Prussian General Honor Decorations

[gjw]

Hi me again, as an after thought, I'm also wondering about these awards. What were they given for? I have seen that the EK I/II replaced these awards when re-instituted for WWI. Were these used for the same purpose as the EK during the colonial campaigns? Any other info on these awards would be appreciated.

Again, thanks for all your help!!!

God Bless!!!!

[Schießplatzmeister]

Dear gjw:

You have posed an excellent question. This is an area regarding Prussian awards that is often overlooked. To clarify, the Prussian Military Honor Decorations (not the General Honor Decorations) were awarded for circumstances involving personal bravery for enlisted soldiers from 1864 onward. I will mention only the awards after 1864 as prior to this date the award system was a bit more byzantine and it would take a good deal of time to explain the little that I know.

For the 1864 campaign, the 1st class (cross) and 2nd class (medal) were awarded to enlisted soldiers for bravery. This happened again during the 1866 campaigns, and then again during the China incursion in 1902 and during the DSWA conflicts. There may also have been some other colonial conflicts where a few awards were made, but I have no specific information regarding these at hand at the moment.

The awards were usually made on the black with white stripes "Iron Cross" ribbon, but awards were also made on the white ribbon with black stripes for special (non-combat) circumstances. The first class crosses are especially scarce, while the second class medals are often encountered and actually undervalued for what they represent and due to the relatively few numbers awarded compared to the EK.

If you can find an award document for one of the 2nd class awards, you have a real gem! The prices for these have been getting very steep lately.

I hope that this information is helpful.

Best regards,

"SPM"

[Schießplatzmeister]

Obverse and reverse of MEII (obverse has cypher, but sometimes they were worn with the reverse showing by recipients).

[gjw]

Thanks so much for the info!!! Yes, I stand corrected, you are right in stating Military Honor Decoration. Thanks again for the post!!!

Anyone else?

God Bless!!!

Greg

[eitze]

Hello gjw,

most have been said by Schie?platzmeister, but I can confirm that it was also awarded for all the other small campaigns in the German Colonies.

Here you can see one of my bars for a member of the German Schutztruppe in South-West-Africa.

greetings

eitze