WW1 GERMAN NEXT OF KIN HONOUR CROSS IN ORIGINAL BOX OF ISSUE.-SOLD

WW1 GERMAN NEXT OF KIN HONOUR CROSS IN ORIGINAL BOX OF ISSUE.

HISTORY

The Honour Cross was modelled on the reverse side of the War Commemorative Medal of 1870/71(Preußen Kriegsdenkmünze 1870-1871), and was designed by Eugene Godet.The medal awarded to combatants (the Frontkämpferkreuz) displayed a laurel wreath encircling a medallion, with the dates "1914 1918". Crossed swords are between the arms. The reverse side was plain, except for the manufacturer's logo. The Honour Cross for non-combatants has no swords and a wreath of oak leaves. Both crosses are in bronze. The Honour Cross for Next-of-Kin (commonly known as the Widows Cross), was finished in black.

The Honour Cross was worn suspended from a ribbon with black edge stripes, two white stripes, two black stripes and a red stripe in the middle between them. The ribbon for the Honour Cross for Next-of-Kin had these colours in a different order, having a white edge stripes, with two black stripes, white stripes on either side of a red stripe in the middle.^[1] They were frequently worn with the ribbon fashioned into a bow, with a pin on the back, which the mother or widow in question attached to her clothing. The application for this award had a time limit, which expired at the end of 1942. Each award came with an Urkunde, or certificate, which indicated which form the award took. The certificates for the next-of-kin crosses came in two types: those for widows were titled Ehrenkreuz für Witwen (Honour Cross for Widows), those for parents Ehrenkreuz für Eltern (Honour Cross for Parents). The award was ranked above other service and occupation medals, but below other awarded combat medals.

ITEM DESCRIPTION

This is the Honour Cross for the Next of Kin denoted by its ribbon. This is the first time that I have seen an Honour Cross for the Next of Kin in its original presentation case. The case and cross is in virtually un-issued condition. Inside the case cover are the words "Treu Um Treu" (True and True) with a facsimilie signature of Von Hindenburg who instituted the award.