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Category: WW1 Medals

The Distinguished Service Medal

The Distinguished Service Medal is a United States Army military award given for exceptionally meritorious service to the Government.

  • Time Period: The Great War
  • Institution: January 2, 1918
  • Country: United States

The Distinguished Service Medal is a United States Army military award given to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility. The performance must be clearly exceptional.

The Distinguished Service Medal is one of the highest military decorations awarded by the United States Armed Forces. It is typically bestowed upon high-ranking military officers, senior government officials, and individuals who have made exceptional achievements in their respective fields.

The Distinguished Service Medal represents the highest recognition for extraordinary service and dedication to the nation. 

The Distinguished Service Medal Design

The medal measures 1 ½ inches in diameter and bears the inscription “FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MCMXVIII”.

The obverse of the Distinguished Service Medal shows the Coat of Arms of the United States in gold surrounded by a circle of Dark Blue enamel. On the reverse is a scroll for the engraved name of the recipient upon a trophy of flags and weapons.

More than 2,000 awards were made during World War I.

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The Silver Star Medal (USA)

The Silver Star Medal is the United States Armed Forces’s third-highest personal decoration for gallantry and valor in combat.

The Silver Star Medal (known unofficially as the Silver Star or SSM) is the United States Armed Forces’ third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat. The medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States, so long as the action did not justify one of the next higher valor awards.

Throughout its history, the Silver Star has been awarded to numerous deserving individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary valor and bravery in defense of the United States. It remains a highly esteemed medal within the U.S. military, honoring the exceptional sacrifices made by service members.

The Silver Star Medal was also awarded for singular acts of valor or heroism over a brief period, such as one or two days of a battle.

The History of the Silver Star Medal

The Silver Star was established on July 19, 1932, by an act of the U.S. Congress. It was initially created as the “Silver Star Medal” and was primarily intended to recognize the heroism of individuals in the U.S. Army during World War I. The medal was retroactively authorized to be awarded for acts of valor dating back to April 6, 1917, the entry of the United States into World War I.

Over time, the eligibility for the Silver Star was expanded beyond the Army to include all branches of the U.S. armed forces. This includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. It is awarded to members of these branches for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

The Silver Star Criteria and Recognition

The Silver Star is awarded for acts of extraordinary heroism, typically involving great personal risk and bravery. It is often bestowed upon those who display exceptional valor in combat, where their lives are in immediate danger.

The actions for which the Silver Star is awarded must be of such a high degree that they are worthy of recognition above and beyond the requirements for other medals.

The Silver Star Medal Design

The Silver Star Medal is a gold five-pointed star measuring 1 1⁄2 inches (38 mm) in diameter.

Its obverse shows a laurel wreath encircling rays and a silver star superimposed in the center. The reverse has the inscription FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION.

The medal is worn as a ribbon on the uniform, and the recipient also receives a medal with an appropriate citation that details the specific acts of valor or distinguished service.

The Department of Defense does not keep extensive records for the Silver Star Medal, but independent groups estimate that some 100,000 to 150,000 SSMs were awarded.

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The Navy Cross

The Navy Cross is the United States military’s second-highest decoration and awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. 

The Navy Cross holds a significant place among the military decorations awarded by the United States Department of the Navy. Established in 1919, it serves as the second-highest military decoration specifically for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel. The Navy Cross is presented to individuals who have displayed extraordinary acts of valor and heroism in combat or have demonstrated meritorious service in situations that do not meet the criteria for the Medal of Honor.

The Navy Cross is reserved for those who have shown exceptional bravery, selflessness, and dedication to their comrades and the mission at hand. It recognizes acts of valor performed in the face of the enemy, involving personal risk and exhibiting a level of courage that goes beyond what is expected of service members in the line of duty.

The medal is equivalent to the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross, the Air and Space Forces’ Air Force Cross, and the Coast Guard Cross.

A Short History of The Navy Cross

The introduction of the Navy Cross was closely linked to the United States’ entry into World War I. At that time, while several European nations had a tradition of honoring heroes from foreign countries, the U.S. only had the Medal of Honor as its sole award for valor. In response to this, the Army introduced the Distinguished Service Cross and Distinguished Service Medal in 1918, and the Navy followed suit in 1919, retroactively recognizing actions from 6 April 1917.

Initially, the Navy Cross held a lower precedence compared to the Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. This was because it was awarded for both combat heroism and other distinguished service. However, this order of precedence was revised by Congress on 7 August 1942, designating the Navy Cross as a decoration exclusively for combat actions, following the Medal of Honor in hierarchy.

Since its establishment, the Navy Cross has been bestowed upon individuals over 6,300 times. 

Courageous Coast Guardsmen poster
World War II vintage US poster used in New York City subways: "Courageous Coast Guardsmen / They were Boy Scouts". Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

The Navy Cross Medal Criteria

The criteria for receiving the Navy Cross are stringent, requiring evidence of outstanding leadership, extraordinary initiative, and steadfast devotion to duty. Recipients of the Navy Cross have displayed exceptional courage and have often placed themselves in extreme danger to protect their fellow servicemembers or achieve the mission’s objectives.

The awarding of the Navy Cross is typically accompanied by a citation, which describes in detail the recipient’s heroic actions or meritorious service. These narratives honor the individual’s extraordinary deeds and testify to their valorous or exceptional contributions.

The Navy Cross Medal Design

The obverse of the medal is a modified cross pattée one and a half inches wide. There are four laurel leaves with berries in each of the re-entrant arms of the cross, and in the center a sailing vessel is depicted on waves, sailing to the viewer’s left. The reverse shows a bronze cross pattée with crossed anchors from the pre-1850 period and cables attached. The earliest version of the Navy Cross (1919–1928) featured a narrow strip of white.

Around 6,900 medals were awarded. The first actual recipient of Cross is unknown because initial awards were made from a lengthy list published after World War I.

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The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal

The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal is a U.S. service medal created in 1941 to recognize military members who fought in WW1.

The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal is a United States military service medal created by Congress on November 21, 1941 to recognize members of the United States military who served in the European occupation force following the close of World War I. The decoration was awarded for honorable service (occupation garrison duty) in Germany or Austria-Hungary between 12 November 1918 and 11 July 1923.

The first Army of Occupation of Germany Medal was presented to General of the Armies Pershing, with retroactive presentations made to any service member upon application to the United States War Department. While the obverse includes the dates of the U.S. Occupation of Germany, the three stars on the reverse symbolize the Third Army, which comprised the occupation forces of Germany.

The medal was established by Public Law 322, 77th Congress on 21 November 1941, and announced in War Department Bulletin 34, dated 10 December 1941, and War Department Circular 176 dated 6 June 1942.

The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal Design

The medal is struck in Bronze and measures 1 ¼ inches in diameter. It was designed by Mr. T. A. Rovelstad, Heraldic Division, Office of the Quartermaster General, in June 1942, and was approved by the Secretary of War on 8 July 1942.

The obverse shows the profile of General John J. Pershing encircled by four stars indicating his insignia of grade as Commanding General of the Field Forces. In the lower-left is the inscription “GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING” and on the right is a laurel wreath superimposed by a sword with the dates “1918” and “1923” enclosed by the wreath.

The reverse bears the American eagle perched with outspread wings standing on the Castle Ehrenbreitstein, encircled by the words “U.S. ARMY OF OCCUPATION OF GERMANY” and three stars at the bottom of the medal.

The ribbon included initially a wavy blue edge stripe to signify the Rhine River, but this design proved impractical to mass-produce and was later changed to a straight line. It’s 1 3/8 inches in width and consists of the following stripes: 1/16 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 1/16 inch Scarlet 67111; 3/16 inch White 67101; ¾ inch Black 67138 (center); 3/16 inch White; 1/16 inch Scarlet and 1/16 inch Ultramarine Blue.

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The Iron Cross (EK 1914)

The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz or EK) is a military decoration established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in March 1813.

Time Period: World War I
Institution: March 1813 (Iron Cross EK 1813)
Country: Germany

The Iron Cross (also known as Eisernes Kreuz or EK) is a military decoration established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in March 1813 normally awarded to military or to civilians for performing military functions.

Friedrich’s late wife Queen Louise was the first person to receive (posthumously) this award. The recommissioned medal was awarded during the Franco-Prussian War (EK 1870), World War I (EK 1914), and World War II (EK 1939, re-introduced with a swastika added in the center).

Emperor Wilhelm II reauthorized the Iron Cross on 5 August 1914, at the start of World War I. The Grand Cross was intended for senior generals of the Prussian or (later) the German Army. The Iron Cross 1st Class and the Iron Cross 2nd Class were awarded without regard to rank. 

The Iron Cross 1914 Design

The design of the cross symbol is black with a white or silver outline, a derivation from the cross pattée of the Teutonic Order, which was sometimes used from the 13th century by knights.

The ribbon was black with two thin white bands, the colors of Prussia. The Iron Cross 1st Class employed a pin or screw posts on the back of the medal and was worn on the left side of the recipient’s uniform, like the original 1813 version. The Grand Cross was suspended from a neck ribbon and the 2nd Class from a ribbon on the chest.

During World War I, approximately 218,000 EKIs, 5,196,000 EKIIs and 13,000 non-combatant EKIIs were awarded.

What's the Meaning of The Iron Cross?

The Iron Cross held significant symbolism for the German armed forces and other German military personnel, as well as the nation as a whole.

It represented bravery, sacrifice, and loyalty to the Fatherland, serving as a powerful emblem of national pride and military prowess. You can learn more about the Iron Cross’ meaning here.

Iron Cross 1914 Recipients During WW1

Recipients of the Iron Cross were esteemed for their courage and dedication to the defense of Germany during World War I.

Here are ten famous individuals who received the Iron Cross EK 1914 during World War I:

The red Fokker Dr1 of Manfred von Richthofen on the ground.
The red Fokker Dr1 of Manfred von Richthofen on the ground.
  1. Erwin Rommel – German field marshal: Rommel received the Iron Cross for his exceptional leadership and bravery during various battles, particularly in the Argonne Forest and at Caporetto.
  2. Manfred von Richthofen – German fighter pilot known as the “Red Baron”: Known as the “Red Baron,” Richthofen was awarded the Iron Cross for his remarkable success as a fighter pilot, credited with 80 aerial victories.
  3. Paul von Hindenburg – German military officer and later President of Germany: Hindenburg received the Iron Cross for his strategic brilliance in the Battle of Tannenberg, which resulted in a decisive victory over Russian forces.
  4. Hermann Göring – German politician and military leader: Göring earned the Iron Cross for his aerial combat achievements as a fighter pilot, including numerous successful engagements and his leadership of Jagdgeschwader 1.
  5. Ernst Jünger – German writer and soldier: Jünger was awarded the Iron Cross for his valor and resilience as an infantry officer, particularly noted in his memoir “Storm of Steel” which details his front-line experiences.
  6. Max Immelmann – German fighter pilot: Immelmann received the Iron Cross for his pioneering aerial combat tactics and his success as a fighter ace, with 15 confirmed kills.
  7. Erich Ludendorff – German general and politician: Ludendorff was awarded the Iron Cross for his critical role in various battles, including his strategic planning and execution during the Spring Offensive.
  8. Fritz Haber – German chemist and Nobel laureate: Haber received the Iron Cross for his contributions to the war effort, specifically his development of chemical weapons used during the conflict.
  9. Oswald Boelcke – German fighter pilot: Boelcke earned the Iron Cross for his extraordinary skills as a fighter pilot and his development of air combat tactics that became standard practice.
  10. August von Mackensen – German field marshal: Mackensen received the Iron Cross for his distinguished service as a field marshal, leading successful campaigns on the Eastern Front.

More Variations of the Iron Cross

The Iron Cross, a prestigious German military decoration, has undergone several variations since its inception. For example, the Iron Cross 1813 was instituted during the Napoleonic Wars by King Frederick William III of Prussia, the Iron Cross 1914 was awarded during World War I, it was reinstated by Kaiser Wilhelm II, and the Iron Cross 1939 was revived by Adolf Hitler for World War II, with modifications including a swastika.

Related Article: The Iron Cross: History & Types of this Prussian German Military Medal

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Further Reading About the Iron Cross

Discover the stories behind the Iron Cross with these compelling books and delve into the rich history and significance of this prestigious military decoration.

The Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (Hindenburg Cross)

The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 or Hindenburg Cross was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg after WW1.

The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (or Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918 in german) was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, President of the German Republic, in 1934. The medal is commonly and incorrectly known as the Hindenburg Cross, and it commemorates service of the German people during the First World War.

This was Germany’s first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war.

The Honour Cross was awarded in three forms: With swords, for front-line veterans, without swords, for non-combatant veterans; and without swords for surviving widows and parents of fallen participants in the war.

The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 Design

The medal awarded to combatants displays a laurel wreath encircling a medallion on the obverse, with the dates “1914 1918” and crossed swords between the arms. The reverse side is plain, and bears only the manufacturer’s logo.

The Honour Cross for non-combatants has no swords and a wreath of oak leaves, and both medals were made of bronze. A total of 8,041,414 medals were awarded.

The Wound Badge (1918)

The Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen) is a military decoration awarded to wounded or frostbitten soldiers during World War I.

The Wound Badge (or Verwundetenabzeichen in German) is a military decoration initially awarded to wounded or frostbitten soldiers of the Imperial German Army during World War I and first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918.

The badge was a tangible acknowledgment of the physical sacrifices made by soldiers. By awarding the Wound Badge, the German military aimed to honor those who had been injured while performing their duties on the battlefield.

Given the stringent criteria, obtaining a Wound Badge required the soldier to have been in active combat and sustained verifiable injuries directly from enemy action. For the higher classes of the badge (silver and gold), multiple wounds were required. Surviving and continuing to fight after receiving multiple serious injuries was a testament to the soldier’s resilience and the harsh conditions of the war.

The Wound Badge Classes and Criteria for Awarding

The badge had three classes:

  • Black (3rd class, representing Iron), awarded for those wounded once or twice by hostile action;
  • Silver (2nd class) for being wounded three or four times; and
  • Gold (1st class, could be awarded posthumously) for five or more times wounded.

To be eligible for the Wound Badge, a soldier had to sustain injuries in combat or as a result of hostile action. This included:

  • Gunshot wounds
  • Shrapnel injuries
  • Chemical burns from gas attacks
  • Severe frostbite injuries
  • Injuries from close combat

The injuries had to be verified and documented by medical personnel. This often involved official medical reports and the approval of the soldier’s commanding officer. The documentation process ensured that only genuine and significant injuries were recognized. When a severe wound occurred, such as loss of a limb or eyesight, the silver badge was awarded.

The obverse and reverse of the Black WW1 Wound Badge decoration.
The obverse and reverse of the Black WW1 Wound Badge decoration.

The WW1 Wound Badge Design

All Wound Badges were made of pressed steel, brass and zinc, and were worn on the lower left breast of the uniform or tunic.

There were 24 approved manufacturers of the Wound Badge. The first Wound Badge is Black and was stamped from sheet brass, painted semi-matte black with a hollow reverse pin back attachment or of solid construction. From 1942 onwards, steel was used to make the badges (Wound Badge 1945). The Wound Badge in silver was made from silver-plated brass and/or lacquered zinc.

The Wound Badge in Gold was a gilded version of the Wound Badge in Silver. In 1957, a revised version of the Wound Badge was authorized for wear; however, the previous type could still be worn if the swastika were removed (for example by grinding).

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The Orient Campaign Medal

The Orient Campaign Medal was a French military medal awarded for participation in the battles against the Central Powers 1915-1918.

The Orient Campaign Medal (“Médaille commémorative d’Orient” in French) was a French military medal awarded for participation in the battles against the Central Powers by the Allied Eastern Army between 1915 and 1918.

The Orient Campaign Medal was awarded to both military and civilian personnel embarked prior to 11 November 1918 for service with the French Army of the Orient; to French personnel who had served in the headquarters staff of the commandant of the Allied Eastern Army and to French sailors that had served East of the 21st degree of longitude in operations related to those of the Allied Eastern Army.

No minimum time of service is mentioned in the award statute.

The Orient Campaign Medal Design

The Orient campaign medal measures 30mm in diameter, is circular and struck from bronze.

The obverse shows the relief image of the “warrior republic” as a left profile of a helmeted woman’s bust. The helmet is adorned by a crown of oak leaves. The relief inscription along the circumference reads “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE”. The reverse represents both the army and navy, with a relief image of an infantry rifle crossed with a naval anchor below two military banners and lances surmounted. The relief reads “ORIENT” or, on some variants, “HONNEUR ET PATRIE 1915 1918” written on the banners.

The Orient campaign medal hangs from a ribbon through a ring and is adorned by a 24mm in diameter bronze laurel wreath and half crescent. The ribbon is 37mm wide and is light blue with a yellow central 7mm wide and 2mm wide stripes 2mm from the edges.

The Medal of French Gratitude

The Medal of French Gratitude is a French honour medal only awarded to civilians to express gratitude by the French government.

The Medal of French Gratitude (or “Médaille de la Reconnaissance française” in French) is a French honor medal awarded only to civilians as a manner of expressing gratitude by the French government to all those who, without legal or military obligation, had come to the aid of the injured, disabled, refugees, or to those who had performed an act of exceptional dedication in the presence of the enemy during the First World War.

The Medal of French Gratitude was awarded to six French and eight foreign cities.

The Medal of French Gratitude Design

The first model of the Medal of French Gratitude measured 30 mm in diameter, was circular and made of bronze, silver or gilded medal, with a design by the engraver Jules Desbois.

The obverse bears charity personified by France supporting a wounded soldier. On the reverse can be read a circular inscription “RECONNAISSANCE FRANCAISE” with a palm leaf on the right.

The second model of this medal measured 32 mm and was designed by engraver Maurice Delannoy. Its obverse bears a woman wearing a Phrygian cap representing France offering a palm. On the reverse there is a relief inscription RECONNAISSANCE FRANCAISE around a wreath of roses and an escutcheon bearing the initials “RF”.

The medal hags from a 37 mm wide white silk moiré ribbon with tricolour 2 mm wide edge stripes of blue, white and red.

The Medal for Victims of the Invasion

The Medal for Victims of the Invasion was a military decoration awarded to civilians who suffered during the German invasion of France.

The Medal for Victims of the Invasion is a French medal that intended to thank and distinguish the war hostages and persons deported outside of France, who had been imprisoned by the enemy or condemned to forced labour.

At the end of the Great War, it seemed necessary to pay tribute to the courage of the populations of the invaded and occupied regions of France by rewarding them with several medals, among them the Medal for Victims of the Invasion.

Two categories of persons were recognized to have the right to special recognition by the country: Political prisoners condemned by the German authorities to severe punishment for their attachment to France, and hostages of war who for sometimes years, remained in retaliation camps in Poland and Lithuania.

The Medal for victims of the invasion was awarded in three classes: The 1st class in silver gilt, the 2nd class in silver and the 3rd class in bronze.

Medal for Victims of the Invasion Design

The medal measures 30 mm in diameter, is circular and struck in bronze, silvered bronze, silver or gilt silver.

The obverse of the medal was done by engraver Pierre Dautel and bears the relief image of the right profile of a woman wearing a scarf. She has her hands bound in front of her and is looking skywards. The reverse has a relief inscription that reads “AUX” ”VICTIMES” ”DE” ”L’INVASION” ”LA FRANCE” ”RECONNAISSANTE” surrounded by a laurel wreath.

Two clasps could be worn on the ribbon: OTAGES DE GUERRE (WAR HOSTAGES) and PRISONNIERS POLITIQUES (POLITICAL PRISONERS).