Cross of Honour of the German Mother [Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter] - First Class

Nazi German Mother's Honour Cross, First Class in gold. A cross pattee concave with the lower arm elongated and rays between the arms. Obverse: in the centre a gold disc incorporating a black swastika on a white field surrounded by the inscription 'DER DEUTSCHEN MUTTER' (The German mother). Reverse: Plain gold with '16 Dezember 1938' on 3 lines, over a facsimile of Adolf Hitler's signature. The cross is fitted with a fixed bar suspender to the top arm and a piece of 10 mm blue ribbon which has two white stripes down each edge.

Awarded to German women of 'pure blood' for bearing eight or more children. Awards were presented on Mother's Day (the second Sunday in May) and worn from a ribbon around the neck or from a ribbon bow on the lapel. A miniature cross, either suspended from a bow or made into a brooch, was also authorised. The cross was awarded in three classes - gold, silver and bronze, and was originally issued in a brown leatherette case. This medal is part of a collection of Second World War German orders, decorations, badges and insignia acquired by Flight Lieutenant K G Hesketh, RAAF Historical Records Section, who was based in London, but who made a number of visits to Germany immediately after the Second World War.