Red enamel cross pattée with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central gilt medallion bearing the arms of Lubeck, being a black double-headed eagle with wings outstretched and with red talons, an escutcheon on its breast divided party per fess, white above, red below; the reverse silvered with a circular central medallion inscribed ‘Für Verdienst im Kriege 1914’ (For Merit in War, 1914) in Gothic script; on replaced correct ribbon.
The three ancient Hanseatic Cities – Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck – jointly decided to issue a cross of similar design in World War I for bravery and merit in war, differing only in the arms on the central medallion of the face, that for Lubeck being instituted on 21 August 1915.
Lubeck was much the smallest of the three Hanse cities and its cross is thus the rarest.
The Cross was suppressed at the end of 1918.
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