David Gregory Posted June 19, 2005 Share Posted June 19, 2005 According to Hessenthal & Schreiber, Duke Carl Eduard had already intended to issue an award commemorating the part played by citizens of Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha for their contribution to the war in 1914. He finally instituted the Kriegserinnerungskreuz 1914/1918 in bronze in the summer of 1918 as a commemorative award. The cross, which was made of copper and had a bronze finish, can be found as a pinback cross and a version suspended from a ribbon. The obverse shows the Duke's crowned initials "C.E.", 1914 and a twig of laurel. The reverse shows a ducal Saxon shield. The cross is very small, measuring only 30 x 30 mm.Due to the late production date and the prevailing political situation only small numbers were issued as originally wished by the Duke. A few hundred were reported as having been issued in the autumn of 1918.Nimmergut classified this cross as a military award. Nothing I have read about this award until now suggests that it was for non-combatants, but the only example I have on a bar is mounted with a red cross medal.Can anyone confirm if this was issued to combatants and non-combatants alike? Can anyone show an award document for this cross or an entry for it in a Kriesgs-Stammrolle, Milit?rpass or Soldbuch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gregory Posted June 19, 2005 Author Share Posted June 19, 2005 The front of the pinback version: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gregory Posted June 19, 2005 Author Share Posted June 19, 2005 The reverse of the pinback cross: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gregory Posted June 19, 2005 Author Share Posted June 19, 2005 The ribbon version mounted with a red cross medal in steel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gregory Posted June 19, 2005 Author Share Posted June 19, 2005 Reverse of the bar: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dond Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 Interesting award. I too would like to know if it was awarded for combat.Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 DavidI think this would qualify as a combatant.[attachmentid=37211] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 [attachmentid=37213] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stogieman Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 From what I have seen thus far, I don't believe there was a differentiation between "combattant" and "non-combattant". I think its' intent was more a "participant" type status, but the very late institution prevented it from being issued en-masse, as it were. I think exceptional conduct/bravery received a higher grade of award along the lines of the Carl-Eduard Medal, etc...Mark's group is interesting in that we have a S-C-G Medal mounted on a Sax-Ernestine ribbon. I don't think I've seen more than a handful of these mounted like this, but they absolutely occur in groups. Why, unfortunately, we'll never know. Was there some significance that's not recorded in statutes? Was it a "personal preference" issue? This remains one of the more interesting anomolies of Imperial era collecting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 RickIn regards to the mounting of the oval Carl Eduard medal on the Sax-Ernestine ribbon - could it be due to the width of the ribbon it was awarded on? I don't have the actual size but it looks like the issue ribbon is only about half the width of the Sax-Ernestine ribbon. It might have been just too narrow to mount properly on a medal bar.Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stogieman Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 Hi Mark, I don't think that's it at all. Most production (for lack of a better term) Imperial orders & decorations had corresponding ribbon made in 9mm, 15mm, 25mm, 30mm, 40mm. I think that we may eventually find out it might be a "nationalism" issue... maybe to signify the award to a neighboring Duchy member.. pure speculation on my part, but one that makes a modicum of sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe campbell Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 david:mark:i'm breathing VERY heavily!very nice examples!joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerd Becker Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 I can count on one hand, how many i have seen of these in the last couple of years.Very nice David and Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Murphy Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 Gerd, Another finger is occupied. Here is mine. I would love to find one on the ribbon. Dan Murphy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Slivin Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 This is mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferg1 Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 Hi Guys, been a very long time since I posted here and I apologise for not replying to several private messages I have been sent over the years of being absent here . But I am back now ! just wanted to revive this old thread regarding this pin back cross . I am at present looking for such a piece ,namely the 1922 version which I believe is from the same die as the ribbon hung pieces but with pin and catch. Seem to be a lot of these around at present , a casual look around the dealer sites and eBay sites reveals at least seven or eight for sale . Anyone got any wind of these being faked or anyone happen to know how many of these converted pin backs were produced ? I have a 1927 issue piece that is vaulted and has a plain reverse ,also its in lighter non oxidised bronze ,only ever seen one of these so far. thanks Ferg My 1927 example Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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