German Badges & Medals of pre WW1 and during WW1 Page 1

Sub category index

• This item is a civilian brooch NOT a medal. It does however fit into the category. 

• It is 2 stylised ribbons, the top one representing Germany with black white and red, the lower representing Austria (Austro-Hungarian Empire) with black and gold and the central clasp representing Turkey (Ottoman Empire).

• The wording (loosely translated) is "God punish England".

• It was a popular item.

German medal ribbons

These are the medals, orders and badges that were available to German troops fighting in the First World War.

Note the similarity between these and the British Orders.

Note That they are top heavy with awards for officers only

Note that 5.2 million Iron Crosses 2nd Class were awarded (and they say the MM was easy to win).

< German 1914/18 General Service Medal (Honour Cross)

The Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross.

This is worn as a breast badge.

Only 2 ever issued.

German WWI "Star Of The Grand Cross  of the Iron Cross 1914". This special award was presented only once in WW1, to Generalfeldmarschall von Hindenburg in recognition of his command during the last great German offensive in 1918. The previous awardee was Field Marshal Blucher of Waterloo fame.

History of the Iron Cross

1st Class (pinned)

2nd class (ribbon)

silver

Gold void version below.

black. Void version below.

The Iron Cross was originally established on 10 March 1813 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III. 

It was re-established in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war and again on 5 August 1914 by Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia.

The 1914 Iron Cross was awarded without regard for nationality or social class to combatants and non-combatants for acts of heroism, bravery or leadership skills.

Although the medals of each class were identical, the manner in which each was worn differed.

Employing a pin or screw posts on the back of the medal, the Iron Cross First Class was worn on the left side of the recipient's uniform. 

The Grand Cross and the Iron Cross Second Class were suspended from different ribbons.

• In WW1 these numbers were awarded;  

  • 5 Grand Cross  

  • 218,000 First Class

  • 5,200,000 Second Class

Refer to History of the Iron Cross for details

Gold wound badge (see above right for details) As can be seen it was only gold plated.

The Wound Badge was established on 3 March 1918 by Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia.

In recognition for wounds received in combat, German military personnel were awarded the

•  Wound Badge in one of three classes. 

  • The Black Wound Badge was awarded for less than three woundings; 

  • the Silver Wound Badge was awarded for three to five wounds; or the loss of an eye, foot, hand or hearing and 

  • the Golden Wound Badge was awarded for more than 5 wounds or severe wounds that permanently injured or disfigured the recipient.

IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVY SILVER WOUND BADGE

As many of you are aware, Navy Wound Badges are always more scarce than their Army counterparts. The Navy was far smaller in numbers than the Army. Its members also did not suffer the number of wounds on the same scale as their brothers on land. The silver award was the 2nd Class honor. It was given for having suffered three wounds. The black was the 3rd class honour. It was for 1 or 2 wounds.

• Officer's hat badge from the Saxon Guarde,1915

• It was common for former soldiers to wear a stick pin on civilian clothing indicating the medals that they had been awarded. These are the Iron Cross, The Honour Cross and the 12 year Service Medal

The cross in your photo is very interesting, and I have not seen one like it before.  It commemorates some of the early battles and events of the invasion of Belgium.  Louvain is one particularly low point in German military history.  It was a very important university and library town of the middle ages, and up to 1914, the libraries were intact.  The Germans had the notion or perceived notion that Belgian civilians were practicing shooting German soldiers in the back from second floor windows, then hiding in the crowd of unarmed civilians.  This may or may not have been going on.  It is understandable when you invade a nation, especially one your government pledged to honour it's neutrality, that the citizens would take offence, and may take to shooting the invaders outside of the traditional military role of soldiers.  However, the German's response was very Draconian to say the least.  Louvain was burned to the ground, and the loss of the ancient middle age libraries is irreplaceable.

The iron cross of yours is not a military medal. Up to 1916, the Germans produced a truly amazing amount of patriotic items for the general public.  There were gold for iron drives where you brought in your family gold in exchange for a war bond, and an iron trinket of some time was given so one could display one's patriotism.  These items were rings, or pins or necklaces, etc. in the shape of the iron cross or with an iron cross motif on them.  I suspect that your cross is one of these items.  There were also many items produced for sale so that one could display one's support for the Kaiser and the war, and your cross could be one of this type item as well.

After 1916, war shortages brought an end to such unnecessary items, as all metals were directed to the war effort.  Also by 1916, the casualty lists had grown so large that nearly every family in the nation had been affected, and the people were not so enthusiastic for the war, as grief, hunger and privation were replacing the joy of being at war. Reileys@worldnet.att.net

The Imperial Iron Cross of 1870

German WW1 Veterans Medallion

• A Kufheyser  badge (issued by a veterans organisation after WW1) (left)

   

•  and the WW1 Veteran's Medal (right)

• German WW1 hat badge in the shape of an Iron Cross as worn by a LANDSTURM UNIT.
•  Original finish was silvered brass.

• 1914 Cross of Distinction In War "For Bravery"

.

Email