Wurttemburg Military Merit Medal

Place Europe: Germany, Baden-Wurttemberg, Wurttemberg
Accession Number RELAWM01323
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Award
Physical description Silver
Maker Unknown
Place made Germany
Date made c 1914
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Wurttemburg Military Merit Medal (silver). Unnamed as issued. Obverse: The head of Wilhelm II facing right with the inscription 'WILHELM II KOENIG VON WUERTTEMBERG' around the circumference. Reverse: 'FUR TAPFERKEIT UND TREUE' (For bravery and loyalty) on three lines within a laurel wreath. Fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 35 mm yellow ribbon with 6 mm black stripes near each edge.

History / Summary

Instituted in April 1914 and awarded for bravery in the field. It has two classes of gold and silver. during the early part of the war the gold medal was 14 ct and the silver 950 fine, but later the gold was reduced to 8 ct and silver was two-thirds alloy. The gold medal was automatically awarded to recipients of the Iron Cross, First Class. Originally the ribbon for this medal was plain blue. It was changed to yellow and black in September 1914 and then reduced in width to 26 mm in 1917. This medal forms part of a collection assembled by the Memorial in the 1920s for display.