Court-mounted World War I Group of Three comprising 1914 Iron Cross, 2nd class, Medal for Bravery, 1918-1919 and Cross of Honour of the World War 1914-1918, combatant. *** PRUSSIA. Iron Cross, II class (PREUSSEN. Eiserne Kreuz, II. Klasse), 1914 issue. White metal cross pattée with magnetic core, with a blackened cross pattée within a hatched border imposed, with loop and ring for ribbon suspension; the face with a central ‘W’ (for Wilhelm), a crown above, the date ‘1914’ below; the reverse with a central oak branch, the crowned cipher ‘FW’ (for Friedrich Wilhelm) above, the date ‘1813’ below. The Iron Cross was instituted on 10 March 1813 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia during the War of Liberation against the Napoleonic French forces. It was reinstated in 1870-1871 for the Franco-Prussian War and again in 1914 for World War I. It is awarded for bravery. In spite of its iconic image and fame, it has always been made of modest materials and issued in relatively large numbers. It was designed by the neo-classical architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel and reflects the cross of the Teutonic Knights in the late Middle Ages which was also the emblem of Frederick the Great. *** SAXE-ALTENBURG. Medal for Bravery (SACHSEN-ALTENBURG. Tapferkeitsmedaille), 1918-1919. Circular grey zinc medal with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a cross pattée alisée, an escutcheon bearing the Saxon arms imposed centrally, the Saxe-Altenburg crown on the upper arm, the left and right arms inscribed ‘19’, ‘14.’ respectively; the reverse with the crowned cipher of Duke Ernst II. The medal was instituted by Duke Ernst II on 20 February 1915 ‘in relation to the current war for non-commissioned officers and other ranks whether enlisted in the 8th Division 153rd Thuringian Infantry Regiment or citizens of the Duchy enlisted in other units or in the Imperial Navy and who have displayed outstanding and exceptional bravery’ (‘aus Anlaß des gegenwärtigen Krieges für Unteroffiziere und Mannschaften welche entwerder dem 8. Thüringischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 153 angehören oder als Staatsangehörige des Herzogtums in anderen Truppenteilen oder der Kaiserlichen Marine stehen und sich durch besondere Tapferkeit ausgezeichnet haben’). Originally issued in bronze, in 1916 wartime shortages caused the medal to be issued instead in coppered zinc and finally in 1918 in grey zinc. The Duchy had a very small population and only about 2,300 medals in zinc were awarded. *** GERMAN EMPIRE. Cross of Honour of the World War 1914-1918, Combatant (Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges, Frontkämpfer), 1914-1918), maker ‘O.3.’). Bronzed iron cross pattée with crossed swords between the arms, on laterally-pierced loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the dates ‘1914 1918’ encircled by a wreath of laurel leaves; the reverse plain, signed ‘O.3.’. The Cross was instituted on 13 July 1934 by President Field Marshal Paul von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg and is often referred to as the ‘Hindenburg Cross’. There were three versions - for combatants, non-combatants and next of kin - the latter being awarded to the widows and parents of those who died during the conflict. Designed by Eugene Godet, this was the first and only commemorative medal issued by the Third Reich. *** The Group is on a very good period court mounting.
