Saxon WWI Medal Bar EK2 Friedrich August Medal and Hindenburg Cross

This three-place German veteran’s medal bar combines decorations from Prussia and the Kingdom of Saxony representing combat service during the First World War, followed by the later official recognition of that wartime service. Mounted from left to right are the Prussian 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class, the Saxon Friedrich August Medal on its wartime ribbon, and the Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 for Combatants, commonly known among collectors as the Hindenburg Cross.

The first decoration is the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class), 1914 issue. It is of the traditional multipart construction associated with the decoration, consisting of a dark iron core surrounded by a contrasting silver-colored frame with the characteristic beaded inner border. The obverse carries the Imperial crown above the central “W” cipher of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the date “1914” on the lower arm. The reverse bears the crowned “FW” cipher of King Friedrich Wilhelm III, the central oak-leaf device, and the original institution date “1813.” It is suspended from the familiar black and white combatant ribbon used for the 1914 Iron Cross.

Instituted originally by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in 1813 during the Wars of Liberation, the Iron Cross was renewed for the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 and again by Kaiser Wilhelm II on 5 August 1914. Although fundamentally a Prussian decoration, the 1914 issue was awarded throughout the forces of the German Empire and became the best-known German combat decoration of the First World War. The 2nd Class was normally worn suspended from its ribbon and was awarded for bravery or military merit in wartime service.

The central decoration is the Friedrich-August-Medaille (Friedrich August Medal) of the Kingdom of Saxony, instituted by King Friedrich August III in 1905 as an award for meritorious service by enlisted personnel and civilians of corresponding status. The obverse displays the crowned royal cipher of Friedrich August within a laurel wreath. The reverse inscription reads “Friedrich August Medaille,” translating directly as “Friedrich August Medal,” surrounded by ornamental floral scrollwork. This example is suspended from the distinctive yellow and light-blue Saxon wartime ribbon, visually identifying its association with wartime service.

The Friedrich August Medal was produced in bronze and silver grades, with the grade reflecting the recipient’s rank and status. This example appears to be the bronze grade, retaining a warm aged patina across the surfaces while the raised crown, cipher, wreath, and lettering remain well defined. The combination of this Saxon award with the Iron Cross strongly points to a recipient serving in a Saxon contingent within the Imperial German Army.

Completing the group is the Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914/1918 für Frontkämpfer (Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 for Frontline Combatants), commonly called the Hindenburg Cross. The obverse bears the dates “1914 1918” within a laurel wreath with crossed swords below, the swords identifying the combatant version. It is suspended from the black, white, and red ribbon associated with the award.

The Honor Cross was instituted on 13 July 1934 by Reich President Paul von Hindenburg as an official recognition of those who had served during the First World War. Its presence is important for dating the assembled bar: although the military service represented by the group belongs to the 1914-1918 period, this three-decoration configuration necessarily dates from 1934 or later, when the Honor Cross became available for wear. This is therefore best understood as the mounted veteran’s bar of a First World War combatant rather than a medal bar assembled during the war itself.

All three decorations are mounted in the traditional German parade-bar style with the ribbons folded over a rigid backing. The reverse is covered in red wool felt and retains the long horizontal pin and catch assembly used to secure the group to a tunic or veteran’s dress garment. The mounting remains complete, and the three ribbons retain strong color. The ribbons display normal age-related handling, minor creasing, and light wear around the suspension points, while the backing shows expected surface wear from period use.

The medals themselves exhibit attractive, honest age patina. The Iron Cross retains strong contrast between its dark core and lighter frame, with rubbing and oxidation concentrated along the exposed high points of the silver-colored border. The Friedrich August Medal retains clear detail throughout its cipher, crown, wreath, and reverse inscription. The Honor Cross remains well defined with strong relief to the wreath, dates, crossed swords, and cross arms. No maker’s mark is presently confirmed on the visible portions of the awards.

As a complete mounted group, the bar tells a coherent story of a Saxon First World War combat veteran: Imperial recognition through the 1914 Iron Cross, state recognition through the Friedrich August Medal, and formal veteran recognition through the later Honor Cross for Combatants. The combination is representative of the federal structure of the Imperial German Army, in which a soldier could receive both a Prussian decoration of empire-wide significance and an award from his own German state. Its intact mounting, pleasing ribbon colors, and easily identified combination make it a strong example for a collection focused on Saxony, Imperial German decorations, or First World War veterans’ groups.