The Merit Cross for War Aid (german: Verdienstkreuz für Kriegshilfe) was a war decoration of Prussia awarded during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. Instituted 5 December 1916, the cross was awarded for patriotic war aid service, without regard to status or rank.
Appearance
The Merit Cross for War Aid is in the shape of a
Maltese cross
The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically.
It is a heraldic cross variant which developed f ...
, typically found made of blackened ''Kriegsmetall'' alloy. The obverse of the cross bears a circular central medallion with the crowned cipher of King
Wilhelm II
Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 18594 June 1941) was the last German Emperor (german: Kaiser) and King of Prussia, reigning from 15 June 1888 until his abdication on 9 November 1918. Despite strengthening the German Empir ...
. On the reverse the central medallion is inscribed ''FÜR KRIEGS-HILFSDIENST'' (For War Aid Merit) above an oak wreath. To the upper arm is attached a loop for suspension from its ribbon.
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References
{{Orders and decorations of the Kingdom of Prussia
Military awards and decorations of Prussia