Order of Military Merit, Type II, Breast Star

CATEGORY: Version

SKU: 01.WUT.0106.202.01.000

Estimated market value:

$12,000 USD

  • Order of Military Merit, Type II, Breast Star Obverse
  • Order of Military Merit, Type II, Breast Star Reverse

Estimated market value:

$12,000 USD

Attributes

  • Country
    Germany
  • Composition
    Silver Thread/Gold Thread
  • Inscription
    Obv: BENE MERENTIBUS
  • Size
    63mm
  • Version Remarks
    20 were awarded.
  • Image Licensing
    The image of the Order of Military Merit, Type II, Breast Star is attributed to Andras Thies, Catalog 68, 11.07.20. Please see the following page for more information: https://www.andreas-thies.de/onTEAM/grafik/A68_129_160.pdf

Physical Description and Item Details


A George’s cross with Maltese cross style arms, constructed of gold and silver wire embroidery. The cross arms are in silver with broad golden edges, with five golden rays each between them. The arms feature the golden inscription ‘BENE’ (12 o’clock) ‘ME’ (9 o’clock) ‘REN’ (3 o’clock) ‘TIBUS’ (6 o’clock) (‘to those whose merit made them deserving’). The centre medallion is in blue and features the crowned golden monogram ‘FR’. The medallion rings are in silver and gold. The reverse is enforced with cardboard.

History


The Order of Military Merit was originally established as the Militär-Carls-Orden (Military Order of Carl) by Karl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg, on February 11, 1759. On November 11, 1806, the decoration was reorganised and renamed the Order of Military Merit by King Friedrich I. It was one of Imperial Germany’s oldest military decorations.

The decoration was conferred upon officers from Württemberg and its allied states who demonstrated bravery in combat or performed deeds of outstanding merit.

The order's grades and attributes were changed multiple times throughout its history. The monogram on the obverse of the award denotes the king who was in power when the decoration was awarded.

The order originally consisted of three grades, Grand Cross, Commander’s Cross, and Knight’s Cross. In 1809, the grade of I Class Commander’s Cross was added. Recipients of the Commander’s also received a gilded dagger or sabre with an image of the Commander Cross on the grip. The grade was discontinued in 1819.

In 1818, the order statutes were renewed and the cross was redesigned. In addition, the colour of the ribbon was changed from yellow and black to blue. The blue ribbon was used until 1914 when it was replaced with the original yellow and black ribbon. At this time, it was determined that civilian recipients of the order were to be made members of the aristocracy. However, these recipients were stripped of their nobility in 1913.

In 1858, the embroidered Grand Cross Breast Star was replaced with a metal design.

In 1870, a crown was added to the top of the Knight’s Cross. The grades of Grand Cross and Commander’s Cross already featured crowns, and in 1914, the crowns were removed from all three grades.

In 1917, it was determined that recipients could wear an enamelled wreath on the order ribbon in place of the decoration.

An estimated 95 Grand Crosses, 214 Commander Crosses, and 3,128 Knight’s Crosses were conferred. The majority of the awards were issued during the First World War.

Following the defeat of Germany in the First World War, the order became obsolete.

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