MILITARIA PRICE GUIDE / Germany until 1918 / Medals & Decorations / Waldeck
CONSTRIBUTE TO THIS SITE!
Join our board of authors for articles of historical collectables on a voluntary basis. Click here for more details.
Georg Victor Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont founded the Merit Cross in just one class on January 14, 1854. It was deemed to be awarded to those officers that had 25 years of service. Other reasons for it being awarded were however not excluded. It was awarded as a Military Merit Cross and not for long service became common practice later on, quite quickly. Only three awards for 25 year long service were awarded until Waldeck linked up with Prussia on Military matters in 1867 which put the Waldeck Battalion finally under Prussian order.
The Cross arms of the original design was a Maltese shaped cross whose arms were enameled in white. The center medallion is red enameled and features the golden cypher GV for Georg Victor in its center superimposed by the principal crown. The reverse of the cross is finished in pebbled gold and shows the XXV. In the center medallion.
The Prince restructured the order in 1861 by splitting the one grade Military Merit Cross into two. The principal design was retained, yet the roman 25 was dropped and the cross was now enameled front and back. The slightly larger cross of the 1st class was worn around the neck and was superimposed by an upside-down oak leaf cluster. The white ribbon was framed by a black, white and red border, Waldeck’s state colors. The 1st class was awarded solely to Royals, Generals and Commanding officers of the 83rd Infantry Regiment. The smaller 2nd class was plainly suspended from the same but narrower ribbon.
After 17 years, September 26, 1878, a 3rd grade was added to the order. The 3rd grade was the same in size and design to the 2nd class but completely in pebbled silver and showing “Für Verdienst” (For Merit) within the reverse center. 112 3rd class crosses were awarded until the extinction of the order in 1896 to officers up to the rank of captain.
All classes had to be returned to the order's chancellery after the recipient’s death. Gerd Efler lists the number of awards and returns as follows: 1st Class, 127 awarded, 49 returned – 2nd Class, 133 awarded, 38 returned and 3rd Class with 112 awarded and 32 returned crosses.
Maker | Date | Price | related products | Show all items | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 |
Waldeck - Military Merit Order 1st Class
6.200
€*
|
Military Merit Cross 1st Class | _Kein Hersteller | 2022 | 03680f23-33d7-11eb-8c0c-305a3a782327 , Military Merit Cross 1st Class , 600053ff-b6f8-11eb-9c65-305a3a782327 , 6ffa3f67-b6f8-11eb-9c65-305a3a782327 , be359037-fe75-11eb-8958-305a3a782327 , cec871ed-0bf7-11ec-8958-305a3a782327 | 1107b6ee-7bae-11ec-b530-305a3a782327 |
OWN A SIMILAR PRODUCT?
CONSTRIBUTE TO THIS SITE!
Join our board of authors for articles of historical collectables on a voluntary basis. Click here for more details.
This item will be available for buy now on September, 21st. All prices and pictures will be published on 4 pm CEST. Unfortunately, it is not possible to reserve prior to this date.
Many thanks for your patience and understanding.