Germany Bavaria 100% ORIGINAL WW1 Military Merit Cross “Merenti” 1866 2nd Class with swords, FULL SIZE Medal in ORIGINAL BOX!
GUARANTEE - 100% ORIGINAL in ORIGINAL BOX! Obsolete!
In very good condition (see pictures for details), no ribbon

Cross size: length 2\" (5 cm) x width 1-6/8\" (4.2 cm)

Box size: 3-1/2\" x 2-3/8\' x 6/8\" (9 cm x 6 cm x 2 cm)

Shipping with USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box plus insurance

Gilt copper Maltese cross with crossed Roman swords above with scroll and loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central black enamel medallion bearing the gilt crowned cipher of King Ludwig III within a circular white enamel border in the form of a buckled belt inscribed in gilt letters ‘MERENTI’ (Latin = Merit) above, with gilt arabesques below; the reverse with a circular central medallion bearing the Bavarian crowned lion rampant within a circular border in the form of a buckled belt dated ‘1866’ above, with arabesques below;

The Bavarian Military Merit Cross (Militär-Verdienstkreuz) was that kingdom\'s main decoration for bravery and military merit for enlisted soldiers.

World War I broke out the following year, and the Military Merit Cross became Bavaria\'s main decoration for bravery and merit by enlisted soldiers in that war, roughly equivalent to Prussia\'s Iron Cross (except unlike the Iron Cross, the classes of the Military Merit Cross were awarded based on rank). According to one source, the total number of awards of all classes was 380,976. Approximately 290,000 were of the 3rd Class with Swords and approximately 73,000 of the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords, the two lowest grades. The Military Merit Cross became obsolete with the fall of the German Empire and the Bavarian Kingdom in 1918, although the Bavarian government continued to process awards up to 1920.

The Cross had its origins as the V class of the Order of Military Merit, instituted by King Ludwig III on 19 July 1866 to reward extraordinary merit by non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and lower-ranking officials (‘zur Belohnung Außergewöhnlicher Verdienste der Unteroffiziere, Soldaten und untere Militärbeamten’). In 1905 the statutes were revised, the Cross becoming Military Merit Cross with two classes, each with or without swords. In 1913 a further revision added a third, more senior class, the existing classes becoming the II and III classes, the class awarded being determined by the rank of the recipient. All three classes could be awarded with or without swords and with or without crown, swords denoting a wartime award and crown denoting a second award of the Cross or especial merit. The Military Merit Cross was the Kingdom of Bavaria\'s principal decoration for bravery for non-commissioned officers and enlisted men throughout World War I. It was abolished at the end of 1918

Shipping to the US with USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box with Insurance, to outside of the US with USPS Registered Mail with Insurance

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