Prussian Rothe Kreuz

[van59]

Wishing to continue a tread of 2-8-06 on the Prussian Rothe Kreuz, I submit these pics of what I believe are 3d and 1st class medals.
There is the above link,
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...e+kreuz+medals
and a more detailed link from within of 7-12-03,
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ed+cross+medal
(The url's are split due to length)
The 3d class is zinc. Apparently these medals came also in bronze color and 2 different ring attachments.
The 1st class is gilded bronze.
According to a post within the '03 link, there were only 8399 silver or 2nd class medals awarded further indicating they are "quite scarce".
One would guess that there were fewer gold of 1st class awarded. Does anyone have a number for those awarded?
Supposedly the early 2nd class were done in solid silver. How about the early 1st class - were they done in solid gold?
Commentary is hopefully stimulated.
Thanks up front.
van

[van59]

cross

reverse

[CRBeery]

Van,
These are both third class medals. The left one is a later war zinc example. The second class looks the same as shown in the second link with the enameled red cross and in a silver color. The first class is a pin back cross that if I remember correctly is also enameld red. Imagine cutting out the cross outline on one of your medals and making that a pin back.

[CSForrester]

Correct. From a Godet-catalog:

above- first class
left - second class, silver with red enamel
right third class, bronze and later zinc

Regards
CSForrester

[van59]

red cross

Thanks, CR and CS.
If the 3d class was first bronze and later zinc, then why gold plate the bronze?
regards, van

[CSForrester]

Now, the original awarded pieces 1,-3rd class were only struck by the Royal mint in Berlin. The tools are still today in the cabinet of the Bode-Museum in Berlin.
On the picture from Godet-catalog you can recognize, that the bronze medal have soldered ring on the top like your golden, while yours in zinc has the correct segment with the drilled hole.
The pieces from Godet were sold as replacements to decorate medalbards aso. When awarded pieces from zinc or bronze were used for a medalbar, the jeweler often gilded those pieces, against the rules. But so they looked very shiny and they could not oxidyze. Same procedure you can see often on the 15-year-service cross which was made from copper or on several warmedals from bronze.

The first class was only awarde about 900 times, so it is very rare.

Regards
CSForrester

[Richardxyz]

Further to earlier comments the scecond version do crop a lot relatively frequently, quite attractive with the red enamelling and not too expensive.

[van59]

makes sense

Thanks Richard and especially CS for reasons that explain an answer to my question of why. It is interesting that the original tools are still preserved.
I hope that this thread helps others regarding these medals.
kind regards, van

[Ammersee]

Here's a pic of a second class. Ammersee

[CSForrester]

3rd and 2nd class came in small red cases, inside black velvet on bottom, black silk in the top.
Until the WWI all cases were covered with re maroquin leather and were inside decorated with a gold coloured borderline.
During the war the covermaterial changed to red paper and the golden border inside is missing.
The medal, ribbon and case were boxed by the General-Ordenskommission and sealed in a cardboard box with a label, showing the contens.

Regards
CSForrester