DRK Enamal Cross with gold oak leaf

[AZartman]

Can anyone help me ID this piece? Much appreciated.

Alex

[AZartman]

more details

[AZartman]

Does anyone have any further information on this item or point me to where I can learn more about it. Thank you.

[stark44]

I'm not too keen on DRK items, but it looks alot like a "Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes" - Medal of the German Red Cross - but possibly post war as it's missing the swas?



Complete guess on my part. Just trying to help with a lead..

[germanpolice]

The medal is pre 1935, which makes it a TR item

[AZartman]

Finally found this medal, Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuz - Ausgabe 1934-1937 - Ehrenzeichen 1. Klasse

[luftkreig]

Originally Posted by AZartman

Finally found this medal, Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuz - Ausgabe 1934-1937 - Ehrenzeichen 1. Klasse

But it should not have the oakleaf cluster.

What are the measurements of this cross? It could be for a medal bar.

[AZartman]

I have not been able to find much information on these. it seems the versions with swastika in the wreath is more common, and that version does have an oak leaf, however the style of oak leaf is closer in style to the ones for knight cross oak leaf.

[luftkreig]

And the measurements of the cross?

[AZartman]

2 inches and 1/8 by 2 inches and 1/8

[germanpolice]

You need to look in the early books of Angolia on medals, or the DRK book also by the same author page 322. the medal you are looking for is the form 2 1934 to 1937. There was also a neck order and a star brest badge. form 3 is the same badge with the added swasticka.

[AZartman]

GermanPolice

Thanks for the tip. I just did a search on Bookfinder for such a book on DRK, but did not see of the many titles listed one that specifically mentioned DRK in the title. Do you have the exact name of the book to look for?
Thanks

[Kryptos]

This type of DRK award was instituted on 30 January 1934. And there is evidence of both types with and without the oak leaves on the suspension device. There is a theory that this could have been done to fill the need to increase the scope of the award. The award was made to Germans and non Germans who made significant contributions to the DRK. However they were not authorised for wear on military uniforms. But during the later years of these awards they were given to some people who had little to do with the Red Cross and almost fulfilled the function that the Eagle Order would do later when it got instituted. At that stage these awards also got altered to the ones with the swastika as shown in the image above.

[AZartman]

Thank you Kryptos for such an interesting side bar on this item.

[Kryptos]

My pleasure. This group of items represent some of the most beautiful designs for me. One just need to be extra careful with the pre '37 issues, as the '57 medals again took the same form.