GERMANY, ANHALT: FRIEDRICH CROSS, I CLASS, 1914-1918 Germany...

Hammer

£80

GERMANY, ANHALT: FRIEDRICH CROSS, I CLASS, 1914-1918 Germany, Anhalt, Friedrich Cross, I class (Friedrich-Kreuz, I. Klasse), 1914-1918;
The Cross was created by Duke Friedrich II on 12 December 1914 'für Offiziere, Milità¤rbeamte, Unteroffiziere und Mannschaften sowie für sonstige Personen ohne Unterscheid des Ranges und Standes, die sich auf dem Kriegsschauplatz besonders ausgezeichnet oder wà¤hrend des Krieges im Heimatsgebiet hervorragend betà¤tigt haben' (for officers, military officials, non-commissioned officers and other ranks, as well as other persons, without regard for rank or status, who showed particular excellence in the theatre of war or exemplary conduct on the home front in support of the war).

The Cross originally existed in a single class suspended from a ribbon but Duke Friedrich had the intention to follow the example of most other German states and introduce a first-class award with a pin-back insignia. This was produced by Paul Meybauer of Berlin but it was never officially instituted nor were the insignia awarded because the November revolutions of 1918 intervened. The Cross is therefore rare.