The 1914/1918 Ehrenkreuz

[HPL2008]

With a total of more than 8 million awards of its three classes combined, the Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918 [Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918, or as it is often colloquially called in the collector community, the "Hindenburg Cross"] is a very common decoration.

Still, for all its commonness, if one considers the history it represents and the hardships and sacrifices it honored, it is an often underappreciated award.

It is also an inexpensive theme to collect and one with many different variations available. I also like its rather simple, but classic design.

So, I thought I would share its examples in my collection.

First, the three classes in full-size, unmounted form. From left to right: The Ehrenkreuz für Kriegsteilnehmer [Honor Cross for Participants in the War], the Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer [Honor Cross or Frontline Soldiers] and the Ehrenkreuz für Hinterbliebene [Honor Cross for Surviving Dependants]:




Now, a court-mounted example of the Frontkämpfer Class. The cross and ribbon show their age and the back is damaged and incomplete, with the backing material and the pin and catch missing. Still, it serves as a useful illustration of the mounting techniques employed:

[M18922]

wow! i havent got one yet but i have been thinking about it. i like the black one giving to the wives.

[HPL2008]

Now, for some miniatures for civilian wear.

Again, all three classes, this time in stickpin form:





Top, two different styles of ribbon bow with miniature decoration pendant [Bandschleife mit anhängender Ordensverkleinerung] representing the Frontkämpfer class and below them another one for the Hinterbliebenen class, the latter unfortunately missing its means of attachment. This type of mounting would later be reserved for a small number of higher wartime decorations, such as the Knight's Crosses of the Iron Crass or War Merit Cross and the Pour le Merite:

[HPL2008]

Now, two ribbon rolls [Bandrollen], Frontkämpfer class left, Kriegsteilnehmer class right:



Some ribbon bows [Bandschleifen]; top, a quartet of Frontkämpfer ones, below, a single example of the Kriegsteilnehmer class. Later regulations would not allow the use of the miniature decoration devices; then, it was either a swords device for the Frontkämpfer class or no device for the Kriegsteilnehmer class:

[HPL2008]

A ribbon bow and two ribbon rolls representing the WW1-era Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Frontkämpfer Cross; a very common combination:



Some examples of ribbon bows with multiple decorations that also include the 1914/18 Ehrenkreuz:

[HPL2008]

Now for a few examples of full-size court-mounted medal bars [Große Ordensschnallen] of WW1 veterans that include the 1914/18 Ehrenkreuz in its Frontkämpfer class.

First, a Bavarian veteran who also held the Iron Cross 2nd Class [Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse] and the Bavarian Cross of Military Merit 3rd Class with Swords [Bayerisches Militärverdienstkreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwertern]:



Another, more humble Bavarian medal bar with the Landwehr Service Award 2nd Class [Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung II. Klasse] and the King-Ludwig-Cross 1916 [König-Ludwig-Kreuz 1916].
The medals are mounted in an odd order; normallly the König-Ludwig-Kreuz should have come first, the 1914/18 Ehrenkreuz second and the Landwehr Service Award last.
Accompanying it is the matching ribbon bow; unfortunately, the button is missing:

[HPL2008]

Now for WW1 veterans from Hamburg. Here we have a combination of the Iron Cross 2nd Class [Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse], the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross [Hamburger Hanseatenkreuz] and the 1914/18 Ehrenkreuz in full-size court-mounted form [Große Ordensschnalle] with the matching ribbon bar [Kleine Ordensschnalle] and ribbon bow [Bandschleife].



A variation on the above theme. This time, the full-size decorations are mounted as a Frackspange, i.e. for wear on evening dress. Hence, the slanting mounting style and the alternate order of precedence [top-to-bottom instead of left-to-right]. Note that the crosses have been fixated with matching-colored thread to keep them from dangling and clanking together:

[HPL2008]

Finally, the same three decorations again, represented, top-to-bottom as a ribbon roll [Bandrolle], stickpin miniature (sadly missing its pin) and - one of my favorites - a miniature chain [Ordenskette] with beautiful detail:




Right, that's it; hope you like them.

[Adrian]

A very informative and well presented thread Andreas. Probably the most complete collection of a single award with it's variants I can remember seeing, thank you for posting.

I've added it to the 'Useful Reference Links' thread at the top of the page.

[DUJAILAH]

Hi HPL2008, what a brilliant thread & collection They are very underrated medals & you've certainly done them justice. Nice one, Cheers, Richard.