GERMANY & THE GERMAN STATES
ORDERS - DECORATIONS - MEDALS

PRUSSIA

Order of the Black Eagle (Orden des Schwarzen Adler). Established by Frederick I 18.1.1701.

Order of the Red Eagle (Orden des Roten Adler). Established by George William, Hereditary Prince of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Beyreuth 1705.

Pour le mérite Established by the Margrave Frederick (later King Frederck I) in 1667 under the name of Order of Generosity. Reorganized by Frederick II in 1740 as the Order for Military and Civil Merit (pour le mérite), and again by Frederick William III in 1810 as the Order of Military Merit. Ceased being accorded for military service in 1918. Frederick William IV added civil class in 1842 reserved for scholars, men of letters, painters, sculptors, and musicians, which continues to be confered by a private council.

Order of the Crown of Prussia (Orden der Preussischen Krone). Established by William I 18.10.1861.

Royal Order of the House of Hohenzollern (...). Founded by Frederick William IV 23.8.1851.

Order of the Iron Cross (Orden der Eiseren Kreuz). Established by Frederick William III 10.3.1813. 2 classes and 1 Grand Cross, accorded to 19 individuals (the last to Goering). Reorganized and modified by William I 19.7.1870, Hitler added the Knight's Cross (Ritter Kreuz) in 1939.

Princely Order of the House of Hohenzollern (...). Founded by Prince Frederick William Constantine of Hohenzoller-Heichingen and Prince Anthony Frederick of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 5.12.1841. It was confered by the Princes of the said houses with the approval of the King.

Order of the Swan (...). Established by the Elector Frederick II in 1440 and renewed by Frederick William IV 24.12.1843.

Order of Louise (Luisen Orden). Established by Frederick William III 3.8.1814 and named for the Queen. Reserved for ladies. Renewed by Frederick William IV in 1848 and 1849, and once again by William I in 1865.

Cross of Merit (...). Established by William I 22.5.1877.

ANHALT

Order of Albert the Bear (Orden Albrechts des Bären). Established by the Dukes Henry of Anhalt-Koethen, Leopold Frederick of Dessau, Alexander Charles of Bernburg 18.11.1836.

BADEN

Order of Fidelity (Orden der Treue). Established by the Margrave Charles William of Baden-Durlach 17.6.1715.

Order of Military Merit of Charles Frederick (Karl Friedrichs Militär-Verdienst-Orden). Established by the Grand Duke Charles Frederick 4.4.1807.

Order of the Lion of Zähringen (Orden der Löwen von Zähringen). Established by the Grand Duke Charles Louis Frederick 26.12.1812.

Order of Berthold of Zähringen (Orden Bertholds I von Zähringen). Established by the Grand Duke Frederick 24.4.1877 as a superior class of the Order of the Lion of Zähringen.

BAVARIA

Order of Saint Hubert (Sankt Hubertus Orden). Established by Gerard V Duke of Juliers and Berg 1444.

Order of Saint George (Sankt Georgs-Orden). Established by the Elector Charles Albert 28.3.1729.

Military Order of Maximilian Joseph (Maximilian Josephs Militär-Orden). Established by King Maximilian I Joseph 1.1.1806.

Order of the Crown of Bavaria (Orden der Bayerischen Krone). Established by King Maximilian I Joseph 19.5.1808.

Equestrian and Military Order of Saint Michael (Sankt Michaels-Orden). Established by Joseph Clement Elector of Cologne and Duke of Bavaria 29.9.1693. King Louis I granted new statutes 16.2.1837.

Order of Maximilian (for arts and sciences) (Maximilians Orden). Established by King Maximilian II 28.11.1853.

Royal Order of Louis (Königliche Ludwigs Orden). Established by King Louis I 25.8.1857.

Royal Order of Military Merit (Königliche Militär-Verdienst-Orden). Established by King Louis II 19.7.1866.

Order of Saint Elizabeth (Sankt Elisabethen-Orden). Established by the Electress Elizabeth Augustine 18.10.1766. [For women]

Order of Theresa (Theresien-Orden). Established by Queen Theresa 12.12.1827. Reserved for women.

Order of Saint Anne of the Convent for Ladies at Munich (...). Established by the Electress Anne Marie Sophie 6.12.1784 and the Elector Maximilian Joseph 18.2.1802.

Order of Saint Anne of the Convent for Ladies at Wurzburg (...). Established by the Elector Maximilian Joseph 12.7.1803.

BRUNSWICK

Order of Henry the Lion (Orden Heinrichs des Löwen). Established by Duke William 25.4.1834.

FRANKFURT

Order of Harmony (...). Established by the Grand Duke Charles Theodore 1813. 3 classes.

HANOVER

Order of Saint George (Sankt Georgs-Orden). Established by King Ernest Augustus I 23.4.1839.

Guelphic Order (...). Established by George Prince Regent of England 12.8.1815 and King Ernest Augustus I 20.5.1841.

Order of Ernest Augustus (Ernst Augustus Orden). Established by King George V 15.12.1865 as a civil and military recompense.

HESSE (Grand Ducal)

Order of Ludwig (Ludwigs Orden). Established by the Grand Duke Louis I 25.8.1807.

Order of Phillip the Magnanimous (Philipps Orden). Established by the Grand Duke Louis II 1.5.1840.

Order of the Golden Lion (Orden vom Goldenen-Löwen). Established by

HESSE (Electoral)

Order of the Elector William (Kürfürst Wilhelms Orden). Established by the Elector William II 20.8.1851.

Order of Military Merit (Militär-Verdienst-Orden). Established by the Landgrave Frederick II 25.2.1769.

Order of the Iron Helm (...). Established by the Elector William I 18.3.1814.

HOHENLOHE

Order of the Golden Flame (Orden vom Goldenen-...).

Order of Phoenix (...).

HOLSTEIN-GOTTORP

Order of Saint Anne (Sankt Annen-Orden). Established by Duke Charles Frederick 1735 and named for his wife the Grand Duchess Anne Petrovna of Russia, daughter of Peter the Great. Became a Russian order when Charles Peter Ulrich (Peter III) of Holstein-Gottorp ascended the Russian throne.

LIPPE & SCHAMBURG-LIPPE

Cross of Honour of Lippe (...). Founded by Prince Leopold of Lippe and Prince Adolph of Schaumburg-Lippe 25.10.1869.

Order of the Rose of Lippe (...). Established by Prince ..... 1898.

Order of Leopold (Leopolds Orden). Establishe by Prince ..... 1906.

Order of Bertha (Berthen Orden). Established by Prince ..... 1910.

MECKLEMBURG-SCHWERIN & -STRELITZ

Order of the Wendish Crown (Orden der Wendischen Krone). Established by the Grand Duke Frederick Francis II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the Grand Duke Fredierck William of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 12.5.1864.

Order of the Griffin (...). Established by .....

OLDENBURG

Order of Merit of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig (...). Established by the Grand Duke Paul Frederick Augustus 27.11.1858.

REUSS

Cross of Honour (...). Established by Prince Henry LXVII 20.10.1857 for employees of the state, etc.

Cross of Honour (...). Established by Prince Henry XIV 24.5.1869.

SALZBURG

Order of Saint Rupert (Sankt Rupprechts-Orden). Established by John Ernest, Reigning Archbishop of Salzburg.

SAXONY

Order of the Rue Crown (Orden der Rautenkrone). Established by King Frederick Augustus I 29.7.1807.

Military Order of Saint Henry (Sankt Heinrichs-Milit&aoumr-Orden). Established by the Elector Frederick Augustus II 7.10.1736. New statutes 23.12.1829 and supplements 9.12.1870.

Order of Merit (Verdienst-Orden). Established by King Frederick Augustus I 7.7.1815. Military decoration founded 1866. Statutes supplemented 9.12.1870.

Order of Albert the Valorous (Albrechts Orden). Established by King Frederick Augustus II 31.12.1850. Military decoration founded 1866. Statutes supplemented 9.12.1870.

Order of Sidonia (Sidonien-Orden). Established by King John 14.3.1871.

Order of Maria Anna (Maria Annen-Orden). Established by King Frederick Augustus III in 1906 in memory of his mother. 3 classes. [For women]

SAXE-WEIMAR

Order of Vigilence or of the White Falcon (...). Established by Duke Ernest Augustus 2.8.1732 and renewed by the Grand Duke Charles Augustus 1815.

SAXON DUCHIES

Ernestine Order (Sachsen-Ernestinischer Haus-Orden). Established by Frederick I of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 1690 under the name of the Order of German Probity. Renewed by Dukes Frederick of Altenburg, Ernest I of Coburg-Gotha, Bernard of Meiningen 25.12.1833.

SCHWARZBURG-RUDOLSTADT & -SONDERSHAUSEN

Cross of Honour of Schwarzburg (...). Founded by Prince Frederick Gunther 20.5.1853 for the principality of Sch.-Rudolstadt, and changed by a convention made with Prince Gunther Frederick Charls of Sch.-Sondershausen 28.6.1857 to a cross of honour for both principalities.

WALDECK

Order of Merit (Verdienst-Orden). Established by Prince George Victor 3.7.1857.

Order of Military Merit (Militär-Verdienst-Orden). Established by Prince George Victor 14.1.1854.

WURTEMBERG

Order of the Crown of Wurtemberg (Orden der Wurttembergische Krone). Established by King William I 23.9.1818 and modified by King Charles I 22.12.1864.

Order of Military Merit (Militär-Verdienst-Orden). Established by Duke Charles Eugene 11.2.1759.

Order of Freiedrich (Friedrichs Orden). Established by King William I 1.1.1830.

Order of Olga (Olgen Orden). Established by King Charles I 27.6.1871. [For women]

WEB SITES

LDO Markings and Silver Content Numbers

 The LDO (Leistungs Gemeinschaft der Deutscher Ordenshersteller) was founded in 1941 as a of self regulating association that governed the private firms involved in the manufacture of state and military awards, orders and decorations.

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