Bidspirit auction | Crosses Set.

Crosses Set. - Crosses set. 1.) Twenty-Five Year Faithful Service Decoration (Treudienst Ehrenzeichen). On January 30th, 1938, Hitler instituted the Faithful Service Decoration, in three classes, to recognize long-serving civil servants and public works personnel. The decorations were intended to be an incentive for the civilian population to foster workplace loyalty and create a stable civil service. The three classes of the decoration consisted of the special class for fifty years of continuous service with the same employer in the free economic system, the first class decoration for forty years of service, and the second class for twenty-five years service. All three classes followed the same basic design, with minor variations A second class, die struck alloy decoration with nickel-silver plated highlights, a frosted white finish and a black enamel swastika. The decoration is in the form of a cross Pattée with a circular oak-leaf wreath extending between the arms of the cross. The center of the cross has a square plate with a black enameled static swastika to the obverse, and the embossed Gothic script to the reverse, ” Für treue Dienste ” (For Loyal Service). The arms of the cross have a slightly textured background field with a smooth, dual stepped, raised outer edge. Complete with original ribbon with pin-back device. 2.) Mother's Cross in Bronze (Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter in Bronze) The Mother’s Cross was introduced by Adolf Hitler on December 16th 1938 as part of a large propaganda campaign aimed at increasing the birth rate. The award was officially designated, Honor Cross of the German Mother, and was instituted in three grades to recognize and reward child bearing German females. The three grades consisted of the bronze cross for bearing four or five children, the silver cross for bearing six or seven children and the gold cross for bearing eight or more children. Criteria for the award included that the parents be of pure German blood, and that the mother was worthy of such an honor. On its introduction the cross had the impressed inscription to reverse, ”Das kind adelt die Mutter”, (The child ennobles the mother), but this was inexplicably changed sometime in 1939. Bestowal of the cross was accompanied by an award certificate, a cash incentive for each child born and a miniature cross for everyday wear, with the actual cross being reserved for formal or ceremonial occasions. Members of all youth organizations were required to salute wearers of the Mother’s Cross. Second pattern, two piece, stamped tombac award with a bronze wash and blue and white enamel work. Award in the form of a Christian cross with outward fluted arms in semi-translucent blue enamel with white enamel border. Cross has a raised sunburst pattern emanating between its arms. Separate central circular field with white enamel base and black static swastika, encompassed by a circular border with embossed Latin script, ” Der Deutschen Mutter ”, (The German Mother). Reverse has impressed simulated handwritten script, ” 16 Dezember 1938 ”, and facsimile Hitler signature. Nice long section of original ribbon is also included.