Original German WWII Boxed Miniature Bronze Mother’s Cross 3rd Class by Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid – Dated 12/42 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Set Available. This is a wonderful set of a miniature example of The Cross of Honor of the German Mother or Mutterkreuz (Mother’s Cross). These were often presented with the full size version and were intended to be worn on everyday occasions. The set consists of a miniature Mother’s Cross in Bronze (3rd class, eligible mothers with 4 or 5 children).

The reverse of the medal reads 16 December 1938, which is the date that the award was first established, along with AH’s Signature. Both come with their miniature ribbons and horizontal pin attachments. The back is also LDO marked at the bottom with L/16 which is the maker code for Steinhauer & Lück of Lüdenscheid, who is still in business making medals to this day. The Steinhauer & Lück company was founded in 1889 by August Steinhauer and Gustaf Adolf Lück as a “club badge factory” and has also been producing state medals and decorations such as the Iron Cross since it was founded. The company has been the official supplier to the Office of the Federal President since 1951 and is currently the only manufacturer of Federal Crosses of Merit.

Steinhauer & Lück manufactured numerous medals for state awards in Germany and abroad as well as for sports associations such as the German Olympic Sports Confederation, the German Equestrian Federation and various other associations and clubs. In addition, advertising materials for shooters, hunters, carnival, athletes and companies are also produced.

The box that the award comes in measures 1 ⅞” squared and is in lovely condition. The box even contains the original LDO paper inside! The paper reads as follows:

Die ie Herstellung von Orden
und Ehrenzeichen unterliegt der
Kontrolle der Präsidialkanzlei.
Der Hersteller ist verpflichtet,
mangelhaft gelieferte Stücke
gegen einwandfreien Ersatz
umzutauschen.

The following is the literal translation:

The manufacture of medals
and badge of honor is subject to
Control of the Presidential Office.
The manufacturer is obliged
defective pieces delivered
against perfect replacement
to exchange

The reverse side of the paper even has the manufacture date present! This cross was made in December of 1942.

A very interesting set of a German miniature medal from WWII, ready to display!

The Cross of Honour of the German Mother, referred to colloquially as the Mutterehrenkreuz (Mother’s Cross of Honor) or simply Mutterkreuz (Mother’s Cross), was a state decoration conferred by the government of the German Reich to honor a Reichsdeutsche German mother for exceptional merit to the German nation. Eligibility later extended to include Volksdeutsche (ethnic German) mothers from, for example, Austria and Sudetenland, that had earlier been incorporated into the German Reich.

The decoration was conferred from 1939 until 1945 in three classes: bronze, silver, and gold, to Reichsdeutsche mothers who exhibited probity, exemplary motherhood, and who conceived and raised at least four or more children in the role of a parent. A similar practice, that continues to this present day, was already established in France since 1920, by conferring the Médaille de la Famille française (Medal of the French Family), a tribute to the French mother who raised several children in an appropriate way.

In recognition of the substantial importance a woman’s role and motherhood was in support of a strong Germany, the Cross of Honor of the German Mother was introduced by decree in Berlin on 16 December 1938 by Führer und Reichskanzler (leader and chancellor) AH. The preamble of the statutory decree declared:

As a visible sign of gratitude of the German nation to children-rich mothers I establish this Cross of Honor of the German Mother

The crosses were awarded annually on the second Sunday in May (Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day), but also extended to include other national annual occasions of celebration. So despite its institution in 1938, the first awards were rendered in May 1939.

The Mother’s Cross was composed of three classes, and conferred to mothers in accordance with its statutory legislation: Verordnung des Führers und Reichskanzlers über die Stiftung des Ehrenkreuzes der Deutschen Mutter vom 16. Dezember 1938. Reichsgesetzblatt (RGBI) Teil I, 1938, Nr. 224, Seite 1923 (In English: Statutory Order of the Leader and Chancellor on the establishment of the Cross of Honor of the German Mother of 16 December 1938. Imperial-(Reichs) Law Gazette (RGBl) Part I, 1938, No. 224, Page 1923), and its stringent nomination screening protocol.

Classes
-1st class, Gold Cross: eligible mothers with eight or more children
-2nd class, Silver Cross: eligible mothers with six or seven children
-3rd class, Bronze Cross: eligible mothers with four or five children