- Hanseatic Cross
Infobox Military Award
name=Hanseatic Cross ("Hanseatenkreuz")
caption=Hanseatic Cross fromBremen
awarded_by=Bremen ,Hamburg andLübeck
type=Decoration
eligibility=Military and civilians who aided the war effort
for=War merit
campaign=World War I
status=Obsolete
description=Red-enameledcross pattée bearing the arms of the relevant city-state on the center medallion.
established=August/September 1915
total=Approx. 80,000
higher=None
lower=None
caption2=Reverse of the Bremen Hanseatic CrossThe Hanseatic Cross ("Hanseatenkreuz") was a decoration of the three Hanseatic Cities of
Bremen ,Hamburg andLübeck , who were member states of theGerman Empire duringWorld War I . Each city-state established its own version of the cross, but the design and award criteria were similar for each.Establishment and criteria
The Hanseatic Cross was jointly instituted by agreement of the senates of the three cities, with each senate ratifying the award on different days. The Lübeck version was established first, on August 21, 1915. The Hamburg version followed on September 10 and the Bremen version on September 14. The cross was awarded for merit in war, and could be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel. When awarded for bravery or combat merit, it was the three cities' equivalent of the Prussian
Iron Cross .The Bremen Hanseatic Cross was awarded approximately 20,000 times. There were approximately 50,000 awards of the Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg, the largest Hanseatic city. Lübeck was the smallest of the Hanseatic cities, and its Hanseatic Cross was awarded approximately 8,000 to 10,000 times. The roll for the Lübeck Hanseatic Cross have been transcribed by an international team of phaleristic researchers from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The complete roll will be available by fall 2008/spring 2009.
Description
The Hanseatic Cross came in only one class, a cross worn from a ribbon on the left chest. The cross was a red-enameled silver
cross pattée which bore the arms of the relevant city-state on the center medallion. The reverse was identical for all three versions and the center medallion bore the phrase "Für Verdienst im Kriege" ("for merit in war") and the date "1914".Notable recipients
Bremen
Hamburg
Lübeck
*Felix Graf von Bothmer , General of Infantry
*Karl von Bülow ,General Field Marshal duringWorld War I References
*Dr. Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann, "Pour le Mérite und Tapferkeitsmedaille" (1966).
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
