German Awards - Mackensen 1st Class Cross of Honor

The armory ring of the German cavalry was created in 1928. The patron and role model was Field Marshal August von Mackensen. Mackensen was an outstanding cavalry commander and was awarded many awards. Among other things, he was a knight of the Order of Pour le Merite with oak leaves, the Order of the Black Eagle and the large comture of the Royal Order of the House of Hohenzollern, to name only the most important. He commanded the XVII in the 1st World War in East Prussia. Later, the army corps of the 9th and 11th armies. By the end of the war he was a military governor in Romania. He had a reputation as an invincible ruler.
The gun ring has held gun days annually since 1931. The official organ of the arms ring of the German cavalry was the newspaper Deutsche Reiter-Zeitung. The first Cavalry Day was held in 1931 in Dresden. In 1933, T. Schroeder was chairman. At that time, there were 572 associations in the "Ring of Arms" with about 53,500 members. Among them were 8339 officers and 1031 honorary members. Subsequent Arms Days were held in 1933 in Düsseldorf, in 1935 in Hamburg and in 1936 in Wroclaw.
This badge of honor, established in 1928 by the weapons ring of the German cavalry, bears the name of the famous Field Marshal August von Mackensen. The 1 shown herein is known. Class as a gilded and enameled plug cross and 2nd class made in silver. Members of the cavalry gun ring were awarded. I do not know more exact rules of awarding. It is assumed that the possession of the Iron Cross is associated with the acquisition of the 1st class. Since about 1934, new rectangular honorary buckles with a round medallion and Nazi symbols were awarded in 2 classes. The National Socialists took advantage of the reputation of Field Marshal for their own purposes.

Gilded male cross with white enameled cross sleeves. The cross sleeves have a golden border. In the center is a large round medallion.
Between the cross sleeves is a gilded round ring of bay leaves.

Front side:

• The middle medallion is surrounded by a black enameled ring with a gold inscription:
• - GUN RING - GERMAN - CAVALRY - below three points
In the
• center is a gilded head portrait of Field Marshal Mackensen

Downside:

• Smooth gilded with a vertical pin.
• Stamped: - GES. - PROTECTED - and manufacturer - C. H. ARNOLD - COBURG -

Photos courtesy of "Münzgalerie-Frankfurter Allee"
10247 Berlin, Frankfurter Allee 106a
Contacts: muenzgalerie.gietzelt@gmx.de