The Military Honor Medal (or Militär-Ehrenzeichen in German) is a two-class military decoration awarded by the Kingdom of Prussia to military personnel from the rank of sergeant and below. The Military Honor Medal could also be awarded to foreign troops, an example being 52 awards to Russian soldiers for service in China in 1902.
The Military Honor Medal was typically awarded during wars when the Iron Cross was not. These conflicts included the wars of German Unification such as the Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, the Second Schleswig War in 1864, and the Austro-Prussian War in 1866.
In 1864, King Wilhelm I reauthorized the Military Honor Medal for award with a redesign of the 1st class cross and a 2nd class medal. This new authorization also changed the criteria of the medal, meaning it was no longer necessary to be awarded the 2nd class medal before the 1st class cross.
The Military Honor Medal Design
The 1814 version shares the same design as the Honor Decoration, the only difference between the awards at that time was the color of ribbon suspending the cross.
The 1st class medal is struck in silver and measures 36 mm. The design is a cross pattée with a center medallion. The obverse of the medallion bore the inscription VERDIENST UM DEN STAAT (Merit for the State) in three lines, while the reverse bore the crowned cypher of Friedrich Wilhelm III. The 2nd class is a 39 mm circular silver medal also bearing the inscription VERDIENST UM DEN STAAT on its obverse, surrounded by a laurel wreath, with the reverse depicting a large crowned cypher of Friedrich Wilhelm III.
In 1830, the General Honor Decoration, 1st class, became the Fourth Class of the Order of the Red Eagle, with the medallion in the center of the cross being replaced by an enamelled insignia of the Order of the Red Eagle.
The 1st class cross from 1864 is still in the form of a silver cross pattée, but the obverse now bore the inscription KRIEGS VERDIENST (War Merit) above a spray of laurel leaves. The reverse bore the crowned cypher of King Wilhelm. The 2nd class medal was still in the form of a circular medal but also gained the updated obverse inscription KRIEGS VERDIENST, with its obverse bearing the crowned cypher of King Wilhelm.
