Ehrenzeichen des Freistaates Bayern für Verdienste um das BRK

[HPL2008]

Today, I would like to present the Ehrenzeichen des Freistaates Bayern für Verdienste um das BRK [Decoration of the Free State of Bavaria for Service to the BRK] (BRK = Bayerisches Rotes Kreuz, i.e. Bavarian Red Cross).

(This is obviously not a Bundeswehr award, but posted here as there is no sub-forum dedicated to civilian awards and decorations of the Federal Republic of Germany.)

Instituted in 1957, the decoration is awarded both as a long service award [Zeitauszeichnung] for unpaid volunteer service and a decoration for merit [Verdienstauszeichnung]. The long service awards are worn on ribbons; the decoration for merit is a pinback cross [Steckkreuz]. All are in the shape of a flared cross with a circular center medaillon bearing the Red Cross emblem on a white field with a blue border and bear the lesser coat-of-arms [Kleines Staatswappen] of the State of Bavaria in the top arm. Unlike the other awards, decorations and badges of the Bavarian Red Cross itself, this is an official decoration of the State of Bavaria (awards are made by the Bavarian Minister of the Interior) and thus authorized for wear on military uniform.

The first model long service award (from 1957 to 1972) came in three grades: Bronze for 25 years of service, silver for 40 years and gold for 50 years. Only the highest grade of the award was and is to be worn. Obverse and reverse view of the three grades:






In 1972, the 50-year award was abolished, as was the bronze grade. Thus, the 25-year award was now "upgraded" to silver and the 40-year award to gold. Of course, those who had already been awarded a first model 50-year award could continue to wear it. Obverse and reverse views and the gold grade in its presentation box:








The pinback cross is awarded for particularly meritorious achievements in the interest of the Bavarian Red Cross. High standards are to be applied for an award of this decoration and the award proposals (submitted by the President of the Bavarian Red Cross to the Bavarian Minister of the Interior) have to describe the prospective recipients' achievements in detail. Obverse and reverse view:






A group shot:



As a side note: In 2013, equivalent decorations were also instituted for the Bavarian branches of other emergency aid-/disaster relief organisations: The Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (JUH), the Malteser Hilfsdienst (MHD), the Deutsche Lebensrettungs-Gesellschaft (DLRG) and the Technisches Hillfswerk (THW). The center medaillon of these decorations feature the respective organisation's emblem; otherwise their classes and designs are identical to those of the BRK decoration.

[HPL2008]

Just in are these miniatures for civilian wear.

Lapel bows for the 25- and 40 year grades of the second-model long service award:






A two-place stickpin for the Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes [Decoration of the German Red Cross] together with the Bavarian pinback cross decoration, and a single stickpin for the latter:

[HPL2008]

Just in, here is another stickpin, combining the Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes with the Bavarian first-model 40- and 25-year crosses. (Note that by regulations, only the 40-year grade should be worn, but such individualisms are not unusual.) Obverse and reverse view and a scale reference shot:

[HPL2008]

Another new addition is this 9 mm two-place stickpin combining the Ehrenzeichen des DRK in Gold with the Bavarian pinback cross (compare with the one in post # 2, which has the silver-grade DRK-Ehrenzeichen):