The Royal Saxon Military Saint Henry Order

Bernhard H.Holst · October 30, 2016

Hello readers.

The Royal Saxon Military Saint Henry Order was instituted on the 7. October 1736 by August III. King of Poland and Elector of Saxon and he choose as the protector ( Schutzherr )of the order the last Emperor from the Saxon reigning family , the Wettin, Henry II. This military order is considered the oldest German order.

This order was meant to reward Saxon officers for individual deeds and military merits though officers from other German states and allied nations were also awarded with it. During its existence it was awarded in its several levels more than 3,500 times.

The reference book pertaining to this order including a listing of those officers who received this order during WW I was published in 1936 . Essential biographical data and a short description of the circumstances which led to the award..

This writer some years ago had posted a short list of several names of officers who received this order and were not included in the original listing. Also the book published during the National-Socialist regime excluded the names of undesirable former officers i.e. of Jewish faith and others.

Bernhard H. Holst