Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Germany, Prussia, Golden Military Merit Cross, by Wagner, Berlin, 42mm x 38mm, silver-gilt, silver marks (938) and maker’s mark (W) to base of cross, in silk and purple velvet lined fitted leather case of issue, gilding slightly rubbed to reverse lower arm of cross, otherwise about extremely fine £1800-2200

The so-called ‘Enlisted Man’s Pour Le Merite’, the Golden Military Merit Cross was the highest Prussian bravery award for enlisted soldiers, and only around 1,300 crosses were awarded during the 1914-1918 period, out of approximately six million German soldiers.