Imperial Collection start

[Don D.]

Thanks guys. I'll keep you updated as this grows. And thanks to all those who have answered my dumb questions and kept me out of trouble.
Don

[Don D.]

New addition. A Bremen Hansa Cross.

[Don D.]

The reverse.

[Don D.]

Lippe-Detmold War Service Cross 2d Class.

[Don D.]

The reverse.

[W McSwiggan]

Lippe Cross

You posted a great image of a cross from Lippe which you labeled "Lippe-Detmold War Service Cross 2d Class". Unless my references are tricking me – what you have is a "Lippe-Detmold War Merit Cross" (no classes on this award). The "Lippe-Detmold War Honor Cross for Heroic Deed" looks very much like it is a first class to the War Merit Cross but is actually a separate, unrelated award. Manfred von Richthofen was awarded this cross but not the "merit" cross to illustrate the case.

Part of the confusion comes from the German words for merit & service:

Verdienst = Merit

Dienst = Service

Your medal depicted is the "Kriegsverdienstkreuz". The "Look-alike" "First Class" is the "Kriegsehrenkreuz für heldenmütige Tat".

The "other" Lippe (Schaumburg) awarded an Iron Cross Second Class equivalent known as the Cross for Loyal Service or "Kreuz für treue Dienste". To totally confuse the issue – this award also had a pinback version that made this award look like an Iron Cross equivalent but the pinback was only awarded to princely personages "Steckkreuz für fürstliche Personen".

My primary source for the statements I’ve made is "Die tragbaren Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Reiches" by Dr. Waldemar Hesse Edlen von Hessenthal und Georg Schreiber.

[Don D.]

Thanks for the update.
Don