:

• crimson red 28 mm wide, edges 1 mm, side stripes white 3 mm.

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