{"product_id":"ww1-german-honour-cross-of-the-world-war-1914-1918-with-swords-hindenburg-cross","title":"WW1 German Honour Cross of the World War 1914–1918 with Swords Hindenburg Cross","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eGerman Honour Cross of the World War 1914–1918\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e(Honour Cross with Swords – Front-Line Veterans)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe \u003cb\u003eHonour Cross of the World War 1914–1918\u003c\/b\u003e, commonly known as the \u003cb\u003eHindenburg Cross\u003c\/b\u003e, was instituted on \u003cb\u003e13 July 1934\u003c\/b\u003e to commemorate service by German veterans of the First World War. It represents the \u003cb\u003efirst official state service decoration\u003c\/b\u003e issued to surviving soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the conflict.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThis example is the \u003cb\u003ecombatant’s version\u003c\/b\u003e, distinguished by the presence of \u003cb\u003ecrossed swords\u003c\/b\u003e between the arms of the cross, and was awarded exclusively to \u003cb\u003efront-line veterans\u003c\/b\u003e who had served under fire. The award was presented in \u003cb\u003ebronze\u003c\/b\u003e and features a \u003cb\u003elaurel wreath\u003c\/b\u003e encircling the central medallion bearing the dates \u003cb\u003e1914 – 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, symbolising victory and honourable service. The reverse is plain, typically bearing only a maker’s mark where applicable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe cross is suspended from its correct ribbon of \u003cb\u003eblack, white, and red\u003c\/b\u003e, the national colours of Imperial Germany, arranged in the standard combatant pattern. The decoration was commonly worn on formal occasions and veterans’ commemorations during the inter-war years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe Honour Cross was issued in three distinct forms:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWith swords\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e for front-line combatants\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWithout swords\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e for non-combatant war service\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWithout swords in black finish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e for widows and parents of those killed\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBetween \u003cb\u003e1934 and 1944\u003c\/b\u003e, over \u003cb\u003esix million\u003c\/b\u003e combatant versions were awarded, reflecting the vast number of surviving First World War veterans. Each award was originally accompanied by a named certificate (Urkunde), specifying the class of cross issued.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eToday, the Honour Cross with Swords remains an important and recognisable \u003cb\u003eFirst World War service award\u003c\/b\u003e, marking the contribution of front-line soldiers and forming a key component of German Great War medal collections.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53340189851994,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260115_134248.png?v=1768499697","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/ww1-german-honour-cross-of-the-world-war-1914-1918-with-swords-hindenburg-cross","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}