Cross of Merit for Women and Virgins

Merit Cross for Women and Virgins (German: Verdienst-Kreuz für Frauen und Jungfrauen), also known as the Iron Merit Cross (German: Eisernes Verdienstkreuz), was instituted on 22 March 1871 by Kaiser Wilhelm I, German Emperor, in his capacity as King of Prussia, and could be awarded to all women who had made self-sacrificing work for the benefit of the fighting troops and their families during the Franco-German War of 1870/71. The awarding of the War Commemorative Medal of 1870–1871 (Kaiserliche Kriegsdenkmünze 1870/71) for non-combatants was always accompanied by the awarding of this order for ladies.

History

Katharine Weißgerber (1818–1886) received the Cross of Merit for her courage and commitment during the Battle of the Spicher Heights (6 August 1870) in Saarbrücken. When France declared war on Germany on 19 July 1870, the daughter of a miner was employed as a domestic helper and nanny by the Schultz family. On the same day, French troops marched across the border near Saarbrücken and shelled the city on 28 July. When the French troops marched into Saarbrücken on 2 August, Katharine Weißgerber brought an injured man to safety in the middle of the battle and looked for a priest for the dying man in the hail of bullets. On 6 August, arriving Prussian troops began the counteroffensive and stormed the Spicher Heights, which had been besieged by the French. But it was a victory bought too dearly, in which 850 Prussian soldiers had falen and around 4,000 were wounded. The opposing side suffered 320 dead and around 2,300 wounded. 2,100 French soldiers were taken prisoner. Amidst the chaos of fighting and the shellfire of the Battle of Spicher, Katharine Weißgerber selflessly and courageously cared for the wounded soldiers. The Prussian King Wilhelm received a report of her heroic deeds and awarded her the Cross of Merit. On the anniversary of the Battle of Spichern, on 6 August 1886, she died at the age of 69. She found her honorary grave in Ehrental, next to the warriors she helped so much in battle.

The Verdienstkreuz für Frauen und Jungfrauen is sometimes wrongly translated as "Cross of Merit for Women and Girls", although no "girls" served near the battlefields or in the military field hospitals. Jungfrauen is correctly translated "virgins", young women would be junge Frauen and girls / maidens Mädchen or Mädel.

At the time, there were officially two types of women of honour in German society: married women or nuns and virgins. Young, unmarried German women of proper upbringing were automatically considered "virgins" or Jungfrauen in the German Empire and before.

The order is similar to that of the Iron Cross. It is made of iron, with a raised silver inner, two-stepped edge, the inner of which is semicircular and finely fluted. In the middle of the cross you can see the red enamel Cross of Geneva on the front. Hanns von Zobelitz wrote in his book The Iron Cross (Velhagen & Klasing Verlag, Bielefeld 1915):

“While outside on France's blood-fertilized soil the German warriors beat the enemy to the ground and brought unity to the empire 'with blood and iron', at home the German women worked in a hundredfold blessing for the sick and wounded. The emperor also wanted to reward their quiet, self-sacrificing work for the Vaterland. So on his seventy-fourth birthday, just as his father had founded the Luisen-Orden in 1814 during the Wars of Liberation, he created a Cross of Merit for women and virgins, which, as far as we know, was awarded to around 2,200 recipients – not only in all German districts, but also in the Abroad. The beautiful badge of honor, to be worn on a white ribbon, consists of a black enameled iron-shaped cross on which a small red one (the Cross of Geneva) is placed. The back shows the W of the Emperor and the A of the Empress Augusta.”

Award numbers

A total of almost 3,000 awards are documented. These include 78 women of non-German origin. The appearance and shape is very similar to the Iron Cross, but on the obverse at the junction of the arms is an emblem of the Red Cross. On the reverse there is the royal crown above the intertwined monograms "A" and "W" and the date of 1870–1871. The cross was worn from suspended by a bow on the left chest. The ribbon is the same as that of the Iron Cross for non-combatants, white with black stripes at the edge.

Women and virgins were awarded at the request of Empress Augusta Marie Luise Katharina von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach (de), and the award was bestowed by the Kaiser. The first awards took place on 9 and 26 April ​​1871. 35 female members of ruling families were honored as prominent patrons of voluntary nursing. Applications were officially valid until 3 January 1873, although the last two awards took place in 1875.

"The Cross of Merit for Women and Virgens was awarded 2,995 times between 1871 and 1872. The total is based on the list of awards printed by Schneider, with the addition of seven awards that were published by Hoeftmann but not mentioned by Schneider. Most of these awards were based on suggestions from the commission appointed for this purpose; some awards were made directly on the initiative of the Empress and Queen Augusta. On 3 January 1873, Wilhelm I issued an order dissolving the commission. In 1875, Empress and Queen Augusta made two more awards for the last time. This was the final end of the awarding process. The total number of awards increased to 2,997 Crosses of Merit, of which almost 100 were given to foreign women of non-German origin. It is particularly worth mentioning that three awards were also given to men. It is not clear whether they also received the Cross on a ribbon. The men who were awarded the Cross were heads of deaconess institutions. The award certificates for the award were signed by Wilhelm I. The related princesses received a royal letter on the occasion of the award, instead of the award certificate. The Cross of Merit did not have to be returned and remained with the relatives of the recipient after their death."

Maximilian Gritzner wrote in his book Handbook of the Orders of Knighthood and Merit of all Civilized States of the World (1893):

"This order was founded on 22 March 1871, the 74th birthday of Emperor Wilhelm, and, as the foundation charter states, 'in full recognition of the magnificent self-sacrificing work that the women and virgins of all of Germany have dedicated to the well-being of the combatants and their families, and in order to ensure the gratitude of the Vaterland through a common symbol for outstanding services in this blessed field.' The right to propose this order belongs to Her Majesty the Empress, who has always worked with great zeal for the well-being of the sick and wounded in a sublime example and never ceases to do so. The award is made by the Emperor. Claims to the order are acquired on the one hand by services to the care of the sick and wounded (in the war against France), and on the other hand by outstanding 'other activities for the well-being of the combatants and their families.' The cross, which hangs from silver rings, is worn on the left breast on a loop from the white ribbon of the Iron Cross for non-combatants. The order has not been awarded since the Franco-Prussian War, for which it was probably only intended."

Decree and foundation deed

Decree (22 March 1871)

"While I pay full tribute to the great, self-sacrificing work that the women and virgins of all of Germany have dedicated and continue to devote to the well-being of the fighters and their families, I feel compelled to ensure the gratitude of the Vaterland for outstanding services in this blessed field through a common symbol. The Order of St. Louis cannot serve this purpose. According to the statutes, the award of the first section of the Order, which is of particular importance, may only be made to the small number of one hundred, which is already fulfilled at present; moreover, both sections of that Order are restricted to members of the Prussian monarchy. In order to achieve my intention, the establishment of a special Order is therefore essential. With this in mind, I have executed the certificate presented to me by the State Ministry establishing the Cross of Merit for Women and Virgins and have instructed the State Ministry to make this decree public."

Foundation deed (22 March 1871)

"We, Wilhelm, by the grace of God King of Prussia etc., in recognition of the tireless and blessed willingness to make sacrifices in the now honorably concluded war for the honor of the Vaterland and the independence of Germany, women and virgins have worked and continue to work for the welfare of the combatants and their families, have decided to establish a Cross of Merit for women and virgins who have rendered such services to the Vaterland, and in order to implement this Our resolution, we decree the following:

1. The Cross of Merit is awarded by Us, on the proposal of Her Majesty the Queen, Our Wife, in honorable recognition of the services of women and virgins who have distinguished themselves by caring for the wounded and sick in the war against France, which has now ended, or by other activities for the welfare of the combatants and their families.

2. The insignia of the order consists of a cross made of black enamel with a silver border, on which is placed a red cross with a white border. The same is furthermore engraved on the back in the middle with Our and Our Royal Wife's names, in the upper point of the central bar with the Royal Crown, in its lower point with the number 1870/71 and is worn on a white, black-edged silk ribbon with the same bow and silver ring on the left breast.

Documented under Our Most Highly Handwritten Signature and printed Royal Seal."

Similar medals and decorations (WWI)

• Saxe-Meiningen Order or Cross for Merit of Women and Virgins in War Welfare (founded on 3 March 1915 by Duchess Charlotte)
• Brunswick War Merit Cross for Women and Virgins (founded on 13 September 1917 by Duke Ernst August)
• Anhaltian Mary's Cross (Marienkreuz), War Merit Cross for Women and Virgins (founded on 10 January 1918 by Duke Friedrich II)

External links

• Das Verdienstkreuz für Frauen und Jungfrauen, ordensmuseum.de