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Imperial Orders and Medals Guide



This is an identification guide for the Imperial Orders and medals in use or awarded for the period 1870-1918. During this period, some 25 German states awarded a variety of decorations. Orders usually consisted of several levels. The highest level was the medal on a sash ribbon with or without a breast star, the medal on a neck ribbon, to lower levels of the medal on a ribbon suspension. Order awards could be made with or without crown, swords, laurel leaves, or other embellishments. Medals could be awarded in gold, silver, or bronze and with swords in some classes. Some medals were awarded as both a pin back 1st class award, and a 2nd class medal on a ribbon. Orders and medals are shown in order of presidence. To the best of our knowledge, all the examples shown are original pre-1945 manufacture. If anyone has questions or suggestions, please contact [email protected].

© 2000, 2015 by GermanDaggers.com

Kingdom of Prussia






Order of the Black Eagle



Order of Merit of the Prussian Crown



Order of the Red Eagle



Order of the Red Eagle Cross with Crown and Swords



Order of the Red Eagle Cross



Order of the Red Eagle Cross with Swords



Order of the Red Eagle Silver Cross



Order of the Red Eagle Medal



Order of the Crown



Order of the Crown with Swords



Order of the Crown Cross



Order of the Crown Cross with Swords



Order of the Crown Medal



Royal House Order of Hohenzollern



Royal House Order of Hohenzollern - Cross with Crown and Swords



Royal House Order of Hohenzollern - Cross with Crown



Royal House Order of Hohenzollern - Silver Cross of Merit



Pour le M�rite



Pour le M�rite with Oak Leaves



Pour le M�rite for Art and Science



Johanniter Order



Johanniter Order Cross of Merit



Wilhelm Orden



Louise Order



Louise Order Cross of Merit



Grand Cross - 1870



Iron Cross 1st Class - 1870



Iron Cross 2nd Class - 1870



Grand Cross - 1914



Iron Cross 1st Class - 1914



Iron Cross 2nd Class - 1914



Iron Cross 2nd Class - 1914 Non-combatant Ribbon



Military Merit Cross



Military Honor Medal 1st Class



Military Honor Medal 2nd Class



Merit Cross for War Aid



Warrior Merit Medal



Military Long Service Cross for 25 Years



Military Long Service Cross for 15 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 12 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 9 Years



Landwehr Long Service Cross 1st Class



Landwehr Long Service Medal 2nd Class



War Commemorative Medal of 1870/71



War Commemorative Medal of 1870/71 - Non-combatant Medal and Ribbon



Duppel Storm Cross



Alsen Cross



Alsen Cross - Non-combatant Ribbon



Alsen Cross - Reserves Ribbon



1866 Commemorative Cross



War Commemorative Medal of 1864



Colonial Service Medal



China Service Medal



South West Africa Service Medal



Centenary Medal



Lifesaving Medal - Silver



Lifesaving Medal - Bronze



Red Cross Medal 1st Class



Red Cross Medal 2nd Class



Red Cross Medal 3rd Class



Civil Merit Cross - Gold



Civil Merit Cross - Silver



General Honor Decoration Cross 1st Class



General Honor Decoration Medal 2nd Class



General Honor Decoration Medal 3rd Class



General Honor Decoration Medal with Red Cross



Jerusalem Cross



Cross of the Mount of Olives


Kingdom of Bavaria






Military Order of Max Joseph



Military Order of Max Joseph Gold Medal of Merit



Military Order of Max Joseph Silver Medal of Merit



Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown



Order of St. Michael - Gold with Crown



Order of St. Michael - Silver with Crown



Order of St. Michael - Silver



Order of St. Michael Merit Cross



Order of St. Michael Merit Medal



Military Merit Order - Gold with Crown and Swords



Military Merit Order - Gold with Swords



Military Merit Order - Gold



Military Merit Order - Silver with Crown and Swords



Military Merit Order - Silver with Crown



Military Merit Order - Silver with Swords



Ludwig Order



Maximilian Order for Science and Art



Maximilian Order for Science and Art with Crown



Order of Theresa



Order of Saint Hubertus



Royal Order of Saint George



Order of Saint Elizabeth



Military Medical Order



Military Merit Cross - 1st Class - Gold with Crown and Swords - NonCombatant Ribbon



Military Merit Cross - 1st Class - Gold with Swords - Combatant Ribbon



Military Merit Cross - 1st Class - Gold - Combatant Ribbon



Military Merit Cross - 2nd Class - Silver with Crown and Swords - Combatant Ribbon



Military Merit Cross - 2nd Class - Silver with Swords - NonCombatant Ribbon



Military Merit Medal - 2nd Class - Silver - Combatant Ribbon



Military Merit Medal - 3rd Class - Bronze with Crown and Swords - Combatant Ribbon



Military Merit Medal - 3rd Class - Bronze with Swords - Combatant Ribbon



Military Merit Medal - 3rd Class - Bronze - NonCombatant Ribbon



Jubilee Medal for the Bavarian Army



King Ludwig Cross



Merit Cross for Voluntary Medical Personnel



Military Medical Decoration



Military Long Service Cross for 24 Years



Military Long Service Cross for 15 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 12 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 9 Years



Landwehr Long Service Cross 1st Class



Landwehr Long Service Medal 2nd Class



Ludwig Medal for Art and Science



Ludwig Medal for Industry



Civil Merit Medal



Silver Lifesaving Medal



Bronze Lifesaving Medal



Prince Regent Luitpold Medal


Kingdom of Saxony






Order of the Rue Crown



Military Order of St. Henry



Military Order of St. Henry Cross



Military Order of St. Henry Gold Medal



Military Order of St. Henry Silver Medal



Civil Merit Order Cross with Crown and Swords



Civil Merit Order Cross with Crown



Civil Merit Order Cross with Leaves and Swords



Civil Merit Order Cross with Swords



Civil Merit Order Cross



Civil Merit Order Silver Cross



Civil Merit Order Silver Medal



Albert Order with Crown and Swords



Albert Order with Swords



Albert Order



Albert Order Cross of Merit



Albert Order Medal of Merit



Order of Maria-Anna



Order of Sidonia



Friedrich August Medal



Honor Cross with Swords



War Merit Cross



War Service Medal for 1870-71



Military Long Service Cross for 25 Years



Military Long Service Cross for 15 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 12 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 9 Years



Landwehr Long Service Cross 1st Class



Landwehr Long Service Medal 2nd Class



Civil "Virtuti et Ingenio" Medal



Civil "Bene Merentibus" Medal



Civil Honor Cross with Crown



Civil Honor Cross



Cross for Medical and Humanitarian Service in Wartime



Lifesaving Medal - Silver



Lifesaving Medal - Bronze


Kingdom of W�rttemberg






Order of the Crown with Swords and Lions



Order of the Crown with Swords



Order of the Crown



Friedrich Order Military Merit Cross



Friedrich Order Merit Cross with Swords



Friedrich Order Silver Merit Cross with Swords



Friedrich Order Military Merit Medal



Military Merit Order



Military Merit Order with Crown



Order of Olga



Gold Military Merit Medal



Silver Military Merit Medal



Merit Cross with Swords



Wilhelm Cross with Swords



Wilhelm Cross



Charlotte Cross



Military Long Service Cross for 25 Years



Military Long Service Cross for 21 Years



Military Long Service Cross for 15 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 12 Years



Military Long Service Medal in Silver for 9 Years



Military Long Service Medal In Iron for 9 Years



Landwehr Long Service Cross



Landwehr Long Service Medal



Civil Merit Cross



Civil Merit Medal



Gold Medal for Art and Science



Lifesaving Medal


Grand Duchy of Baden






House Order of Fidelity



Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order



Order of Berthold the First



Order of Berthold the First with Swords



Order of the Z�hringer Lion



Order of the Z�hringer Lion with Swords



Order of the Z�hringer Lion - Silver



Military Merit Medal



Field Service Decoration



Cross for Volunteer Medical Personnel 1870-71



Cross for Volunteer War Aid 1914-16



War Merit Cross



Gold Service Medal



Silver Service Medal



Military Long Service Cross for 25 Years



Military Long Service Cross for 15 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 12 Years



Military Long Service Medal in Silver for 9 Years



Military Long Service Medal in Iron for 9 Years



Landwehr Long Service Cross



Landwehr Long Service Medal



Civil Merit Medal



1902 Jubilee Medal



Friedrich-Luisen Medal



1906 Commemorative Medal



Silver Lifesaving Medal



Bronze Lifesaving Medal



Art and Science Medal


Grand Duchy of Hesse






Order of the Golden Lion



Ludwigs Order



Order of Philip the Magnanimous



Order of Philip the Magnanimous Cross with Swords



Order of Philip the Magnanimous Silver Cross of Merit



Order of the Star of Brabant



Order of the Star of Brabant Cross of Honor



Order of the Star of Brabant - lower grades



Military Merit Cross 1870/71



General Honor Decoration - for Bravery



General Honor Decoration - for Merit in War



Warrior Honor Decoration in Iron



Military Medical Cross



War Honor Medal



Military Long Service Cross for 15 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 12 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 9 Years



Landwehr Long Service Medal 2nd Class



General Honor Decoration - for Civil Merit



General Honor Decoration - for Faithful Service



General Honor Decoration - for Faithful Work



General Honor Decoration - for Many Years of Faithful Service



General Honor Decoration - for Lifesaving



Merit Medal for Science, Art, Industry, and Agriculture




Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg






House Order of the Wendish Crown



House Order of the Wendish Crown Cross



House Order of the Wendish Crown Gold Cross of Merit



House Order of the Wendish Crown Silver Cross of Merit


Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin






Order of the Griffin Grand Cross



Order of the Griffin Breast Cross



Order of the Griffin Commander's Cross



Order of the Griffin Commander's Cross with Swords



Order of the Griffin Knight's Cross



Military Merit Cross 1st Class



Military Merit Cross 2nd Class



Military Merit Cross 2nd Class - Non-combanant Ribbon



Friedrich Franz Cross



Friedrich Franz Alexandra Cross



Military Long Service Cross for 25 Years



Military Long Service Cross for 15 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 12 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 9 Years



Landwehr Long Service Cross 1st Class



Landwehr Long Service Medal 2nd Class



Silver Civil Merit Medal



Bronze Civil Merit Medal



Friedrich Franz Medal



Medal for Arts and Sciences


Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz






Cross for Distinction in War 1st Class



Cross for Distinction in War 2nd Class



Civil Merit Medal



Lifesaving Medal


Grand Duchy of Oldenburg






Order of Peter Frederick Louis - Gold



Order of Peter Frederick Louis - Silver



Order of Peter Frederick Louis Cross



Order of Peter Frederick Louis Gold Cross of Honor



Order of Peter Frederick Louis Silver Cross of Honor



Order of Peter Frederick Louis Iron Cross of Honor with Swords



Order of Peter Frederick Louis Gold Medal of Honor



Order of Peter Frederick Louis Silver Medal of Honor



Order of Peter Frederick Louis Iron Medal of Honor



Friedrich August Cross 1st Class



Friedrich August Cross 2nd Class



Friedrich August Cross 2nd Class - Non-combatant Ribbon



War Merit Medal



Civil Merit Medal



Medal for Merit in the Arts



Lifesaving Medal


Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach






Order of the White Falcon



Order of the White Falcon 1st Class with Swords



Order of the White Falcon 2nd Class with Swords



Order of the White Falcon Merit Medal



Wilhelm Ernst War Cross



General Honor Decoration in Bronze with Swords



General Honor Decoration in Bronze



General Honor Decoration in Silver with Swords



General Honor Decoration in Silver



Military Long Service Medal for 15 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 12 Years



Military Long Service Medal for 9 Years



Civil Merit Medal



Honor Cross for Homeland Merit



Lifesaving Medal - Silver



Lifesaving Medal - Bronze


Duchy of Anhalt






Order of Albert the Bear with Crown



Order of Albert the Bear with Crown and Swords



Order of Albert the Bear - Gold



Order of Albert the Bear - Silver



Order of Albert the Bear Gold Medal of Merit



Order of Albert the Bear Silver Medal of Merit



Order of Merit for Science and Art



Friedrich Cross 1st Class



Friedrich Cross 2nd Class



Friedrich Cross 2nd Class - Non-combatant Ribbon



1896 Jubilee Medal



Lifesaving Medal


Duchy of Brunswick






Order of Henry the Lion - Gold with Crown



Order of Henry the Lion - Silver with Crown



Order of Henry the Lion - Gold



Order of Henry the Lion Gold Cross



Order of Henry the Lion Silver Cross



Order of Henry the Lion Medal



Peninsula Campaign Commemorative Medal



Waterloo Medal



War Merit Cross 1st Class



War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords



War Merit Cross 2nd Class - Non-combatant Ribbon



Lifesaving Medal


Duchy of Saxe






Ernestine House Order with Crown



Ernestine House Order with Crown and Swords



Ernestine House Order



Ernestine House Order Merit Cross


Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg






Ernestine House Order Gold Merit Medal



Ernestine House Order Silver Merit Medal



Duke Ernst Medal 1st Class



Duke Ernst Medal 2nd Class



Medal for Military Merit - Bronze



Medal for Military Merit - Zinc



Medal for Art and Science



Lifesaving Medal


Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha






Ernestine House Order Gold Merit Medal with Swords



Ernestine House Order Silver Merit Medal with Swords



Ernestine House Order Silver Merit Medal with Swords



Duke Carl Eduard Medal with Crown



Duke Carl Eduard Cross



Medal for Art and Science



Lifesaving Medal



Duke Carl Eduard Medal


Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen






Ernestine House Order Gold Merit Medal



Ernestine House Order Silver Merit Medal with Swords



Ernestine House Order Silver Merit Medal



War Merit Cross



War Merit Medal - Bronze



War Merit Medal - Iron



Military Service Medal



Lifesaving Medal


Principality of Hohenzollern






Princely House Order of Hohenzollern



Princely House Order of Hohenzollern Cross



Princely House Order of Hohenzollern Silver Cross with Swords



Princely House Order of Hohenzollern Silver Cross of Merit



Princely House Order of Hohenzollern Silver Medal of Merit with Swords



Princely House Order of Hohenzollern Silver Medal of Merit



Bene Merenti Order with Swords



Bene Merenti Order



Bene Merenti Order Cross with Swords



Bene Merenti Order Cross



Bene Merenti Order Silver Cross with Swords



Bene Merenti Order Silver Cross


Principality of Lippe-Detmold






House Order of the Honor Cross with Crown and Swords



House Order of the Honor Cross with Crown



House Order of the Honor Cross with Swords



House Order of the Honor Cross - Cross of Merit



Order of Leopold 1st Class Cross



Order of Leopold 2nd Class Cross



Order of Leopold 3rd Class Cross



Order of Leopold Medal of Merit



Lippish Rose Order for Art and Science



War Honor Cross



War Merit Cross 1st Class



War Merit Cross 2nd Class



War Merit Cross 2nd Class - Non-combatant Ribbon



Military Merit Medal



Military Merit Medal - Non-combatant Ribbon



War Honor Medal with Swords



War Honor Medal



Civil Merit Medal with Crown



Civil Merit Medal



Lifesaving Medal


Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe






House Order of the Honor Cross



House Order of the Honor Cross - Silver Cross of Merit



House Order of the Honor Cross - Cross of Merit



Order for Art and Science



Officer's Military Merit Cross



Gold Military Merit Cross



Silver Military Merit Medal



Loyal Service Cross 1st Class



Loyal Service Cross 2nd Class



Loyal Service Cross 2nd Class - Non-combatant Ribbon



Civil Merit Medal



Lifesaving Medal


Principality of Reuss






Princely Reuss Honor Cross with Crown and Swords



Princely Reuss Honor Cross



Princely Reuss Honor Cross - Silver Cross with Swords



Princely Reuss Honor Cross - Silver Cross



Princely Reuss Honor Cross - Silver Medal with Swords



Princely Reuss Honor Cross - Silver Medal on Peacetime Ribbon



Princely Reuss Honor Cross - Bronze Medal on Peacetime Ribbon



War Merit Cross



Medal for Sacrificial Activity in Wartime



Gold Civil Merit Cross



Silver Civil Merit Cross



Lifesaving Medal


Principality of Schwarzburg






Princely Schwarzburg Honor Cross with Swords



Princely Schwarzburg Honor Cross



Princely Schwarzburg Honor Cross - Silver Honor Cross with Swords



Princely Schwarzburg Honor Cross - Silver Cross with Swords



Gold Medal for Merit in War



Silver Medal for Merit in War



Bronze Medal for Merit in War



Merit Medal for Art and Science


Principality of Waldeck






Order of Merit



Order of Merit with Swords



Order of Merit Silver Cross



Order of Merit Silver Cross with Swords



Order of Merit Silver Medal with Swords



Military Merit Cross



Friedrich Bathildis Medal



Medal for Art and Science


Free and Hanseatic Cities






Hanseatic Cross - Bremen



Hanseatic Cross - Hamburg



Hanseatic Cross - L�beck



Hanseatic Legion Merit Medal