WW1WW2 German Medals

The Imperial Navy jacket extension chain with two WW1 buttons are marked 'Rochfeine Qualitat'
Worn with Imperial Navy Short Parade jacket 'Affenjacke'

This award is of the silver, baroque loop variation that was issued between 1916-1918. This is the only 2 years that this style of Pour le Merite was awarded. It is 52mm across and 2mm in thickness with Baroque style suspension in the Wagner tradition. Apparently worn under another medal gauging from the wear on the front of this award.
Some recipients went to an approved jeweler and had a gold award made for them but the issued award was made of silver.

The Pour le Merite was awarded to approximately 687 individuals during WW1 of the 5,319 awards made during its inception in 1740

The eagles legs are narrow, delicate pieces extending to small foot pads on the arms of the cross. The highest quality badges have very detailed, delicate eagles with cutout tail feathers. Although not marked, this piece appears to be a fine example because of the obvious quality mentioned is all present here and the medal is enameled in a lighter shade of blue which is also characteristic of all finer pieces. Note that the ribbon worn is without center stripe. Following November,1916, Pour le Merite's were made of silver due to the prohibition on using gold. There is considerable controversy regarding the connected u-r in Pour however, there are known war issued examples with the u-r being connected. The Pour le Merite was no longer issued after the abdication of the Kaiser. For the most part, jeweler made copies were worn well into the second world war which was a requirement while in uniform with the original usually being kept in a safe place so as not to damage it or lose it . This PLM Comes with a case with a shortened piece of original ribbon ( 7.5") that has silver threads intertwined. As with some of the later issued awards this one has no specific hallmark.

The limited use of the Imperial Navy in WW1 is the reason why only 49 Pour le Merite awards were issued; five of which were awarded with the oak leaves. Of the 44 PLM's issued w/o the Oak Leaves, 11 awards were issued prior to the Nov.1916 conversion from gold to silver with apparently 33 PLM's issued from Nov. 1916 thru Nov,1918. The last two awards being issued on Aug 18, 1918 to KaptLt. Wilhelm Werner of U55 and KaptLt. Paul Hindius of UB 103.

62mm
.800 mark top of back arm

.800 marked on loop hanger
(highest ranking Iron Cross)
issued to only 5 General officers

Kaiser Wilhelm II, Generalfieldmarschall von Hindenburg, General Ludendorf, Generalfieldmarschall Leopold of Bavaria and Generalfieldmarschall von Mackensen
the medal is made of .800 silver as marked and tested
the core is silver and not iron possible field wear
.800 mark top of back arm
unlike the Iron Cross 1st & 2nd Class this Grand Cross was awarded not for bravery but for the
"most outstanding strategic decisions affecting the course of the war".
marked .800

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Präsidialkanzlei des Führers Lieferant (Führer Chancellery Supplier) number 20 CF Zimmerman, Pforzheim

mkd .800 20
(CF Zimmerman)

Knights Crosses with stamped numbers without a letter prefix, i.e. “21,” are known as “Präsidialkanzlei”, marks. Sometimes, the same manufacturer used both designations , a number or a Letter and number according to the regulations for producing officially awarded and privately purchased decorations. C.F. Zimmermann produced awards for the government with the number “20” and privately for individuals with the using the designation “L/52.”

In total, 7,313 awards of the Knight's Cross were made. Only 883 received the Oak Leaves

reverse of Knights Cross upper arm 800 20 (CF Zimmerman) Oak Leaves mkd 800, noticeably concave

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The clasp is comprised of three oak leaves with a pebbled matted finish and with finished edges and central ribs burnished. The reverse side was concave on the earlier clasps becoming flatter on the later issues. The silver content mark (.800 or .900) appears on the 9:00 'o' clock position with manufacturer designation appearing at the 3:00 'o' clock position. On the earlier awards, the central raised rib of the right lower leaf was very close to the right hand edge of the top central leaf. Whereas, in 1941 private contractors under govt. license produced a second version with the central rib of the right lower leaf more regularly curved and at a greater distance from the edge of the central leaf. On October 22, 1941, the govt. called in all private manufacturer's stock and it was forbidden to purchase from retail outlets. The oakleaves thereafter were issued by the government and only six firms were authorized to manufacture them; CE Junkers, Gerbuder Godet & Co.,CF Zimmerman,Quenzer & Klein, Ottoo Schikel & Stein and Steinhauer und Luck.These firms also provided the official copies for purchase by recipients.

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Naval Recipients of Pour le Merite (5 Nov 1916 - Nov 1918)