The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (German: Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914/1918), commonly, but incorrectly, known as the Hindenburg Cross or the German WWI Service Cross was established by Field MarshalPaul von Hindenburg, President of the German Weimar Republic, by an order dated 13 July 1934, to commemorate service of the German people during the First World War.[1] This was Germany's first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war, and where they had since died it was also awarded to their surviving next-of-kin.[1] Shortly after its issuance, the government of Nazi Germany declared the award as the only official service decoration of the First World War and further forbade the continued wearing of most German Free Corps awards on any military or paramilitary uniform of a state or Nazi Party organization.
The Honour Cross of the World War (Hindenburg Cross)
Honour Cross with Swords (for front-line veterans)
- for surviving widows and parents of fallen participants in the war, without swords.[2]
The Honour Cross was modelled on the reverse side of the War Commemorative Medal of 1870/71 (Preußen Kriegsdenkmünze 1870-1871), and was designed by Eugene Godet.[3] The medal awarded to combatants (the Frontkämpferkreuz) displayed a laurel wreath encircling a medallion, with the dates "1914 1918". Crossed swords are between the arms. The reverse side was plain, except for the manufacturer's logo. The Honour Cross for non-combatants has no swords and a wreath of oak leaves. Both crosses are in bronze. The Honour Cross for Next-of-Kin (commonly known as the Widows Cross), was finished in black.[4]
The Honour Cross was worn suspended from a ribbon with black edge stripes, two white stripes, two black stripes and a red stripe in the middle between them. The ribbon for the Honour Cross for Next-of-Kin had these colours in a different order, having a white edge stripes, with two black stripes, white stripes on either side of a red stripe in the middle.[1] They were frequently worn with the ribbon fashioned into a bow, with a pin on the back, which the mother or widow in question attached to her clothing. The application for this award had a time limit, which expired at the end of 1942. Each award came with an Urkunde, or certificate, which indicated which form the award took. The certificates for the next-of-kin crosses came in two types: those for widows were titled Ehrenkreuz für Witwen (Honour Cross for Widows), those for parents Ehrenkreuz für Eltern (Honour Cross for Parents). The award was ranked above other service and occupation medals, but below other awarded combat medals.[5] The number of awards given was:
By a decree dated 30 November 1938, the State Minister of the Interior introduced these awards into the Ostmark (the name of Austria after it was annexed by Nazi Germany). By 1940, it had also been approved for persons of German heritage from seized lands of the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Danzig, Saar and Memel.[1] Awarding of the cross to war participants of German heritage continued after the deadline for applications had closed within the previous boundaries of Germany. Such Honour Crosses were still being awarded as late as 1944. For all attached military personnel outside these regions, the Führer, through the ordinance of 30 June 1942, had already ordered approval of these awards.
^For the next of kin (widows and parents), of those who died in battle or as a result of wounds received in battle or having died in captivity or missing in action. "About: The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918". dbpedialite.org. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
The Honour Cross of the World War (Hindenburg Cross)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918.
Angolia, John (1989). For Führer and Fatherland: Political & Civil Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN978-0912138169.
Doehle, Dr Heinrich (1995) [1943]. Die Auszeichnungen Des Großdeutschen Reichs. Reddick Enterprises. ISBN978-0962488344.
March 08, 2023
honour, cross, world, 1914, 1918, german, ehrenkreuz, weltkrieges, 1914, 1918, commonly, incorrectly, known, hindenburg, cross, german, service, cross, established, field, marshal, paul, hindenburg, president, german, weimar, republic, order, dated, july, 1934. The Honour Cross of the World War 1914 1918 German Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914 1918 commonly but incorrectly known as the Hindenburg Cross or the German WWI Service Cross was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg President of the German Weimar Republic by an order dated 13 July 1934 to commemorate service of the German people during the First World War 1 This was Germany s first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war and where they had since died it was also awarded to their surviving next of kin 1 Shortly after its issuance the government of Nazi Germany declared the award as the only official service decoration of the First World War and further forbade the continued wearing of most German Free Corps awards on any military or paramilitary uniform of a state or Nazi Party organization The Honour Cross of the World War Hindenburg Cross Honour Cross with Swords for front line veterans TypeFirst World War Service MedalPresented byNazi GermanyEligibilityAll German and Austrian participants in the war or their next of kinStatusObsoleteFirst awarded13 July 1934Last awarded1944Total8 041 414Total awarded posthumouslyYesThe Honour Cross was awarded in three forms 1 for front line veterans with swords for non combatant veterans without swords for surviving widows and parents of fallen participants in the war without swords 2 The Honour Cross was modelled on the reverse side of the War Commemorative Medal of 1870 71 Preussen Kriegsdenkmunze 1870 1871 and was designed by Eugene Godet 3 The medal awarded to combatants the Frontkampferkreuz displayed a laurel wreath encircling a medallion with the dates 1914 1918 Crossed swords are between the arms The reverse side was plain except for the manufacturer s logo The Honour Cross for non combatants has no swords and a wreath of oak leaves Both crosses are in bronze The Honour Cross for Next of Kin commonly known as the Widows Cross was finished in black 4 The Honour Cross was worn suspended from a ribbon with black edge stripes two white stripes two black stripes and a red stripe in the middle between them The ribbon for the Honour Cross for Next of Kin had these colours in a different order having a white edge stripes with two black stripes white stripes on either side of a red stripe in the middle 1 They were frequently worn with the ribbon fashioned into a bow with a pin on the back which the mother or widow in question attached to her clothing The application for this award had a time limit which expired at the end of 1942 Each award came with an Urkunde or certificate which indicated which form the award took The certificates for the next of kin crosses came in two types those for widows were titled Ehrenkreuz fur Witwen Honour Cross for Widows those for parents Ehrenkreuz fur Eltern Honour Cross for Parents The award was ranked above other service and occupation medals but below other awarded combat medals 5 The number of awards given was for combatants 6 202 883 1 for non combatants 1 120 449 1 for widows 345 132 1 for parents 372 950 1 total 8 041 414By a decree dated 30 November 1938 the State Minister of the Interior introduced these awards into the Ostmark the name of Austria after it was annexed by Nazi Germany By 1940 it had also been approved for persons of German heritage from seized lands of the Sudetenland Czechoslovakia Danzig Saar and Memel 1 Awarding of the cross to war participants of German heritage continued after the deadline for applications had closed within the previous boundaries of Germany Such Honour Crosses were still being awarded as late as 1944 For all attached military personnel outside these regions the Fuhrer through the ordinance of 30 June 1942 had already ordered approval of these awards Notes Edit a b c d e f g h i Angolia 1989 p 12 For the next of kin widows and parents of those who died in battle or as a result of wounds received in battle or having died in captivity or missing in action About The Honour Cross of the World War 1914 1918 dbpedialite org Retrieved 16 March 2013 German WWI Hindenburg Crosses Angolia 1989 pp 12 16 Angolia 1989 pp 13 14 16 References EditThe Honour Cross of the World War Hindenburg Cross Wikimedia Commons has media related to Honour Cross of the World War 1914 1918 Angolia John 1989 For Fuhrer and Fatherland Political amp Civil Awards of the Third Reich R James Bender Publishing ISBN 978 0912138169 Doehle Dr Heinrich 1995 1943 Die Auszeichnungen Des Grossdeutschen Reichs Reddick Enterprises ISBN 978 0962488344 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Honour Cross of the World War 1914 1918 amp oldid 1138257776, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
