Verdun cross

Original sign in great collectable condition. Bronze, gilding, enamel. On the original tape. The guarantee of authenticity.

Verdun cross was founded by one of the many veterans ' associations of the Weimar Republic – the Honorable Union of the Saxon participants of the world war “the Association of German veterans of the Eastern and Western fronts.” This structure had the status of a registered non-profit Association that was highlighted in its full name.

Verdun cross was established in memory of one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the First world war – the battle of Verdun, which lasted for nine months, three weeks and six days – from 21 February to 18 December 1916. The loss of the opposing sides, the Germans and the French amounted to about a million people, including more than 400 thousand dead. There are two varieties of Verdun cross, the distinguished shape of the sign is the earlier, produced in düsseldorf, and later produced in Hamburg.

Verdun cross manufactured in Dusseldorf, designed in the shape of an equilateral Teutonic cross. “Hamburg” Verdun cross had the form of a fairly narrow equilateral eight-pointed Maltese cross. In both cases, the center of the cross was placed invoice round medallion. The image on the obverse of signs and colors of the ribbons were identical.

AVERS Verdun cross was covered with dichroic enamel black on the edges and white in the center. Borders of enamel separated by narrow silver strips. In the upper part of the Central medallion is covered with black enamel, the inscription made a semicircle uppercase silver letters: “Verdun”, and below it in two lines shows the years of the First world war, “1914 1918”.

The reverses of both types of signs smooth branded manufacturers: the düsseldorf “EugenBillig, Düsseldorf, Ges. Gesch.” in three lines, and the Hamburg “Fleck & Sohn, Hamburg 3” in two lines. Tape the sign in both cases was the same – white with a width of 24 mm wide Central black stripe, which was located a short horizontal white stripes. Sometimes the ribbon was attached patch gilded or silvered crossed swords, emphasized the “military” nature of this informal sign, or fighting strap of Golden colour with the inscription in capital letters “Verdun” between two small rhombi.

Like other signs of the period of the Weimar Republic, Verdun cross was purchased by former participants of the battle from personal funds on the basis of the award of certificates issued by the offices of the above-mentioned Saxon veterans ' associations – first in düsseldorf (1932) and then in Berlin (1933-1934 gg.).

Verdun cross size 39,6х39,6 mm was made of non-magnetic alloy in silver color and covered with dichroic enamel. Sign “düsseldorf” forms were handed in 1932, and “Hamburg” – forms in 1933-1934 years After the establishment of 13.07.1934 G. Honorary cross World war, 1914-1918 Verdun cross, like most other veteran characters of the period of the Weimar Republic were forbidden to wear. The total number of issued marks amounted to about 3 thousand.