Preussen Erinnerungskreuz 1866 der Main-Armee

In a very good condition a commemorative cross for the Austro-Prussia war of 1866

The commemorative crosses for 1866 were donated by King Wilhelm I on September 20, 1866. It should be an outward proof of recognition for the glorious campaign. The crosses were awarded to officers, NCOs, soldiers and civil servants who took part in the campaign or who had crossed the border to a country at war with Prussia for military purposes before August 2nd of that year. The crosses were made in 4 different versions with the same front and different designs on the back. In order to better differentiate between the battles, the crosses were often worn “illegally” with the back on the medal buckle by the entrusted. The award included a certificate of ownership that was signed by the respective commanding officer of the army or regiment. The documents for the generals and regimental commanders were signed by the king himself. The crosses were not required to be returned, but should be kept in the responsible parish in the event of the death of the entrusted. The commemorative cross for the Main Army was awarded to units that took part in the fighting in Thuringia and southern Germany. The stamps of the various crosses come from F.W. Kullrich and E. Weigand. The number of awards for all combatant crosses is around 144,000. The crosses for non-fighters are not included. The crosses awarded usually have a thicker, grooved eyelet. Later crosses and braces made a common wire eyelet.

Bronze cross of captured guns. Front and back with large, round, co-embossed center shield. A laurel wreath all around between the arms of the cross. On the upper cross arm there is a soldered eyelet (smooth or grooved) with a band ring.

Front:

round center shield with ornate - WR -
round inscription - PRUSSIA - VICTORY - ARMY -
upper cross arm the royal crown
left + right cross arm - GOD - WAS - WITH - US - HIM - BE -
lower cross arm - THE - HONOR -
Back:

round center shield with a seated Prussian eagle on a lying cannon barrel
upper cross arm -DER -
left cross arm - MAIN -
right cross arm - ARMY -
lower cross arm - 1866 -
Tape:

32 mm wide, black edges, side stripes yellow / white each 4 mm separated by a narrow black stripe, central stripe black 16 mm.

Code: 50499