Military Cross of Merit (Waldeck)

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The Military Merit Cross was an award in the Principality of Waldeck with two different versions.

Military Cross of Merit (1854–1867)

Was donated on January 14, 1854 by Prince Georg Viktor zu Waldeck and was intended to honor officers .

Two copies of the cross were awarded. Officers of the Waldeck troops could thus be honored after 25 years of loyal service. Officers from other nations received the award for military merit.

After the military convention with Prussia was concluded on July 18, 1867, the award of the award was discontinued.

Appearance

The award is a silver- gilt, white-enamelled St. George's cross with incised ends. In the red enamelled medallion on top, the golden letters GV (Georg Viktor) overlooked by a princely hat can be seen. In the lapel the cross and the medallion are without enamel . In the middle are the Roman numerals XX V. (25). These numbers are omitted from the award for non-Waldeck officers.

Carrying method

Waldeck officers wore the award on a black ribbon with a red side and a gold border; Foreign officers on a white ribbon with narrow side stripes in gold / red / black on the left side of the chest.

Military Cross of Merit (1861-1896)

On May 3, 1861, Prince Georg Viktor donated the Military Merit Cross as a military merit order in initially two classes. The first class was intended for officers, the second class for NCOs and men . On September 26, 1878 the foundation of a III. Class awarded only to teams. From this point on, the second class was reserved exclusively for NCOs.

By decree of March 28, 1896, the award of the order was stopped.

Order decoration

The sign of the order is the cross described above and shows the same obverse . In the first class there is a hollow embossed gilded oak leaf above the targer ring . The second class is a bit smaller. The cross of the III. Class is without enamel and has the two-line inscription FOR MERIT on the lapel . There is no lettering in the 1st and 2nd class.

Carrying method

The first class was decorated as a neck medal, the II. And III. Class worn on the ribbon on the left side of the chest. The ribbon is white with side stripes in the colors gold / red / black.

literature

  • Jörg Nimmergut : German medals and decorations until 1945. Volume 3. Saxony - Württemberg I. Central Office for Scientific Order Studies , Munich 1999, ISBN 3-00-00-1396-2 .
  • Gert Efler : The Waldeck Military Merit Cross for 25 years of service (1854–61). In: Orders and Medals. The magazine for friends of phaleristics , publisher: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ordenskunde , issue 122, 21st year, Gäufelden 2019. ISSN 1438-3772.