Germany – Imperial and Third Reich: A good mounted group of five medals comprising: Germany – Imperial: Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class, Germany – Third Reich: War Merit Cross 1939, 2nd Class, early bronze issue; Bremen: Germany – Imperial – States: Hanseatic Cross 1914-1918: Germany – Imperial: Honour Cross 1914-1918 without swords, maker marked B.H.L. to the reverse; Germany - Third Reich: Faithful Service Decoration for 40 Years Service.
Group of 5: Germany – Imperial: Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class, Germany – Third Reich: War Merit Cross 1939, 2nd Class, early bronze issue; Bremen: Germany – Imperial – States: Hanseatic Cross 1914-1918: Germany – Imperial: Honour Cross 1914-1918 without swords, maker marked B.H.L. to the reverse; Germany - Third Reich: Faithful Service Decoration for 40 Years Service. Mounted continental style for wear.
Condition: Mounted continental style for wear, Nearly Extremely Fine
Each of the three ancient Hanseatic Cities – Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck – issued a cross of similar design in World War I, differing only in the arms on the central medallion of the face, that for Bremen being instituted on 14 September 1915. The population of Bremen was about a quarter that of Hamburg and its Cross is consequentially found less often, 20,018 awards having been made. The Cross was suppressed at the end of 1918.
The Faithful Service Medal was founded on 30th January 1938 in two classes and one class to reward civilians in the employ of the public services, and in exceptional cases private concerns, for long and faithful service. All officials, employees, and laborers at any level of the public service (local, regional or national) who completed 40 or more years service were eligible for the Faithful Service Medal in Gold
