1914 War Merit Crosses I Class

[eurorders]

Hi, does anyone have numbers of how many FIRST CLASS PINBACK war merit crosses were awarded during WWI in each state? I notice some are much more costly than others. I bought two of these today, the Brunswick War Merit Cross 1 Class and the Oldenburg Friedrich August Cross 1 Class and wonder about those two, first off, as I am adding them to my inventory list. Thanks in advance for info.

[graham]

eurorders

These are approximate numbers: 

Brunswick: War Merit Cross: approx. 1000 - 2000

Hesse: Warrior Honor Decoration in Iron: approx. 2000

Lippe-Detmold: War Honor Cross for Heroic Deeds: approx. 740

Mecklenburg-Schwerin: Military Merit Cross: approx. 10,000

Mecklenburg-Strelitz: Cross for Distinction in War: approx. 419

Oldenburg: Friedrich-August Cross: approx. 7,000 - 12,000

Prussia: EK1: over 200,000

Reuss: War Merit Cross: approx. 150

Saxe-Altenburg: Duke Ernst Medal 1st Class with Swords: approx. 86

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha: Carl Eduard War Cross: approx. 97

Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: Wilhelm Ernst War Cross: approx. 362

Württemberg: Wilhelm Cross with Swords & Crown: approx. 108

[Deruelle]

Hi

Little update

Mecklenburg-Schwerin: Military Merit Cross 1st class: 3570

Mecklenburg-Strelitz: Cross for Distinction in War 1st class : 428

Oldenburg: Friedrich-August Cross 1st class : 2339

Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: Wilhelm Ernst War Cross, the number is 368

Saxe-Altenburg: Duke Ernst Medal 1st Class with Swords : 85

Württemberg: Wilhelm Cross with Swords & Crown : 119

Württemberg: Wilhelm Cross with Swords : 5318

 

Source :

Volle (Henning), Stiftungen und Erneuerungen von deutschen Orden und Ehrenzeichen im Ersten Weltkrieg,, Offenbach, Phaleristischer Verlag Autengruber, 2014, 150 p.

 

[graham]

Deruelle,

Thanks for the more precise information.

[VtwinVince]

LOL, I tried to assemble a complete collection of EK1 equivalents and just about went broke when I got to the Wilhelm Ernst War Cross, then I gave up.

[Deruelle]

It's not easy to have all of the crosses. Reuss, Saxe Altenburg and Saxe Coburg Gotha are the rarest. I need the Wilhelm Ernst cross. Not easy to find one in good condition to reasonnable price ?

[graham]

Would be glad to get some opinions on this Wilhelm Ernst Cross I have:

[Deruelle]

Hi Graham

There is something which disturb me with the 5 in the back of the cross. It seems that the hook has been repaired and the inscription disappeared and someone rewrite the number. You can see it is a bit different than the other numbers. Otherwise it's a beautiful piece.

Christophe

 

PS : this photo is not mine, it come from ebay

 

[graham]

Christophe,

Thanks, I appreciate your observations.