Hohenzollern Commemorative Medal for Fighters 1848–1849
The Hohenzollern Commemorative Medal for Fighters / Warriors 1848–1849 (German: Hohenzollern Denkmünze für Kämpfer 1848–1849; Pr51) is a decoration of honor established by Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV on 23 August 1851 for members of the Prussian Army and Prussian civil servants "who have proven their loyalty in the various battles that took place in 1848 and 1849", i.e., those who participated, for example, in the fighting associated with the German Revolution of 1848/49 or the Schleswig-Holstein Uprising of 1849–1851 (First Schleswig War).
The medal was a one-time award and not part of the Royal House Order of the House of Hohenzollern. The award was presented to officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, military doctors, and civil servants. The prerequisite for this was at least 14 days of loyal service on the side of the King (including participation in battles for combatants) at home and abroad during the period from March 1848 to October 1849.
The commemorative medal for combatants and non-combatants is a round bronze medal with a grooved, soldered loop and a ribbon ring. Its diameter is 30 mm and its weight is 14.6 g. Gold-plated versions are also available.
The obverse depicts the Royal House Order of the Hohenzollern with a central shield consisting of a Prussian eagle and a scroll. The inscription within the scroll, as with the House Order, reads "From the Rock to the Sea," which is intended to illustrate the historical path of the Hohenzollern family. The reverse features a scroll ring around the edge with the inscription SEINEN BIS IN DEN TOD GETREUEN KRIEGERN or "[Dedicated to] His Faithful Warriors Until Death" (the non-combatant version lacks the scroll ring). Furthermore, there are two horizontal lines in the inner circle of the center, with the inscription FRIEDRICH / WILHELM IV between them, with 1848 above and 1849 below.
External links
- War Commemorative Medal of 1864 (Kriegs-Denkmünze für 1864; KD64)
- Commemorative Cross for the Campaign of 1866 (Erinnerungs-Kreuz für den Feldzug von 1866)
- War Commemorative Medal of 1870–1871 (Kaiserliche Kriegsdenkmünze 1870/71; KD70/71)
