Sachsen Meiningen - the rare Kreuz für Verdienst im Kriege

[JensF.]

Thats the very rare cross awarded only to officers. Nearly mint late war type in zink

[JensF.]

I was so glad getting this long searched cross at ebay. Any ideas about the numbers awarded? That was maybe the third cross I've ever seen for sale.

[Dave Danner]

The cross was instituted on March 7, 1915 (7 March 1915 for you Europeans ). Based on Neal O'Connor's review of the rolls, the numbers awarded were:

On the combatant's ribbon (like yours):
1915 - 1733
1916 - 811
1917 - 688
1918 - 743
for a total of 3975

On the noncombatant's ribbon:
1915 - 304
1916 - 115
1917 - 142
1918 - 103
for a total of 664

plus another 14 where the page was missing from the roll. The enlisted counterpart, the Medal for Merit in War, was awarded 23,712 times on the combatant's ribbon and 326 times on the noncombatant's ribbon.

Great find! I have one on a medal bar but I still don't have one loose.

[Rick Research]

Here's the early war version in beautiful chocolatey bronze from Ted's collection:

[Dave Danner]

Here is a Medal for Merit in War - the enlisted version - on the non-combatant's ribbon:



Dave

[Dave Danner]

Also with a beautiful bronze patina like Ted's, here is my Cross of Merit in War on a medal bar:



This one was a relatively early war award. I have a Bavarian style ribbon bar for this officer with just the Iron Cross, the Cross of Merit in War and the Army Jubilee Medal, indicating Saxe-Meiningen decorated him even before his home kingdom.

Dave

PS: Jens, can I use your cross to update the website?

[Dave Danner]

Spooky!

That last post was number 1111. I better add another.

Here is the ribbon bar, along with the Frackkettchen:



Dave

[Blitz]

Almoust too spooky, Dave! Great pics

[JensF.]

Many many thanks guys!

Dave, have you got such detailed numbers for other WWI awards too?

[Dave Danner]

Whether bronze or zinc this is to me one of the nicest looking German state awards. And Jens' cross is ample proof that even in zinc, Imperial kicks a$$.

[Dave Danner]

About my only source for numbers of the various awards is what Neal O'Connor found and included in his aviation series. In many cases, he utilized research by Klietmann, Autengruber and others, but he had also pored through rolls in archives in all the states. There are many holes, however. Some rolls are lost, others don't break down types or classes or indicate whether combatant or non-combatant, and some states didn't include subjects of other states on their rolls.

Dave

[McCulloh]

from the retired stogieman collection:

[McCulloh]

close up of IR 153 officer's chest...

[McCulloh]

I've posted it before, but just in case-!

[JensF.]

Thanks Dave,

any idea how many of these have been awarded?

Württemberg: Military Merit Order, Knightscross
Baden: Kriegsverdienstkreuz
Hessen: Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen "Für Tapferkeit" and "Für Kriegsverdienste"
Mecklenburg-Strelitz: Kreuz für Auszeichnung im Kriege „Tapfer und Treu“ 2. Klasse
Sachsen-Altenburg: Tapferkeitsmedaille
Hohenzollern: Silberne und Goldenen Ehrenmedaille with swords
Reuss: Silberne Verdienstmedaille with swords
Waldeck: Silberne Verdienstmedaille with swords
Lippe: Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse / Kreuz für Treue Dienste

Thanks

Jens