Germany – Imperial and Third Reich: A good mounted group of 5 medals comprising: Germany – Imperial: Iron Cross 1914, 2nd Class; Wurttemberg: Military Merit Medal in Silver, 1892-1918 issue, silver grade; Honour Cross 1914-1918 with swords, maker marked ‘G & S’ for Glaser & Sohne, Dresden with additional crossed swords device to ribbon; Germany – Third Reich: Long Service Decoration for 12 Years with Army eagle ribbon device affixed to ribbon; Army Long Service Award for 18 Years, complete with silvered Army Eagle device to ribbon.
Mounted Group of 5: Germany – Imperial: Iron Cross 1914, 2nd Class; Wurttemberg: Military Merit Medal in Silver, 1892-1918 issue, silver grade; Honour Cross 1914-1918 with swords, maker marked ‘G & S’ for Glaser & Sohne, Dresden with additional crossed swords device to ribbon; Germany – Third Reich: Long Service Decoration for 12 Years with Army eagle ribbon device affixed to ribbon; Army Long Service Award for 18 Years, complete with silvered Army Eagle device to ribbon
Condition: Good Very Fine
The Wurttemberg Military Merit Medal in Silver was instituted in 1818 to be awarded for military merit. Wilhelm II became king on 6th October 1891 and the new version of the medal bearing his image was introduced on 26th June 1892. It was suppressed in 1918 when, along with all other German rulers, Wilhelm was deposed at the end of World War I.
The Wehrmacht Long Service Award was a military service decoration issued for satisfactory completion of a number of years in military service. On 16 March, 1936, Adolf Hitler ordered the institution of service awards for the first four classes. Thereafter, on 10 March, 1939, the 40 years service award was introduced.
Each branch of the Wehrmacht (army, navy, and air force) maintained their own version of the Long Service Award and the decoration was issued for four years (fourth class), 12 years (third class), 18 years (second class), 25 years (first class), and 40 years (1939 special class).
