Griffin Order, Mecklenburg-Schwerin

[Gaffken]

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone out there might be able to explain the stipulations or conditions under which the Griffin Order was generally awarded; more specifically, I was also wondering if someone might know why only one level of the order (the Steckkreuz) was awarded with swords, while the others weren't (?)

Thanks very much for all of your help!

[W McSwiggan]

The Griffin Order was a merit order and awarded accordingly. Comparable to the Prussian RAO and KO, Bavarian St. Michael, Saxon Verdienst Orden or Albert Order in my opinion. As to why no swords - I'll leave that to other members as I really don't know.

[Gaffken]

'W': Thanks much for your response; it does much to answer my first question.

Insofar as the swords issue goes, maybe I'll try to re-approach it from another direction to get an answer that's a little more readily available from the wider group, namely:

Does anyone out there know the quantity of Officer Crosses (Ehrenkreuz/Offizier Steckkreuz) with swords of the Griffin Order (OEK 1294/1) that would have been awarded during, say...WWI?

Many thanks to anyone who can help!

[Wild Card]

Hi Gaffken,

According to Nimmergut, one honor cross with swords was awarded - with no examples in the other grades, except for an, in my opinion, dubious commander’s cross with oak leaves and swords.

Some years ago, the late Eric Ludvigsen gave a very fine presentation on this order at an OMSA meeting. Since you posted this thread, I have tried, without success, to find my copy of the monograph of this presentation. I do remember that Eric seemed to have a special disdain for the many fakes with swords of this order.

Should I find his monograph, I will follow up.

Best wishes,

Wild Card

[Gaffken]

Wild Card--many thanks! Somehow, I didn't think the number of swords-awarded would be so low (infinitely so?), but I guess this suggests that the order was definitely awarded for more civil/civic merits or deeds than military ones. I have seen one postcard-portrait photo of a fairly senior officer wearing a commander's cross of the order (looked to be wartime era), however, true to your assertion, it was without swords (and only now am I wishing that I saved a copy of that!)

If you do come across the monograph of Eric's presentation, I'd indeed be appreciative if you'd be able to share it with us; my thanks again!

[jeep256]

Statuten

Hello,

maybe you look here

http://www.onepix.de/orden-page/index-1.htm

This side is a very good archive to look for Ordensstatuten (policies).

Also, I good book is available on the market about Meckelnburg orders

Ohm-Hieronymussen, Peter

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=text vAlign=top width="100%">Die Mecklenburg-Strelitzer Orden und Ehrenzeichen. Bearbeitet von Jean Bellmann
<!-- NAME: result/published_de.tpl -->Kopenhagen, Selbstverlag, 2000
<!-- END: result/published_de.tpl --><!-- NAME: result/attributes_de.tpl --><!-- // NAME: result/art_language_de.tpl -->Sprache: Deutsch <!-- // END: result/art_language_de.tpl --><!-- END: result/attributes_de.tpl --></TD><TD vAlign=top noWrap align=right> [ nach diesem Titel suchen]
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mit zahlreichen ein- und mehrfarbigen Abbildungen. 188 S., gr8°. Klappenbrosch. Die angegebenen Porto- und Verpackungskosten sind die pauschalierte Obergrenze für den Inlandsversand. Wir bemühen uns, die Bücher auf dem für den Kunden günstigsten Wege (z.B. Büchersendung bis 1000g 1,95 Eur) zu verschicken.

Maybe it answers your questions.

Kind regards from Germany

Walter