The Order of Merit of the Prussian Crown (or Verdienstorden der Preußischen Krone in German) is an award of civil and military merit established on the occasion of the bicentennial of the establishment of the Kingdom of Prussia 18 January 1901 by King Wilhelm II.
The order was presented in one class and consisted of a badge and a breast star. For military merit the award was presented with crossed swords. Once, it was presented with diamonds (to Maximilian von Seinsheim, from the Bavarian Court on 15 December 1913).
The medal was awarded only 57 times. General von Gossler was the only person who received the awards in both departments.
The order consists of a badge (which is worn on a sash from right shoulder to the left hip), and a star worn on the left chest.
The badge is a blue-enamelled, eighteen-karat, yellow-gold Maltese cross with a granular border. In each of the compartments between the four arms of the cross is a red-enamelled crown surmounting the royal monogram (“W II”, for Wilhelm II).
The central disc on the obverse of the badge shows a golden crown with red enamel, surrounded by a blue-enamelled circular band bearing the gold-lettered motto, “Gott Mit Uns” (“God with Us”).
The disc on the reverse bears the intertwined initials “IR W II” (for “Imperator Rex Wilhelm II”: “Emperor King William II”), encircled by the date “18 January 1901”.
The star is a golden eight-pointed star with straight rays, displaying the central disc from the obverse of the badge. The sash of the order is blue, edged with orange stripes.
Throughout Prussian history, these orders played a significant role in the social hierarchy and served as tangible expressions of royal favor and recognition. They continued to be awarded even after the dissolution of the Kingdom of Prussia, remaining as enduring symbols of valor, service, and honor in German society. Here are some more about Prussian Orders:
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