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Category: Cross

The Silver Memorial Cross 1813–1815

The Silver Memorial Cross 1813–1815 was a Dutch campaign medal created by King William III of the Netherlands in 1865.

The Silver Memorial Cross 1813–1815 was a Dutch campaign medal created by King William III of the Netherlands in 1865 to honour veterans who had served in the wars that restored Dutch independence at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. It specifically commemorated service during the campaigns of 1813–1815, including the 1814 operations against French forces and the Hundred Days that culminated in the Battle of Waterloo.

The award was only given to surviving veterans, meaning it was both a retrospective recognition and a symbol of national gratitude. At the time it was issued, only a fraction of the original troops were still alive, making it a relatively rare and highly valued decoration.

The Silver Memorial Cross is historically significant because it not only commemorates military service but also represents one of the earliest examples of a state issuing a campaign medal retrospectively to surviving soldiers, decades after the conflict. It is often mentioned alongside other European post-Napoleonic commemoratives, like the Waterloo Medal.

The Silver Memorial Cross Medal Design

The cross is made of silver with five arms, featuring a central medallion engraved with the years 1813 and 1815. It was worn on a ribbon of orange with white stripes, reflecting the national colours of the Netherlands.

The medal was intended for everyday wear on military dress and ceremonial occasions, serving as a tangible link between the veterans and the country they helped free.

The Different Waterloo Medals

The Waterloo medal was issued by the British Government to all soldiers present during action. Seven nations of the Seventh Coalition struck differently designed medals for soldiers who took part in the campaign. These are:

The Waterloo Medal - British Medals Pre-WW1

The Waterloo Medal

The Waterloo Medal is a British military medal established in 1816-17 and struck for all those who participated in the Waterloo campaign.

British Campaign Medals: The Brunswick Waterloo Medal

The Brunswick Waterloo Medal

The Brunswick Waterloo Medal was a campaign medal awarded to those who participated in the Battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo.

British Campaign Medals: The Hanoverian Waterloo Medal

The Hanoverian Waterloo Medal

The Hanoverian Waterloo Medal was issued to all members of the Hanoverian army who fought in the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo.

British Campaign Medals: The Nassau Medal for Waterloo

The Nassau Waterloo Medal

The Waterloo Medal is a campaign of the Duchy of Nassau established by Frederick Augustus, Duke of Nassau on 23 December 1815.

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The Württemberg Charlotte Cross

The Württemberg Charlotte Cross was established on January 5, 1916, by King William II of Württemberg. It was named in honor of his wife.

The Charlottenkreuz (“Charlotte Cross“) was established on January 5, 1916, by King William II of Württemberg. It was named in honor of his wife, Queen Charlotte, who was born Princess Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe.

This decoration was intended to recognize individuals who demonstrated exceptional merit, either on the battlefield or on the home front, in caring for the wounded and ill, or in providing general war-related aid.

The Charlotte Cross Design

The decoration consists of a silvered white metal cross botonny with a central medallion. The front of the medallion features the intertwined initials C and W (for Charlotte and Wilhelm), while the reverse displays the year 1916.

Recipients wore the decoration on the left breast, suspended from a yellow ribbon with one narrow and one wide black stripe on each side.

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The Württemberg Order of Olga

The Württemberg Order of Olga was established by King Karl I of Württemberg on June 27, 1871, in honor of his queen consort.

The Order of Olga (or Olga-Orden in German) was established by King Karl I of Württemberg on June 27, 1871, in honor of his queen consort, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia.

The order was primarily intended to recognize women who provided care for wounded soldiers during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. Although it was occasionally awarded to men, it predominantly remained an order for women.

The Order of Olga Design

The insignia of the Order of Olga featured a silver cross with the interlocking ciphers of King Karl and Queen Olga on the obverse and the years 1870-71 on the reverse.

This emblem was suspended from a red and black ribbon. 

The Friedrich Order

The Friedrich Order was a prestigious order of merit in the German Kingdom of Württemberg. It was instituted on January 1, 1830.

The Friedrich Order (or Friedrichs-Orden or Friedrichsorden in German) was a prestigious order of merit in the German Kingdom of Württemberg. It was instituted on January 1, 1830, by King Wilhelm I in honor of his father, King Friedrich I. The order was abolished in 1918 with the end of the monarchy.

The Friedrich Order Classes

Initially created as a single-class order that conferred nobility, the Friedrich Order was restructured on January 3, 1856, into four classes. On September 29, 1870, a Knight 1st Class and a military division with swords were added, with existing Knights being appointed to the new 1st Class. In 1892, the “Medal of the Order of Frederick” was introduced. An additional rank, the Grand Cross with Crown, was established on March 6, 1899.

The classes were:

  1. Grand Cross with Crown
  2. Grand Cross
  3. Commander 1st Class
  4. Commander 2nd Class
  5. Knight 1st Class
  6. Knight 2nd Class
  7. Medal

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The Württemberg Order of the Crown

The Order of the Crown was initially established in 1702 as the St.-Hubertus-Jagdorden (Hunting Order of St Hubert) but renamed in 1807.

The Order of the Württemberg Crown (or Orden der Württembergischen Krone in German) was a prestigious chivalric order in the Kingdom of Württemberg.

Initially established in 1702 as the St.-Hubertus-Jagdorden (Hunting Order of St Hubert), it was renamed the Ritterorden vom Goldenen Adler (Knightly Order of the Golden Eagle) by Frederick I in 1807.

On September 23, 1818, King William I renewed and restructured the order, naming it the Order of the Württemberg Crown and initially organizing it into three classes: Grand Cross, Commander, and Knight. The order underwent further expansions and modifications in 1889 and 1892.

The Order of the Crown Criteria and Classes

The motto of the order was ‘Furchtlos und treu’ (‘Fearless and Loyal’). Until 1913, the higher ranks of the order were restricted to the nobility. The ranks, in descending order, were:

  1. Knight Grand Cross, Special Class (for sovereigns)
  2. Knight Grand Cross
  3. Knight Commander (since 1889)
  4. Commander
  5. Cross of Honour (Ehrenkreuz; since 1892)
  6. Knight (since 1892 with golden lions, and since 1864 also with a crown, as a special honour)
  7. Gold service medal (Verdienstmedaille)
  8. Silver service medal (Verdienstmedaille, abolished in 1892)

The Order of the Crown Design

The order’s cross was a white enameled Maltese cross with gold lions in its four angles. The lions were standard for the Grand Cross and Commander but were a special honor on the Knight’s crosses. A golden crown was secured on the upper arm by two gold bands, from which the cross hung, except in the case of the Honor Cross in its fixed form. The medallion featured the golden initials of King Frederick I and a crown on the front, and a golden crown on red on the back. Since 1866, all grades could be awarded with swords, and after 1890, swords were only granted in awards of a higher class. From 1892, the lowest grades also featured the special honors of a golden lion and, since 1864, a lion added.

The Grand Cross featured a silver 8-pointed star with a reduced cross in a medallion at its center, surrounded by the circular motto. Sovereigns received the star in gold. The Commander had a 4-pointed silver star with rays extending through the cross angles.

The ribbon was carmine red with black stripes and carmine borders. Members of reigning houses received the Grand Cross insignia with a scarlet ribbon.

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The Schalburg Cross

The Schalburg Cross was a military decoration for members of the Danish Schalburg Corps during World War II.

The Schalburg Cross, or Schalburgkors in Danish, was a military decoration for members of the Danish Schalburg Corps during World War II.

Named after Christian Frederik von Schalburg, the cross was produced by Heimbürger in Copenhagen. Although many were made, there is only one confirmed instance of it being awarded, posthumously. Instituted possibly after 1943, the cross recognized service against the Danish resistance and on the Eastern Front.

The cross was meant to be worn on the left breast pocket. Some unissued crosses were found at the Schalburg Corps HQ after the German retreat in May 1945 and were kept as souvenirs. They were even distributed to the public during the liberation celebrations in Copenhagen. Only a few enamelled versions are known to exist today.

The Schalburg Cross Design

The cross came in two classes: one for officers and NCOs, and another for enlisted men. Both versions measured 50mm x 50mm and featured a central medallion.

The enlisted version was off-white with golden edges and had the inscription “Our Honor is Loyalty” along with golden oak leaves.

The officer’s version was enameled with the same design but more intricate, with gilded oak leaves and enameled red background.

The Jarnkross or State Police Honor Cross

The State Police Honor Cross was a special decoration likely instituted in 1941 and awarded to frontline volunteers.

The Jarnkross, or “Rikspolitiets Hederstegn,” was a special decoration likely instituted in 1941.

It was awarded to frontline volunteers in the “Norwegen Polizei Kompanie” (Norwegian SS Police Companies), who briefly served with the “Legion Norwegen” and later the “SS-Skijager Btl ‘Norge’.”

The Norwegen Polizei Kompanie were paramilitary units formed during World War II, comprising Norwegian volunteers. These units were integrated into the German SS and served on the Eastern Front, participating in combat operations alongside German forces. Initially, they served with the “Legion Norwegen” and later with the “SS-Skijäger Battalion ‘Norge’.” 

The Jarnkross or State Police Honor Cross Design

The decoration was made of solid metal. The front side of the silver cross featured a shield, either enameled or painted, showing the “Saint Olaf’s” Cross, symbolizing the Norwegian Nazi Party “Hird.” The reverse was flat, with a thin needle pin and a small hinge, and variations in catch style.

Additionally, there was a 2nd class award with different ribbons: yellow and red for State and Border Police (Grepo/Stapo) and green for detectives, designated for police employees. 

The Mussert Bravery Cross

The Mussert Bravery Cross was a special award for NSB members serving in German forces. It was akin to the German Eastern Front Medal.

Officially referred to as the “Oostlanderskruis,” the Mussert Bravery Cross or “Mussertkruis” was instituted by the Dutch Nazi Party (NSB), led by Anton Mussert, as a special award for NSB members serving in German forces.

The award was akin to the German Eastern Front Medal and not a bravery award. It was issued in two classes: with swords for combatants and without swords for non-combatants.

Although the decoration was not authorized for wear on German uniforms, it was likely worn by recipients.

The Mussert Bravery Cross Design

The NSB Mussert Bravery Cross is a gilded bronze Maltese cross with red and black enamel, featuring crossed swords between its arms.

The obverse center medallion displays a golden mobile swastika, Wolfsangel, and oak leaf stems on a white enamel background. The reverse center medallion bears the inscription “MUSSERT 1941” surrounded by “HOU EN TROU” and oak leaf branches.

Measuring 37.12 mm by 41.25 mm, the cross is suspended from a ribbon that displays the Dutch national colors.

The Brave and Faithful Order or Quisling Cross

The Brave and Faithful Order was introduced by the Quisling Government to serve as the Norwegian equivalent of the German Iron Cross.

The Brave and Faithful Order was introduced by the Quisling Government to serve as the Norwegian equivalent of the German Iron Cross. The decoration was intended for Norwegian front-line fighters.

Few of these medals were produced before it was decided that Norwegian soldiers could wear the German Iron Cross.

The Brave and Faithful Order Design

In 1944, the Order was repurposed as a civilian Nazi Party award, featuring a Sun-Eagle instead of the original “1941.”

Known as the “Quisling Cross,” the reverse bears the inscription “Brave and Faithful.” It is very rare, as many recipients kept it secret after 1945.

The three grades differ in how they are worn: the I Class as a breast cross, the II Class on a ribbon, and the Knight’s Cross with a ribbon suspension.

The Police Long Service Award (Nazi Germany)

The Police Long Service Award was a commendation given to active members of the German police during the Nazi era.

The Police Long Service Award (or Polizei-Dienstauszeichnung in German) was a commendation given to active members of the German police during the Nazi era. Designed by Professor Richard Klein, the awards varied slightly depending on the length of service.

On January 30, 1938, Adolf Hitler instituted the Police Long Service Award to recognize police personnel based on their years of service. The awards were issued in three grades for eight, eighteen, and twenty-five years of service. 

Eligibility required active membership in the police force or administrative service, with military service time also counting towards the total service duration.

The Police Long Service Award Design

Each medal featured the police insignia—a national eagle emblem surrounded by a wreath—on the obverse, with the inscription “Für treue Dienste in der Polizei” (“For faithful service in the Police”) on the reverse.

Eight-Year Award:

    • Design: Silver, round medal, 38 mm in diameter.
    • Ribbon: Cornflower blue, 35 mm wide.
    • Obverse: Police insignia.
    • Reverse: Number 8 with the inscription “Für treue Dienste in der Polizei.”

Eighteen-Year Award:

    • Design: Silver-gray four-pointed cross (Ordenskreuz), 43 mm in size.
    • Ribbon: Cornflower blue with a woven police insignia, varying in width (37 mm or 51 mm).
    • Obverse: Police insignia.
    • Reverse: Inscription “Für treue Dienste in der Polizei.”

Twenty-Five-Year Award:

    • Design: Gold four-pointed cross (Ordenskreuz), similar to the eighteen-year award but in gold.
    • Presentation Case: Green simulated leather with the number 18 or 25 embossed on the top. Inside, the case had a white satin lid and a velvet lower portion.

On August 12, 1944, a higher grade was authorized for forty years of service, designed as a gold metal bar with the number 40 and oak leaves, to be affixed to the ribbon of the twenty-five-year award. However, there is no record of this being awarded before the end of World War II.