Cross of Honor of the German Mother [Ehrenkreuz der deutschen Mutter] medal, 3rd Class Order, Bronze Cross
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 1.750 inches (4.445 cm) | Width: 1.375 inches (3.493 cm)
Archival History
The Mother's Cross medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2012 by Jean Oakes.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Jean Oakes
Scope and Content
Cross of Honor of the German Mother [Ehrenkreuz der deutschen Mutter] 3rd class order, Bronze Cross, an award instituted following a December 16, 1938, decree by Adolph Hitler to encourage German women to bear more children. It was awarded by the Nazi Party in Hitler's name, with his signature engraved on the back. A recipient could be nominated by the Party or a government official and had to be of pure German origin and good character. The medal was issued in three levels: first class, gold, for mothers with eight or more children; second class, silver, for six to seven children; third class, bronze for four to five children. The medals were awarded from 1939 to 1944 to more than three million German women.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Bronze, cross pattee styled medal with an elongated lower arm. The arms are blue enamel with a white enamel border, with each section edged in bronze. In the center is a black enamel swastika with a bronze border on a circular, white enamel mound surrounded by a bronze band with raised, German text. A bronze, 5 rayed sunburst fills the space between the cross arms. There is German text engraved on the reverse. A discolored ribbon, about 10 inches long, with a central wide blue stripe flanked by a set of narrow stripes: white, blue, white, is threaded through a rectangular loop on the top of the cross. The left end is knotted; the right is frayed.
Corporate Bodies
- Nazi Party
Subjects
- Women--Germany--History--20th century.
- National socialism and women--Medals.
- Family policy--Germany--History--20th century.
- Germany--Population policy--History.
- Mothers--Germany--History--20th century.
Genre
- Medals
- Awards
- Object