The Medal for Merit in War (German: Medaille für Verdienst im Kriege) was a military decoration of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, established during World War I on 7 March 1915 by Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. For officers, there was the Cross for Merit in War, while the Medal was for enlisted personnel.
| Medal for Merit in War Medaille für Verdienste im Kriege | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Military decoration |
| Presented by |  Saxe-Meiningen |
| Status | No longer awarded |
| Established | 7 March 1915 |
| Last awarded | 1920 |
| Total | 24000 |
| Related | Cross for Merit in War |
Criteria
editThe medal was awarded to enlisted personnel and some officers for acts of military merit (both combatants and non-combatants), to all members of the Imperial German Army, but especially to those serving in the regiments affiliated with Saxe-Meiningen. Those included the 32nd and 95th Infantry Regiments.[1]
Description
editOn the front side, the medal had an oak leaf wreath on the edge, bound in each quarter by two crossed ribbons. At the center was a curved cross with a round center sign with the letter "B" in the center. Between the cross arms there were three leaves sticking out of the center. On the back side, there was a shield in the center, with Saxe coat of arms is stylized with cross strips and an oblique diamond ridge. Between the cross-arms, there were three leaves sticking out. Between the middle and the border was the circulatory script: FUR VERDIENST IM KREIGE 1914/15.[1]
The medal manufacturer was AWES coin (A. Werner & Söhne) in Berlin. Lauer from Nuremberg took over production of the war metal.[1]
Sources
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Medaille für Verdienst im Kriege 1915 in Bronze. Ehrenzeichen-Orden. Accessed 23 December 2016.
Literature
edit- Lundström, Richard, and Krause, Daniel. Awards of military orders and honorary marks of the Ernestine Duchies of Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Saxe-Meiningen in the First World War, 1914-1918 (Verleihungen von militärischen Orden und Ehrenzeichen der Ernestinischen Herzogtümer Sachsen-Altenburg, Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha und Sachsen-Meiningen im Ersten Weltkrieg, 1914-1918). 2008.