The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Oldenburg Frederich August Cross, Second Class. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: A blackened cross pattée with a laurel wreath between the arms and 'FA' in the centre within a circle. The cross has a crown on the upper arm and '1914' on the lower arm. Reverse: Same as the obverse but plain, without inscriptions. The cross is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 30 mm royal blue ribbon which has a 5 mm red stripe near each edge.
The Friedrich August Cross was Oldenburg's equivalent of the Prussian Iron Cross. It was founded on 24 September 1914. Like the Iron Cross, it came in two classes - a pin back 1st Class and a 2nd Class worn from a ribbon. The ribbon was the same as that of the Oldenburg House and Merit Order - blue with a red stripe near each edge. For non-combatant awards the colours were reversed. On 20 September 1918, the Grand Duke authorised an additional honour, a clasp with the words 'Vor dem Feinde' (before the enemy) to be worn on the ribbon for the 2nd Class Cross. Approximately 62,800 awards of the 2nd Class were made. It is not known how many awards of the 'Vor dem Feinde' clasp were made, or what the criteria was for its award. This medal forms part of a collection assembled by the Memorial in the 1920s for display.
Oldenburg Frederich August Cross, First Class. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: A convex blackened cross pattée with a laurel wreath between the arms and 'FA' in the centre within a circle. There is a crow
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Military Merit Cross, Second Class. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: A cross pattée with a raised serrated edge line. 'FF' in the centre, a crown on the top arm and '1914' on the lower
Prussian Iron Cross, Second Class (1914). A cross patee made of of a blackened iron with a two piece silver beaded edge. Obverse: The Prussian crown over 'W' in the centre and 1914 below. Reverse: The
Iron Cross Second Class. A cross patee with a blackened iron centre with a two piece silver beaded edge. Obverse: A swastika in the centre and '1939' below. Reverse: Plain with '1813' on the lower arm
Brunswick War Merit Cross, Second Class. Unnamed as issued. A dark bronze cross pattee with the highlights polished. Obverse: In the centre 'EA' with two oak leaves on the left and right arms. A crown
Iron Cross Second Class, 1939, with original ribbon. Unnamed as issued. The Iron Cross (in First, Second and Grand Cross Classes) was first introduced by Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in 1
