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Within
the Prussian Award System a golden Oak Leaf existed,
used for two very different reasons. The oak leaf was
awarded with and to the Red Eagle Order in its 2nd, 1st
and Grand Cross class as well as to the Order of the
Pour le Mérite.
Within
the Red Eagle Order it only indicated that the bearer
was promoted to a higher grade within the order (e.g.
from 3rd class to 2nd class with oak leaf). On the
contrary for the Pour le Mérite; the oak leaf indicated
that the bearer won an actual battle, something rather
significant.
Despite
the different relevance of the oak leaf the oak leaf
itself was made identical for the Red Eagle and the Pour
le Mérite.
Here
a few examples of those oak leafs worn on the crosses of
the Red Eagle Order or the
Pour le Mérite from different times for the interested
collector to compare. You may click on the image to super size
it in a new window:
The
following oak leafs are from 1st class stars. The silver
gilt one is identical to the oak leaf of a cross, the
others were specially made for the stars.
Oak leafs
for 2nd class stars are made in reduced size to fit the
smaller design of the stars.
| timeframe |
avers |
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1914-1916
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To wear
the Oak Leaf only boutonnières were available:
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around 1870
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You may
send me via Email further oak leaf variations to keep
the list growing. (*.jpg at 550x550 pixel)
©
Andreas M. Schulze Ising V/2008
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