Memorial cross for 1866
The Memorial Cross for the campaign of 1866 was donated on September 20, 1866 by King Wilhelm I of Prussia. It was awarded to all Prussian soldiers and officials who took part in a battle during the German War in 1866 or who crossed the border to an opposing state during the campaign. It was awarded in two versions: for combatants in three versions and for non-combatants . The number of awards for all combatant crosses is around 144,000, while the number of awards for crosses for non-combatants is around 1,200.
description
The memorial cross for combatants is made from the bronze of captured cannons. There is a laurel wreath on both sides between the arms of the cross . The version for non-combatants is made of oxidized bronze, and the wreath depicts oak leaves .
The front of the middle shield bears the name Wilhelm I. Rex and the inscription Prussia's victorious army . The royal crown can be seen on the upper arm of the cross . On the rest of the arms is the inscription God was with us, glory to Him . On the back, in the middle shield, is the royal eagle on a gun barrel. Depending on the theater of war, the inscription is on the arms of the cross:
- Königgrätz, July 3rd 1866 for combatants who attended the battle of Königgrätz
- The Main Army 1866 for combatants of the Main Army
- Loyal warriors 1866 for combatants who neither attended the battle of Königgrätz nor belonged to the Main Army
- Loyalty to duty in war for non-combatants.
After the death of an owner, the memorial cross should be kept in his parish .
literature
- Louis Schneider : The memorial cross for the campaign of 1866. Hayn Erben, Berlin 1867 digitized
- FW Hoeftmann: The Prussian order herald. Berlin 1868 (reprint)
- Military weekly paper . Born in 1866, p. 402 digitized
Individual evidence
- ↑ Foundation of the Memorial Cross. The highest order of September 20, 1866. In: Ludwig Hahn (Hrsg.): Two years of Prussian-German politics, 1866-1867. Berlin 1868, p. 235f.