Helvetia Benigna Medal
The Helvetia Benigna Medal was donated on May 15, 1917 by Kaiser Wilhelm II and could be awarded to Swiss nationals who did some work in caring for German prisoners of war and internees during the First World War .
Appearance
The medal is a silver medal with Helvetia on the front , in front of a mountain backdrop and Swiss coat of arms, carrying a bread basket in the right hand, surrounded by wounded soldiers and civilians. Above everything are the words HELVETIA BENIGNA . On the back, surrounded by a laurel wreath , is the inscription DAS DANKBARE DEUTSCHLAND ZUR REMEMBERANCE OF THE WORLD WAR . The Swiss cross floats above it .
Special
Since Switzerland does not have any portable medals and decorations, and even prohibits them, but the medal was only intended for Swiss citizens, the ban on wearing was circumvented with a trick. No ribbon was donated to the medal , but only a small ring was attached so that - if desired - it could be worn visibly, as a pendant, on the watch chain of the pocket watch that was still common at the time.
literature
- Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann : For bravery and merit. Schild-Verlag , Munich 1950.
- Jörg Nimmergut : German medals and decorations until 1945. Volume IV: Württemberg II – German Empire. Central Office for Scientific Order Studies, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-00-001396-2 .