(Ehrenkreuz 1914-18)

Date Instituted

13 July 1934

Requirements

Awarded for service in World War 1.

It was awarded in three classes:
Combatants


Non-combatants


Next-of-kin (widows or parents).

Number Awarded

6.202.883 (Combatants)
1.120.449 (Non-combatants)
345.132 (Widows) and 373.950 (Parents)
Note. These numbers are the ones awarded by 1 February 1937.

Award Document

Wilhelm Höffgen

Estimated price (2009)

Combatants - €7/80 (magnetic / non-magnetic)
Non-combatants - €10/80 (magnetic / non-magnetic)
Next-of-kin - €20/90 (magnetic / non-magnetic)

Ribbon worn on the ribbon bar

Generalmajor Wolfgang von Gronau wearing the Cross of Honor 1914-1918 on his ribbon bar

(Courtesy of Shawn Bohannon)

Polizei veteran with his wife

(Courtesy of Josef Fregosi)

Comments

It was designed by Eugene Godet.

By 1940 the people living in the Saar, Danzig, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Memel could also be awarded this Cross of Honor.

Also known as the Hindenburg Cross and the Honor Cross of the World War 1914-1918 (Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918)

Photo courtesy of Roland Fogt, N & T Global Trading & Craig Wagner

Sources used

Christopher Ailsby - World War 2 German medals and political awards
John R. Angolia - For Führer and Fatherland: Military awards of the Third Reich
David Littlejohn - Orders, decorations, medals and badges of the Third Reich
Detlev Niemann - Price Guide Germany 1871-1945 (2009)