Prussian Kreig Verdienst medal

[Bosungus]

I would like to understand the difference between the Kreigs Verdienst medal and the Kreiger Verdienst medal ??

[Chopperman]

Are the fronts identical?

[Bosungus]

Yes, I beleive they are the same.

[oradour]

Bosungus, no they are not... 2 different medals, ' Kriegs Verdienst ' is the 2nd class Military honour medal and the other, ' Kriegers Verdienst ' is the Warriors medal of merit, both share the same front design and are hung on 1914 2nd class Iron Cross ribbon.

[Bosungus]

Thanks,

What I am interested in is in how they differ. Is one award higher than another, or officer vs enlisted and so on. Is it a combat award.
Is one rarer than the other?.
Thanks

[oradour]

Bosungus, my understanding is that , the 2nd class military honour medal ' Kriegs Verdienst ', can be awarded to civilians and military, where as the Warriors medal of merit ' Kriegers Verdienst ' is military, awarded for merit in the face of the enemy. Is one judged higher than the other ? equal IMO ...in price, they are both not common place, but not rare...approx £100 from a dealer.

[Bosungus]

Thanks oradour for the information.

[Chopperman]

Bosungus, no they are not... 2 different medals, ' Kriegs Verdienst ' is the 2nd class Military honour medal and the other, ' Kriegers Verdienst ' is the Warriors medal of merit, both share the same front design and are hung on 1914 2nd class Iron Cross ribbon.

Great information. I learned something new today

[Walkwolf]

Makes perfect sense, once I thought about it !
"War Service' vs "Warriors Service", roughly.


Thanks, oradour !!



Regards, Steve.

[oradour]

Gentlemen, its worth mentioning here that this isnt the only Imperial medal that at first glance mirrors another medal. The Prussian Military Merit Cross, the ' Pour Le Merite ' for NCO's, a golden coloured cross, shown in photo 1 and 2 , has a twin, 'the Military Honour Cross ' 1st class, a silver coloured cross, as in photo 3 and 4. Both are identical except for colour, (and early in the war the Merit Cross was silver !)..this is because they are made from the same tooling/die. The Merit Cross is heavily faked....one such fake is to 'gild' a genuine Honour Cross and pass it off as a Merit Cross !.....however what the fakers apparantly dont know is that the Honour Cross is twice as scarce/rare as the Merit Cross ! 917 opposed to 1770 issued respectivly....what a mistaka to maka !!