Prussian Kriegsverdienst Cross

[Bob Hritz]

I was going through the junk boxes the other day and found my Prussian Kreigs Verdienst cross. It is marked, on the lower edge W and 835. It has the standard IC 2nd class ribbon and if I recall it was the higher grade Prussian award for enlisted and NCO ranks. I would appreciate any other info on the cross.
Thank you,
Bob Hritz

[McCulloh]

Bob:
What do you mean by Prussian "Kreigsverdeinst" cross? Do you mean the Kriegshilfdienst cross instituted in 1916 (maltese cross, made of war metal, "W" in the center)?
Thanks,
JeMc

[Bob Hritz]

No, it is a silver cross similar in shape to the red eagle orders. In the obverse central disc is the intertwined WR surmounted by a crown. On the reverse central disc is written (top line) Krieges/ (next line)Verdienst/ bottom is a half oak leaf wreath. The bottom of the lower arm is hallmarked W and 835. Ribbon is standard 1914 iron Cross 2nd class type.

Bob Hritz

[Tom Y]

Bob, it's a Militär-Verdeinstkreuz. That's the proper ribbon and the W (Wagner?) makes it a nice hunk of silver. Give ya 50 bucks for it

[stogieman]

Bob's piece is most probably a Prussian Militar-Ehrenzeichen 1. Klasse and is currently valued rather highly! I'm basing this on the statement that it's silver, hallmarked for Wagner and silver content of .835. The Militarverdienstkreuz should be silver gilt and hallmarked W for Wagner and .938 (?) for silver content. At least the officially awarded crosses were marked this way. It might have been .900, but this piece was definately not issued with a .835 content mark. The strange reality here is the militar verdienstkreuz commands a higher price in the minds of collectors due to its' association as the PLM for NCO/Enlisted. The Militar-Ehrenzeichen 1. kl. is a substantially rarer piece, based upon the numbers of awards. Andreas Schulze-Ising has a very informative article on his website regarding these two crosses.

[ 30 June 2001: Message edited by: stogieman ]

[ 30 June 2001: Message edited by: stogieman ]

[Tony Farrell]

Well.... go on! Let's have a look at it then.

[Bob Hritz]

Photos: PHOTOS DELETED FOR LACK OF INTEREST

[ 08 July 2001: Message edited by: Bob Hritz ]