November 4, 20187 yr #1 In German - Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs. This was the first Imperial German service medal for participation in the Great War. The medal is a Maltese cross with or without crossed swords (depending on the type of award) and has "1914 1918" in the center. the back is completely blank except for a maker's mark. There were three types -- Combatant Veterans, has crossed swords Non-Combatant Veterans, no swords For surviving parents or widows, no swords The ribbons also changed. The red, white and black stripe pattern changed, depending on which of the three awards it was. Here is an example of a Non-Combatant medal:
November 5, 20187 yr #2 A very under appreciated award, if you ask me. I love the non-combattant and widower versions the best.
December 9, 20187 yr #5 They should be appreciated more, for what they represent. I agree! In many cases, they are they the only award received for up to four of the worst years of their lives. This man served through seven years of war and this is all that he received.
December 16, 20187 yr #7 The Hindenburg cross for surviving parents or widows was black. Here is a link that will provide the information about the award along with pictures of medal and ribbon. https://www.lakesidetrader.com/item.php?ID=17468
April 26, 20197 yr #8 Thinking of collecting on a budget, this is a great award to collect and very much underappreciated like previously mentioned. There are so many variations (makers) of this award.
January 9, 20206 yr #10 I have this set, medal is in trapazoidal mount. It is hallmarked but I do not know the maker.
January 13, 20206 yr #11 These medals are common enough to make it affordable to collect them by medal maker and in metal variations.
May 10, 20233 yr #13 Curiosity. Rarely seen hallmark, images below. Source: https://www.bunkermilitaria.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=42665&Store_Code=BM&Category_Code=
May 11, 20233 yr #15 A nice, and scarce, next of kin award. Notice the slightly different ribbon with the colors in a different order.
September 12, 20241 yr #17 A few more images from around the internet... Some documentation from internet sources...
November 2, 20241 yr #18 This is a curiosity... An Honor Cross 1914-1918 for non-combatants, made by B.H. L (Bernhard Haarmann, Lüdenscheid). When I applied the slightest pressure with my thumb and index finger, the suspension loop broke off. My understanding is that these medals are stamped from sheet iron, and the suspension loop is integral to the cross (turned/bent by machining), not seperately applied. Repaired? Weakened? Any thoughts? By the way... A good source for hallmarks on these crosses: https://war-relics.com/product/hindenburg-cross-maker-mark-list/
November 9, 20241 yr #20 Nice... I see the second cord from the bottom is a '57er cord. No swastika on the Hindenburg cross or the War Merit cross.
March 17, 20251 yr #22 On 11/9/2024 at 8:58 AM, SARGE said: Nice... I see the second cord from the bottom is a '57er cord. No swastika on the Hindenburg cross or the War Merit cross. No swastika was ever on the Hindenburg Cross…”1914-1918” surrounded by wreath and blank on reverse except for maker HM.
March 19, 20251 yr #23 Not really my area of collecting, but here are a few I picked up over the years.
December 26, 2025Dec 26 #24 Nice assortment of Hindenburg Crosses and variations. Looking for the black case for “Widow/Parents” Hindenburg Cross…which is rare.
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