Cross of Honor of the German Mother, 3rd Class Order, Bronze Cross

Identifier
irn607882
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2013.42.2 a-c
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

a: Height: 1.750 inches (4.445 cm) | Width: 1.375 inches (3.493 cm) | Depth: 0.125 inches (0.318 cm)

b: Height: 14.500 inches (36.83 cm) | Width: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm)

c: Height: 4.375 inches (11.113 cm) | Width: 1.875 inches (4.763 cm) | Depth: 0.750 inches (1.905 cm)

Creator(s)

Archival History

The medal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Phillip Sloan and Katherine Tillman, the son-in-law and daughter of John V. Tillman.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Phillip Sloan and Katherine Tillman

Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Scope and Content

Ehrenkreuz der deutschen Mutter [Cross of Honor of the German Mother] was a civilian award instituted following a December 16, 1938, decree by Adolph Hitler to encourage German women to bear more children. Recipient were nominated by the Nazi Party or a government official and had to be of pure German origin and good character. The medal was issued from 1939-1944 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. Known as the Mutterkreuz (Mother's Cross), approximately three million medals were presented to German women.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

a. Cross pattee styled, bronze colored metal medal with an elongated lower arm. The arms are blue enamel with a white enamel border, edged in bronze colored metal. Over the intersection is a circular medallion with a band with raised German text. In the center is a black enamel swastika, outlined in gold, on a white enameled field. A 5 rayed sunburst fills the space between the cross arms. German text is engraved on the smooth, flat back. A ribbon (b.) is inserted through the keystone shaped bail on the top point. b. Grosgrain ribbon neckband with 5 vertical stripes: narrow white, narrow blue, narrow white, wide blue, narrow white, narrow blue, narrow white. It is looped throught the bail of a medal (a.) c. Narrow, rectangular, fiberboard presentation box with a metal hinged lid, covered with black, vinyl like plastic resembling leather. There is a push button release and catch on the front base interior and exterior. The lid interior is padded and covered with pale yellow satin. The base interior has an inset white cardboard box covered with pale yellow velvet. In the center is an upright cardboard panel with a central notch to secure the medal (a.)

Corporate Bodies

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.