Ludwig III's Crosses, 1916-1918.

ChrisKelly · November 10

Images 1 - 4:

~Ludwig Cross in Silver for the members of both Bavarian chambers for the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Bavarian constitution, 1918, (A total of 250 were coined by the Bavarian mint).

Image 5:

~Jubilee Cross for officers and NCOs of the Royal and Imperial (Hungarian) Infantry Regiment No. 62 "Ludwig III King of Bavaria", Struck cross made of black-stained iron, the reverse with jubilee numerals "1868 - 1918". Width 40 mm. Weight 19.3 g. One of the rarest Bavarian awards, hitherto unresearched.

ChrisKelly · November 10

The portraits on the obverse of the cross are the work of sculptor Bernhard Bleeker [1882-1968].

https://germanartgallery.eu/bernhard-bleeker-ludwig-iii-king-of-bavaria/

ChrisKelly · November 11

Clearer images:

ChrisKelly · November 13

Image 1:

https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/340599

Anniversary cross for the k. U.K. Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiment No. 62 "King Ludwig III of Bavaria" (1918). Zinc (!)

No explanation has yet been found for the use of zinc - instead of iron as stated by Hessenthal and Schreiber. According to Hessenthal and Schreiber (in HS p. 87, no. 338), the Bavarian Mint in Munich minted 350 pieces in iron (!). According to Nimmergut (in NI1 p. 243, no. 618) "all senior officers, military officials, senior non-commissioned officers as well as the retired former commanders of the regiment" received Anniversary cross for the k. U.K. Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiment No. 62 "King Ludwig III of Bavaria" (1918). Zinc (!), on the original old triangular band.

Images 2 & 3:

https://www.ma-shops.com/kvicala/item.php?id=3351

Images 4 & 5:

https://woeschler-orden.de/katalog/archiv/bayern-jubilaeumskreuz-fuer-das-kuk-infanterie-regiment-nr-62

Kingdom of Bavaria, anniversary cross for officers and non-commissioned officers of the Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment No. 62 “Ludwig III. King of Bavaria”, awarded in 1918.

Embossed iron and stained black, on an embossed tunnel eyelet with a steel band ring. On the correct, but modernly supplemented, triangular band, on the back with a sticky note with the number “338” after Hessenthal and Schreiber applied by Peter Groch.

The blackening is rubbed due to wear and the iron is therefore slightly rusty in places. Apart from that, it is in good, slightly worn condition. The band freshly colored.

One of the rarest Bavarian decorations, rarely found in stores!

Ex Peter Groch Collection, Berlin; acquired from Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH, Osnabrück, eLive Auction 55, July 18, 2019. This is the copy shown in the current Nimmergut “OEK” on page 152.

This anniversary cross was made by King Ludwig III. Founded at the beginning of April 1918 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of ownership and awarded to all senior officers, military officials, older non-commissioned officers and the former commanders of the regiment. The Munich Mint minted 350 of these. Despite this not entirely small number, it only appears extremely rarely in stores.

Literature: Hesse Edler von Hessenthal, Waldemar, and Schreiber, Georg. The wearable decorations of the German Empire including the formerly independent German states as well as the Empire and the Federal State of Austria, the Free City of Danzig, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the decorations of the NSDAP. Berlin 1940. See p. 87.

This cross has been reproduced by GODE, Images 6, 7 & 8 [reverse of the cross is blank]:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/196659902220?_skw=koenig+ludwig&itmmeta=01JCHREPYDRHSK509EH92R61Y0&hash=item2dc9d7f70c:g:dpgAAOSwUPlm8CeQ&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8Mxmj%2BiGvOveHXEBClPb29i347eVMWXBncN1a0jayp01oGshQnRJExnKJ2r56R3xI55q0c7dwPhKewoeQwcTpIzB12t2xnSRLPXqLgNTPY%2F2TxmB6Z2QDvZOhySxgmy0aNLCJWWn3V%2BbjY1EQstpknpmanV018JlQpJ7bztowAVbmoiMQ26ZBKS7XB2cHaGswZciVw4q7itT0f0ttN5PoRVTBH1tVT1hTqNvrS5Vue4eF940TkZBZ2cAT9qaB%2BuRSwreLwnwXidVRPvAXeaOv1Q5riYx3AUDRC7UB4UuZ65eHzyFdr0zJ1%2FHTDhecd5vfg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMpO-6uORk

https://www.ebay.de/itm/224816477078

Edited November 13 by ChrisKelly

ChrisKelly · November 13

Further reference:

https://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/jubilaumskreuz-fur-das-k-u-k-infanterie-regiment-nr-62.html

50th Anniversary Cross for the K.u.K. Infantry Regiment No. 62

This memorial or Anniversary cross at the beginning of April 1918 by King Ludwig III. The occasion was the king's 50th anniversary as owner of the (Hungarian) Infantry Regiment No. 62 “Ludwig III. King of Bavaria”. All senior officers, military officials, senior non-commissioned officers and retired commanders of the regiment were eligible to receive. The crosses were made in the main mint in Munich. Due to the similarity to the “King Ludwig Cross”, it is likely that the stamp on the front also comes from the sculptor Prof. Bleeker. Only around 350 pieces were minted at the mint. The cross is therefore much rarer than the bronze “King Ludwig Cross” [7.1.1916] with around 73,000 awards.

Elongated cross made of black-stained iron. Front and back with embossed oval central shield (23 x 19 mm). The cross arms without raised edges are smooth. A wide eyelet with a band ring on the upper cross arm.

Further reference:

https://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/konig-ludwig-kreuz-1916.html

King Ludwig Cross 1916

This cross was made by King Ludwig III. donated to the compatriots who had rendered outstanding service at home during the war and distinguished themselves through voluntary work for the benefit of the country and the army.

This cross was produced in a very large edition. The silver examples are the rarest (approx. 250 pieces). These were only issued for the royal cabinet, ministries and high personalities. The other crosses, approximately 90,000 pieces, were made of either bronze, iron or zinc. These crosses are blackened. The design comes from Bernhard Bleeker and the stamp from Alois Börsch.

ChrisKelly · November 13

One sold at auction for €500:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/188726146_king-ludwig-iii-a-commemorative-cross-for-the-members-of-both-chambers-1918

Megan · November 13

Interesting, I've not seen the 100th Anniversary of the Constitution cross before... must add it to the Bavarian section of my website and start searching for images... at least I now know what I am looking for 🤓