Friedrich Augustus Cross 1st Class

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Does anyone have any info on this badge? I recently picked it up with a grouping of Nazi war badges. I have an old reference book which identified it but I know nothing else about it. WWI is not my collecting field of interest. I would like to know what this decoration was awarded for, by whom, and when. Also what is its value? Thanks in advance, Jeff A.

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

back view

[JensF.]

Jeff, this is the Friedrich-August Kreuz 1. Class from the grand-duchy of Oldenburg. It was the EK1 equivalent of this german state. It was awarded for valor in combat and merits in war. It could only be awarded if the recipient had the FA-Kreuz 2. Klasse which was worn on a ribbon like the EKII. Only about 7000 were awarded. Yours is a 30s made example due the pinback and it is made from brass instead of iron. Value in this condition about 110 Euros.

[JensF.]

Here is a war made iron version:

[JensF.]

Back with the old style pinback:

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Much thanks JensF, always fun to learn new things

[jani_tiainen]

List of German State "EK's"

Dear Fellows,

I would be more than happy to know which cross/es in other states comparing Prussia represented EK's? I wouls see it very interesting collection and I am sure there might be some who actually builds collection like that!

Jani Finland

[Frosch]

majorpayne?

Where is majorpayne and who does this JensF think he is?

This is worse than fake medals!

/Grasshopper (Frosch having an identity crisis)

[JensF.]

Jani, just search for "EK equivalents" in Imperial and you should find a lot about the other states awards.

Frosch, it was time for a little name change

[Dave Danner]

Re: List of German State "EK's"

Originally posted by finn-medals
Dear Fellows,

I would be more than happy to know which cross/es in other states comparing Prussia represented EK's? I wouls see it very interesting collection and I am sure there might be some who actually builds collection like that!

Jani Finland

As Jens noted, we have addressed this in other threads, but here's a short rehash. The question regarding EK equivalents is what criteria to use: (1) a military decoration in two classes, one on ribbon and one pinback; (2) a military decoration awarded to officers and enlisted men without regard to rank; or (3) the basic military decoration of the particular German state (or some combination of these criteria)?

There were 24 entities of the German Empire that awarded decorations. Of these, only four had an award that was like Prussia's Iron Cross by all three criteria. These were:
<ul><li>Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin - Military Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd Class
<li>Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz - Cross 1st Class for Distinction in War, "Brave and Loyal" and Cross for Distinction in War, "Brave and Loyal"
<li>Grand Duchy of Oldenburg - Friedrich August Cross, 1st and 2nd Class
<li>Duchy of Brunswick - War Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd Class (but note that the 1st Class was only authorized in March 1918)</ul>The Principality of Lippe-Detmold comes close, but its pinback cross, the War Cross for Heroic Deeds, was actually a separate award and not a higher class of its War Merit Cross on ribbon. The Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe did have a 1st class pinback version of its Cross for Loyal Service, but the pinback was for members of ruling houses only.

If we only apply the second two criteria and add military decorations that were awarded without regard to rank and were the state's basic award, we may add Hesse's General Honor Decoration "For Bravery", the Hanseatic Crosses of Bremen, Hamburg and L&uuml;beck, and Anhalt's Friedrich Cross. For all of the other states, the basic military decoration one would receive depended on one's rank.

During World War One, several states added pinback awards that mirrored the Iron Cross 1st Class in being awarded without regard to rank, but these were relatively rare awards and were not the basic awards of those states. These were: the Wilhelm Ernst War Cross of Saxe-Weimar (362 awarded); the Duke Ernst Medal, 1st Class with Swords, of Saxe-Altenburg (86 awarded); the Carl Eduard War Cross of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (97 awarded); and the War Merit Cross "1914" of Reuss (unknown number awarded, but very few).

As for building a collection, that has been the goal of several people, including me and Jens. The ones in the preceding paragraph are almost impossible to get - they run in the $1000-$2000 range. Just with regard to the ones that fit all three criteria, the hardest to find is the Mecklenburg-Strelitz Cross 1st Class for Distinction in War, "Brave and Loyal".

Regards,
Dave

[Eric Stahlhut]

.

[JensF.]

Ups...!
Cool, but were is Oldenburg?

[W McSwiggan]

Tremendous Explanation!

Dave’s summery of the EK Equivalents is one of the best I’ve ever seen for accuracy and conciseness. Thank you Dave!

I would like to add two other decorations to the list for consideration:

1. The pin back Warrior’s Honor Decoration in Iron from the Grand Duchy of Hesse. I offer this for the list because it was a “Democratic” award and similar to the pin backs mentioned from the Thuringian States. It was very exclusive by intent.

2. The Duke Carl Eduard Medal Second Class with Swords and Date from the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha which was also “Democratic”. It did not apparently have any relation to the Carl Eduard War Cross mentioned by Dave other than the obvious point of origin and name. I know of no linkage of one to the other.

Certainly, neither of these awards were basic to their states and only a huge stretch of the imagination could turn the two Carl Eduard Awards into two classes of the same award (I would not agree that this is the case). They were awarded without consideration of military rank however and hence deserve inclusion in my opinion.

[mravery]

Picture post for Bobby Lee

Pic for BL

[Bobby lee]

The above is part of my war cross collection 1914-18.
From top, left to right:
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Oldenburg
Wurttemberg
Saxe-Meiningen
Lippe-Detmold
Second row, left to right:
Schaumburg-Lippe
Anhalt
Braunschweig
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Prussia
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Some have the non-combat ribbon and there are two for award to females.