Hesse Medal for Courage ( WW I )

[wintershaft]

Please can anyone help me regarding the criteria for this award and its rarity (or otherwise)with a view to purchasing the medal?

[Rick Research]

The Hessian Allgemeine Ehrenzeichen "fu"r Tapferkeit" was the basic Hessian bravery award for WWI, given to all ranks. It was their equivalent of the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Since the Hessians had their own pre-war Army Corps (XVIII), it is certainly not rare--about comparable to the Baden silver military Merit Medals on MKFMO ribbons.

There were two types--real silver awarded until the end of 1916-ish, then silvered alloy.It was fairly liberally awarded to non-Hessian natives as well.

The most interesting thing about this medal was its award document. Unlike the other German awards' paperwork, which tended to be about as impressive as dog licenses, the Hessian AGfT document was printed with a gold Ducal crown at top center and all four sides in the actual size, actual colors of the bravery ribbon (pale blue with a red stripe toward each side) worn with it. These were filled out by the Orders Chancery on the obverse, then stamped and noted on the reverse when and where actually presented in the field.

[wintershaft]

Rick,
Thanks very much for the informative reply, much appreciated
Brian

[JensF.]

Hi,

the next step after the AEfT would be the "Kriegerehrenzeichen in Eisen" (Warrior Merit Badge in Iron) which was awarded ONLY to native Hessians and ONLY for many acts of conspicious bravery in the field. Only about 2000 of these were awarded.

Rick, about the silvered bravery medals, how can I identify them? I have one of these medals which looks like "real" silver but is a little bit too light in weight. Any idea?

Greetings from Germany (live from Hessen :-)

[Rick Research]

Sounds like a late war one. The real silver ones get an even dark patina, and if cleaned are uniform in color. The plated ones were originally with a finish like "proof" struck coins--frosted bust of the Duke on a mirror finish of the flat surface. These get all splotchy and speckled with age, and normal wear will show the alloy through.

When all else fails, taste with your tongue--silver has NO taste (which is why sterling was used for knives and forks and spoons), but the alloy ones give you a metallic taste. Just don't go around telling people you lick your medals! (But it works--just not at shows!) Rick

[JensF.]

Hi Rick,

it has a patina and a uniform finish, no frosted Ernst-Ludwig. Do you have the weight for a real silver piece? And now I am going to taste it ;-)

Greetings

[Rick Research]

Hmmm, this thread needs some pix:

second on this bar is the late war silvered alloy type Hessian General Decoration with "for bravery" reverse, usually just called the Hessian Bravery Medal:

[Tom Y]

Here's its big brother, the Kriegerehrenzeichen in Eisen

[Dave Danner]

And here, courtesy of Hermann Historica's upcoming auction, are four of the 10 or so different versions of the Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen. These are the versions Für Kriegs Verdienste ("For War Merit"), Für Treue Dienste ("For Faithful Service"), Für Tapferkeit ("For Bravery") and Für Treue Arbeit ("For Faithful Labor").