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About the Principalities
There were two principalities with the name Reuss which were member states of
the German Empire. These were the Principality of Reuss-Greiz, also known
as the Elder Line (Reuß-Greiz or Reuß ältere Linie), and the
Principality of Reuss-Gera, or the Younger Line (Reuß-Gera or Reuß
jüngere Linie). The principalities were located in the eastern part of
Thuringia, along the border with the Kingdom of Saxony. They were among the smallest
states of the German Empire
Reuss-Greiz had an area of 122 square miles (316 sq. km) and a population in 1905 of
70,600. Reuss-Gera had an area of 318 square miles (827 sq. km) and a population in 1905 of
144,600. Although the two principalities were the smallest Thuringian states, Gera,
the capital of Reuss-Gera, was the largest city in Thuringia.
The "Heinrich" Thing
One thing that stands out when reading about Reuss is that starting with Heinrich I
von Weida, who died in 1193, every male in the Reuss lines was named Heinrich. This
was apparently in honor of the Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich VI. It can lead to some
confusion when discussing the history of the principalities and the ruling houses.
Early History
The Reuss dynasty is generally traced back to the 11th Century, when Henry the Pious
(Heinrich der Fromme) was appointed Vogt by Emperor Heinrich VI ("Vogt"
was a imperial title, a German corruption of the Latin phrase "advocatus imperii,"
or Imperial Advocate). Until 1244, there was one Vogt for the lands that would become
Reuss, but that year Vogt Heinrich IV entered a monastery and his three sons divided
his possessions, becoming the Vogts of Weide, Gera and Plauen. The Weide and Gera
lines became extinct in the middle 1500s.
In 1302, with the death of Vogt Heinrich II, known as "the Bohemian" ("der Böhme"),
the Plauen line divided between his son and his brother Heinrich III, known as "the
Ruthenian" or "the Russian" ("der Reusse"). The so-called elder line of Heinrich
II's son died out in 1572 while the younger line of Heinrich III der Reusse eventually
became known as the House of Reuss.
In the 1500s, the House of Reuss itself was divided into three lines, one of which died
out in 1616. The other two were the lines of Reuss-Gera, also known as the Plauen or
Reuss Younger Line, and Reuss-Greiz, also known as the Plauen or Reuss Elder Line.
The Reuss Elder Line - Reuss-Greiz
Around 1625, Reuss-Greiz became divided into the lines of Ober-Greiz and Unter-Greiz.
In 1673, the Reuss lines were elevated to counts by the Holy Roman Emperor. The first
count of Ober-Greiz, with the title "Graf Reuss von Ober-Greiz" was Heinrich I. Most of
his nine sons dies in childhood and only one had children to continue the line. This
was the oldest son, Heinrich VI, who became a Saxon field marshal and participated in
the defense of Vienna from the besieging Ottoman Empire. His grandson reunified
Ober-Greiz and Unter-Greiz in 1768 and was elevated to prince (Fürst) in 1778.
After him, the ruling princes carried the title "Fürst Reuss zu Greiz." One, Fürst
Heinrich XXII Reuss zu Greiz, would rule for over forty years, from 1859 to 1902,
through the German wars of unification and Germany's growth to a world power.
His enmity with Prussia would lead him to side with Austria in 1866, and Reuss-Greiz
suffered territorial and financial losses as a result of Prussia's victory in the Seven
Weeks' War.
The Reuss Younger Line - Reuss-Gera
During the 1600s, Reuss-Gera itself was divided into three lines: Reuss-Gera,
Reuss-Schleiz and Reuss-Lobenstein. In 1673, the Holy Roman Emperor elevated the
heads of these three lines to "Reichsgraf," or Imperial Count. The Reuss-Gera
line survived until 1802. The counts of Reuss-Lobenstein became princes in 1790.
Various Reuss-Lobenstein lines died out, and the principality passed from cousin to
cousin. Eventually the last Fürst zu Reuss-Lobenstein (who was also Fürst zu
Reuss-Ebersdorf, a Reuss-Lobenstein branch) abdicated in favor of a distant cousin
in the Reuss-Schleiz line. Having inherited the Gera lands in 1802 and having themselves
been elevated to princes in 1806, with this abdication, the line of Reuss-Schleiz
succeeded in reuniting the Reuss Younger Line.
Later History
Both the Reuss Elder Line and the Reuss Younger Line entered the German Empire as separate
sovereigns, although for the Reuss Elder Line this was done reluctantly. Heinrich XXII
of the Reuss Elder Line and the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen had been the only Thuringian rulers
to side with Austria and its allies against Prussia. Still, both Reuss principalities,
being among the smallest states in the German Empire, attracted little attention
from the Kaiser.
In the Reuss Elder Line, Heinrich XXII's death in 1902 left his only son, Heinrich XXIV, as
head of the house. Heinrich XXIV was not considered fit to rule, and Heinrich XXVII
of the Reuss Younger Line was named regent. When Heinrich XXVII's own father died in 1913,
he became ruler of the Reuss Younger Line and regent of the Reuss Elder Line, with the expectation
that when the childless Heinrich XXIV died, Heinrich XXVII or his heir would rule a
united Reuss. World War One interfered with that plan, and both Heinrich's were
forced to abdicate in November 1918. Reuss was then united, perhaps ironically, as a
People's Republic; the communists were soon defeated, however, and Reuss entered the
Weimar Republic as a part of the new state of Thuringia.
The Armed Forces of the Principalities
The primary contribution of the Reuss principalities was the 2nd battalion of the
7. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.96 (IR96). This battalion (II/IR96), along
with the Prussian 1st Battalion (I/IR96) and the regimental
headquarters, were garrisoned in Gera, while the regiment's third battalion
(III/IR96) was garrisoned in Rudolstadt.
The regiment belonged to the 83rd Infantry Brigade of the 38th Division, XI Army Corps.
The military contributions of Reuss go back to the early days of the House. As Vogts, the
ancestors of the later House were charged with pacifying the borders of the Holy Roman
Empire. In the 14th and 15th centuries, a number of Heinrichs of the Plauen Line were
Teutonic Knights, and two served as Grand Master of the Order. As mentioned above,
Graf Heinrich VI Reuss von Ober-Greiz was a Field Marshal of Saxony in the late 17th century.
Like several other Thuringian states, the Reuss principalities were required to
contribute contingents to the Holy Roman Empire's Army when called upon. During the
War of the Spanish Succession beginning in 1701, the Reuss and Schwarzburg
principalities formed a joint regiment of two Reuss and four Schwarzburg. The war
lasted until 1714 and the regiment saw action in various campaigns. After the war,
the regiment was partially dissolved, but was reactivated in 1733.
Although the Reuss states remained neutral in the Seven Years' War (1756-63), the
Prussian king, Frederick the Great, did bring pressure on the counts, requiring financial
contributions to his war effort and the quartering of troops.
Troops from Reuss participated in several of the early campaigns against French Revolutionary
armies. A contingent was in the Dutch Army in 1793-95. Others were in Austrian service. By 1796
most had returned home. When the main Napoleonic Wars began in 1806, the Reuss rulers, all
of whom were now princes, opted for neutrality. Napoleon allowed no neutrals, however, and
after his 1806 drive through Thuringia, the then-four Reuss principalities (Reuss-Greiz,
Reuss-Schleiz-Gera, Reuss-Lobenstein and Reuss-Lobenstein-Ebersdorf) were made to join
the Confederation of the Rhine in 1807. They were required to contribute a battalion to the
Confederation's army. In 1808 the Reuss battalion, augmented by troops from Waldeck,
Schwarzburg and Lippe, was sent to Spain, where it was almost completely destroyed. Reconstituted
as a battalion of the 6th Confederation Regiment, the Reuss contingent then fought in
more campaigns on Napoleon's behalf. After the Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlacht)
near Leipzig in 1813, the Reuss principalities joined the allies. A 900-man contingent was
formed and participated in several campaigns in 1814 and 1815.
In 1815, the Reuss principalities all joined the German Confederation. In the
army of the German Confederation, the Reuss battalion consisted of four understrength
companies garrisoned in Greiz, Gera, Schleiz and Ebersdorf. During the 1848 Revolutions,
the troops were used for security duties in Thuringia. Reuss troops also participated in
the Schleswig-Holstein War, including the 1849 naval and shore battle at Eckernförde.
By 1866, Reuss-Lobenstein and Reuss-Lobenstein-Ebersdorf were no more. The Reuss
contribution to the German Confederation army was, from the Reuss Younger Line, the
Fürstlich Reussisches Füsilier-Bataillon, and from the Reuss Elder Line, a Jäger-Abteilung.
The 1866 Austro-Prussian War saw a split in Reuss, with the Fürst of the Reuss Elder Line
supporting Austria. The Younger Line's Füsilier-Bataillon was in the Prussian-led
Main-Armee. The two companies of the Elder Line's Jäger-Abteilung were inside the
fortress at Rastatt in Baden.
In 1867, in the wake of the Prussian victory over Austria and the formation of the North
German Confederation, both Reuss principalities signed military conventions with
Prussia. The Reuss contribution was reorganized as a component of the Prussian Army and
designated II/IR96, garrisoned in Gera.
In the Franco-Prussian War, IR96 fought at Metz, Beaumont and Brie. The Reuss battalion
took 103 casualties.
In 1906, the battalion moved to a new Kaserne. Shortly thereafter, in 1909, the
regimental headquarters moved to Gera from Altenburg, and I/IR96 moved to Gera from
Naumburg.
When World War One began in August 1914, IR96 was sent to the Western Front and
participated in the sieg of the Belgian fortress of Namur. It was soon sent to the
Eastern Front, serving in East Prussia, Poland and Galicia. IR96 returned to the
Western Front in October 1915, fighting in some of the bloodiest battles of the war -
the Battles of Hill 304 and Dead Man's Hill in the Spring 1916 Verdun campaign, the
Somme, Arras and Flanders.
Other German army units in World War I with a Reuss connection include:
| Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 32 - RIR 32 was raised in Gera and was IR 96's daughter
regiment. The regiment was composed mainly of men of the Reuss principalities, with smaller contingents from
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and other nearby areas, as well as other reservists drawn from elsewhere in
the XI. Corps area. RIR 32 was initially part of the 22. Reserve-Division, and fought in the
opening campaigns of the war with that division. In March 1915, it was transferred to the
newly-formed 113. Infanterie-Division, where it remained for the rest of the war. It fought on the
Western Front for the entire war. |
| Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 71 - LIR 71 was a Thuringian Landwehr regiment. Its 3rd
Battalion (III./LIR 71) was raised in Gera. On mobilization, LIR 71 was assigned to the 60. Landwehr-Infanterie-Brigade, which was
soon attached to reinforce the 1. bayerische Landwehr-Division. In early 1915, the brigade and LIR 71 were
transferred to the newly-formed 13. Landwehr-Division. In September 1916, the regiment was transferred to
the newly-formed 215. Infanterie-Division, where it spent the rest of the war. |
| Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 371 - a Thuringian regiment formed from the Brigade Replacement
Battalions (Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillonen) 44, 76 and 83. Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 83
was the 83rd Infantry Brigade's brigade replacement battalion, formed from the replacement
battalions of IR 96 and IR 94 (a Grand
Ducal Saxon regiment). IR 371 and its predecessor battalions were part of the
10. Ersatz-Division during the war. |
| Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 224 - RIR 224 was another Thuringian regiment formed in October 1914. Its 2nd Battalion
(II./RIR 224) was formed by the replacement battalion of IR 96. Initially part of the 48. Reserve-
Division, it fought on the Eastern Front and ended the war as part of the 215. Infanterie-Division. |
| Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 252 - RIR 252 was another Thuringian regiment raised in December 1914. One of its battalions
was formed by the replacement battalion of IR 96. It was part of the 76. Reserve-Division and fought on the
Russian and Romanian fronts until early 1918, when it went to the Western Front. |
| Reserve-Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 43 - Res.Brig.Ers.B 43 was formed from the replacement
battalions of RIR 32 and LIR 32, with a Reuss connection through the former. In September 1914, the battalion
became part of Reserve-Ersatz-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 2 (REIR 2). In 1918, REIR 2 was part of
the 215. Infanterie-Division, along with LIR 71 and RIR 224, giving the division a strongly Thuringian
character. |
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Orders and Decorations
Princely Reuss Honor Cross
Fürstlich Reussisches Ehrenkreuz
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Fürst Heinrich XIV of the Reuss Younger Line founded the Honor Cross on
May 24, 1869. When his son Fürst Heinrich XXVII was made regent of the Reuss Elder
Line in 1902, the Honor Cross was extended to that state as well. Thus, from 1902 to
1913, Heinrich XIV awarded the Honor Cross as Fürst of the Reuss Younger Line while
his son awarded it as regent in the name of Heinrich XXIV of the Reuss Elder Line.
In 1913, with Heinrich XIV's death, Heinrich XXVII awarded it for both houses (although
in the case of the Reuss Elder Line, still in the name of Heinrich XXIV).
The Honor Cross was originally in three classes, but an 1885 amendment to the
1869 statutes added a 4th class, as well as a provision for the 1st Class to be
awarded "with Crown." Between 1906 and 1909, three further amendments were made: swords were
authorized for combat awards; the crown was authorized as a higher distinction for
all four classes; and a pinback Officer's Cross was created, ranking between the
1st and 2nd Classes. In April 1918, a provision was made for awards of the Officer's
Cross with the year date "1914" ("mit Jahreszahl 1914") on the upper arm of the
cross.
On January 9, 1915, a "war ribbon" of yellow with red and black stripes near each edge was
authorized. Prior to this, all awards, including swords awards, were on an amaranth
ribbon. After this, the war ribbon was used for awards with swords and for non-swords
awards which were for merit on the homefront in support of the war effort.
As was the case with most German decorations, awards to military personnel were made based on rank:
| Grade |
Rank of Recipient |
| 1st Class with Crown |
Generalleutnant and above |
| 1st Class |
Generalmajor, Oberst |
| Officer's Cross |
Oberstleutnant |
| 2nd Class (with or without Crown) |
Major (usually staff officers; Majors acting as regimental commanders or
in similar positions could receive a higher award) |
| 3rd Class with Crown |
Captain |
| 3rd Class |
Oberleutnant, Leutnant |
| 4th Class (with or without Crown) |
Offizier-Stellvertreter, Zahlmeister, similar senior NCO and warrant officer-type
positions |
The numbers awarded in the various grades are apparently unknown. Befitting the small
size of the principalities, there were very few pre-World War One awards. Within IR96,
the 1914 rank lists show only 13 officers (not counting Reuss princes) having any grade of the Honor Cross, and none
with swords.
One pre-war swords recipient was Werner von Grawert, who held the Honor Cross
3rd Class with Swords. He was an officer in the Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Ostafrika
and had participated in several military expeditions in German East Africa.
From 1904-06, he was Commander of the Military District of Usumbura and from 1906-07 he
was the Military Resident of Urundi and Ruanda.
Another pre-war swords recipient was Ernst Schaumburg. Having served in the
Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Südwestafrika from 1904 to 1910, he
received an Honor Cross 3rd Class with Swords, along with, from Prussia, the Red Eagle
4th Class with Swords, the Crown Order 4th Class with Swords, and the Schwarzburg
Honor Cross 3rd Class with Swords. During World War One, he would add a Pour le Mérite,
the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, the Hohenzollern House Order Knight with Swords, the
Ducal Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Knight 1st Class with Swords, the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross
and the Wound Badge in Silver. His Pour le Mérite was won on April 21, 1918
as commander of the 2nd Battalion of Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr.64. Remaining in
the army after the war, he was Commandant of Berlin from February 1, 1933 to January 31, 1937,
Commanding General of the 225th Infantry Division from September 1, 1939 to July 1, 1940, and
Commandant of Paris from August 1, 1940 to May 1, 1943, when he was retired as a
Generalleutnant.
Among World War I recipients of the Honor Cross 1st Class with Swords was General
Walter von Bergmann.
A general staff officer in various assignments during the first few years of the war, from February 1917 to
September 1918, he was the commanding general of the 113. Infanterie-Division, one of
whose regiments was RIR 32. Von Bergmann also received the Pour le mérite
in May 1918, along with war decorations from several other states, including Bavaria,
Saxony, Württemberg and both Mecklenburg grand duchies. Promoted to General der
Infanterie in 1920, he commanded Gruppenkommando I, one of two regional commands
of the Reichswehr controlling the various military districts (Wehrkreise )
until retiring in 1922.
Among World War I recipients of the Officer's Cross with Swords of the Honor Cross was Major
Rudolf Krantz, a Saxon Jäger officer. Major Krantz also received the Commander's Cross of
the Saxon Military Order of St. Henry, the Officer's Cross with Swords of the Saxon
Albert Order and the Reuss War Merit Cross, among other decorations. He rose to Generalleutnant
in the Reichswehr and was recalled briefly in World War II, commanding the
Divisionskommando z.b.V. (later 454. Sicherheits-Division). Another recipient of the
Officer's Cross was Max Föhrenbach, a Baden field artillery major and general staff officer.
Among World War I recipients of the Honor Cross 2nd Class with Swords was Theodor Endres, a
Bavarian officer. During World War II, he was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
in July 1940 as a Generalleutnant and commanding general of the Wehrmacht's
212. Infanterie-Division. Another recipient of the Honor Cross 2nd Class with Swords was
Wolfgang Fleck, a Prussian general staff officer who had risen through the ranks of
Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 71.
Among World War I recipients of the Honor Cross 3rd Class with Crown and Swords were:
- Hugo Sperrle - an aviator and Württemberg native who received that kingdom's Military Merit Order among other
decorations. Sperrle who rose to Field Marshal in the Luftwaffe in World War II and received the Knight's Cross of the
Iron Cross in May 1940 as chief of Luftflotte 3.
- Erwin von Witzleben - a Prussian infantry and general staff officer. Von Witzleben rose to Field Marshal in the Wehrmacht
and received the Knight's Cross in June 1940 for his command of 1. Armee in the campaign in the West. He was executed in
August 1944 after a show trial for his role as a leader of the July 20th plot against Adolf Hitler.
- Wilhelm Stemmermann - a Baden foot artillery and general staff officer, Stemmermann rose to Generalleutnant in
the Wehrmacht. He received the Knight's Cross on February 7, 1944 as commanding general of XI. Armeekorps, and was posthumously
awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross after he was killed in action on February 18.
- Viktor von Schwedler - A Rhinelander decorated as a staff officer with the 113. Infanterie-Division. Later rose to
General der Infanterie and received the Knight's Cross in June 1940 as commanding general of the IV. Corps.
- Hugo Schmidt - A Reuss native and submariner in World War I, Schmidt transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935 and
served in various training and replacement assignments until retiring in 1942 as a General der Flieger
- Günther von Pogrell - A Leib-Garde-Husaren-Regiment officer, von Pogrell later rose to General der
Kavallerie and served as Inspector of Cavalry.
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Among World War I recipients of the Honor Cross 3rd Class with Swords were:
- Gotthard Heinrici - a Prussian staff officer who had risen through the ranks of Thuringian units (mainly IR 95), Heinrici was the
recipient of not only the Honor Cross, but five other Thuringian state awards, as well as various Prussian decorations. During
World War II, he would earn a reputation as a master of defensive warfare. He rose to Generaloberst and earned the
Knights' Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves and Swords.
- Adolf Heusinger - Heusinger entered service in 1915 as an officer candidate in IR 96 and was commissioned a
Leutnant in 1916. He received the Reuss Silver Merit Medal with Swords in June 1916 and the Honor Cross in June 1917. From
1940 to 1944, Heusinger served as chief of the operations staff of the German Army general staff. He entered the West German
Bundeswehr in 1955 and became the first Generalinspekteur of the Bundeswehr in 1957. From 1961 to
1964 General Heusinger was Chairman of the NATO Standing Military Committee.
- Georg-Wilhelm Postel - an officer in Saxon IR 134, Postel also earned the Military Order of St. Henry among his other World
War I decorations. During World War II, he earned the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as commander of
Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 364, and the Oakleaves and the Swords to the Knight's Cross as commanding general of the 320. Infanterie-Division.
He rose to Generalleutnant and commanded XXX. Armeekorps. He died in Soviet captivity.
- Josef Jacobs - One of the top German aces of World War I, Jacobs also received the Pour le Mérite among
numerous other states' awards.
- Gottfried von Erdmannsdorff - a Saxon Jäger officer who also received the Reuss War Merit Cross. He received the
German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross in 1942 as commander of Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 171 and later rose to
Generalmajor. He was executed by the Soviets in 1946.
- Werner von Erdmannsdorff - another Saxon Jäger officer. He too received both the Reuss Honor Cross and the
Reuss War Merit Cross, as well as Saxony's Military St. Henry Order. He received the German Cross in Gold in 1941
as commander of Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 30 and the Knight's Cross in 1942 as commander of Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 30
and of 18. Infanterie-Division. He ended the war as a General der Infanterie and commander of LXXXXI.
Armeekorps, and was shot by Yugoslav partisans in June 1945.
- Karl von Gerlach - an infantry officer turned aviator. He was killed in 1941 in an air crash while Kommandeur der Luftwaffe
(Koluft) of Panzergruppe 2 and posthumously promoted to Generalmajor.
- Wilhelm von Altrock - a Saxon Jäger officer who also received the Reuss War Merit Cross and
Saxony's Military St. Henry Order and who later rose to Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht.
- Oskar Bertram - an officer in Bergisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 59 and a native of Reuss-Gera,
later a Generalleutnant in the Luftwaffe
- Heinrich XXXVII. Prinz Reuss (jüngere Linie) - There were few awards to German naval officers of the Honor Cross, but as a
Reuss prince, the torpedo boat and U-boat officer Heinrich XXXVII may have had an inside track. Besides the Honor Cross, he also
received the Reuss War Merit Cross, as well as wartime awards from Prussia, the Mecklenburg grand duchies, and Braunschweig. He entered
the Luftwaffe in 1935, and rose to Generalleutnant in Flak units, receiving the German Cross in Gold in April 1944.
- Ernst Kellermann - One of the small number of other naval recipients, Kapitänleutnant Kellermann served with the
1. Marine-Division and on the battleship SMS Baden. During World War II, he was recalled to duty as
harbor commandant (Hafenkommandant) of Amsterdam (May-Jun 1940) and St. Nazaire, France (June 1940-May 1945).
- Werner Günther and Walter Lüdicke - two of the other naval recipients, Kapitänleutnant der Reserve Günther and
Oberleutnant der Reserve Lüdicke were Reuss natives and Matrosenartillerie officers. Günther served in the coastal
defenses of Helgoland. Lüdicke served in the Marinekorps.
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The Princely Reuss Honor Cross with Swords
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Officer's Cross with Swords
Offizierkreuz mit Schwertern
Photo credit: UBS
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Third Class with Crown and Swords
3. Klasse mit Krone und Schwertern
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Third Class with Swords
3. Klasse mit Schwertern
Photo credit: Claudio Ortelli
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Fourth Class with Swords
4. Klasse mit Schwertern
Photo credit: Claudio Ortelli
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The Princely Reuss Honor Cross without Swords
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First Class with Crown
1. Klasse mit Krone
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First Class
1. Klasse
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Second Class
2. Klasse
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Third Class
3. Klasse
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Fourth Class
4. Klasse
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Merit Medals
Verdienstmedaillen
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As was the case with most German house orders, associated with the Princely
Reuss Honor Cross were several merit medals, meant to reward lower ranking civil servants
and enlisted military personnel. The Silver Merit Medal was apparently established in the 1885
amendment of the Honor Cross statutes. A Golden Merit Medal was added in 1897. In 1909,
consistent with the revisions to the Honor Cross, swords were authorized for both medals
and a crown was authorized as a higher distinction of the Golden Merit Medal (there was no
similar provision for a Silver Medal with Crown, however). Also, in 1915, the "war ribbon"
was authorized for the medals as well. The Golden Merit Medal was intended for
non-commissioned officers (although as noted above certain senior NCO-type grades were
eligible for the Honor Cross 4th Class) while the Silver Merit Medal was for
lance-corporals (Gefreiten) and privates.
Probably the most famous recipient of the Merit Medal was Adolf Heusinger, mentioned above
under Honor Cross recipients. He earned the Reuss Silver Merit Medal with Swords in June 1916
as an officer candidate in IR 96, and would eventually rise to full general, the top position
in the West German Bundeswehr, and one of the highest positions in the NATO structure.
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Golden Merit Medal with Crown and Swords
Goldene Verdienstmedaille mit Krone und Schwertern
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Golden Merit Medal with Swords
Goldene Verdienstmedaille mit Schwertern
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Silver Merit Medal with Swords
Silberne Verdienstmedaille mit Schwertern
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A five-medal bar with the Silver Merit Medal with Swords,
the World War One Honor Cross for Combatants and the Austrian, Hungarian
and Bulgarian World War One Commemorative Medals for Combatants.
Reverse of the medal bar above
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War Merit Cross, "1914"
Kriegsverdienstkreuz "1914"
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Fürst Heinrich XXVII was the first of the Thuringian rulers to create a new pin-back
cross analogous to the Prussian Iron Cross 1st Class. The Reuss War Merit Cross,
founded on May 23, 1915, was to be awarded for bravery or military merit
without regard to rank. Besides Prussia (whose Iron Cross 1st Class dated to 1813),
four other German states had already created pin-back crosses by this time:
Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1849);
Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1914);
Oldenburg (1914) and
Lippe (1914).
But none of these had the strict requirements and exclusivity of the Reuss War
Merit Cross. To be eligible for the Reuss War Merit Cross, one must have already received
the Iron Cross 1st Class and been serving in a Reuss contingent (later, natives of the
Reuss principalities serving in other units were also made eligible). It is unknown how many
were awarded, but given the requirements and the small size of the pool of eligible soldiers,
it was probably awarded no more than 100 times (the Carl Eduard War Cross of
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a
comparable award created in 1916 , was awarded 97 times).
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Photo credit: Claudio Ortelli
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Medal for Sacrificial Activity in Wartime
Medaille für aufopfernde Tätigkeit in Kriegszeit
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| Although not a military decoration, this medal is included here because of
its wartime connection. It was created on November 10, 1915 to recognize meritorious
achievements in war-related charitable work ("als Anerkennung für verdienstliche
Leistungen auf dem Gebiete der Nächstenliebe aus Anlaß des Krieges").
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Photo credit: Stan K.
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