1912-1913 Commemoration Cross

1912-1913 Commemoration Cross?

Introduction: This medal, the 1912-1913 Commemoration Cross (1912-1913 Erinnerungskreuz) was issued to all military personnel of the army and navy and selected other officials and service members who were on active duty during the Balkan Crisis of 1912-1913 and who served a minimum of four weeks of active service in the area in which military operations were occurring including those deployed to the area after the fall of Skutari.
Date Issued: June 9, 1913

Reason Issued: To honor all military personnel of the army and navy and selected other officials and service members who were on active duty during the Balkan Crisis of 1912-1913 and who served a minimum of four weeks of active service in the area in which military operations were occurring including those deployed to the area after the fall of Skutari.

Classes or Types: One

Interesting Facts:

· Commonly called the Mobilisierungskreuz (Mobilization Cross)

· Eligible for the award were all military personnel of the Imperial and Royal Army, Imperial and Royal Navy, Landwehr, Gendarmerie, the military finance accountants, the Imperial and Royal Border Police and National Forestry Personnel, volunteer medical personnel and certain Royal and Imperial military attaches, as well as those officers who had officially participated in the Balkan War, provided that these groups of persons had at least four weeks of active service in the mobilized units at the time under consideration.

Hallmarks: An example exists with the mark of Joseph Cristelbauer (This is probably a privately manufactured cross)

Design: A clawed cross (Leopold cross) with an ornamental eye

Figure 2: 1912-1913 Commemoration Cross, obverse.

Obverse: A clawed cross with raised edges and a convex 11-17 mm round center medallion. On the center medallion are raised numerals in two lines: 1912/1913. The medallion also has a double ring design around its edge.

Figure 3: 1912-1913 Commemoration Cross., reverse

Reverse: The reverse is plain

Weight: 10.5-13 grams

Size: 35 mm in diameter with arms that are 2.5 mm wide and a center medallion that is 4.5 mm thick

Type of Material:

· Bronze (Tomback)

· Brass with a gilt wash

· Zinc

Variations:

· Type I Cross: As described above.

Figure 4: Type II 1912-1913 Commemoration Cross, obverse.

· Type II Cross: As described above with a light bronze alloy with a satin gold wash. The arms of the cross within the raised rim are flat. The center medallion is round and slightly convex with a diameter of 11 mm. The center medallion is surrounded by a .5 mm indentation the same depth as the surface of the arms. On the center medallion is an engraved date in two lines, one above the other, 1912 over 1913. The reverse is plain. The cross is suspended from a flat ornamental eye with a figure eight ring passing through it to connect the ribbon.

· Type III Cross: As described above in bronze alloy with gilt wash.

Figure 5: Type IV 1912-1913 Commemoration Cross, obverse.

· Type IV Cross: As Type III except the arms of the cross within the raised rim are flat with fine pebbling. The center medallion is round, slightly convex, and finely pebbled with a diameter of 11 mm. On the center medallion are two raised dates one above the other, 1912 over 1913. The suspension ring has three raised lines running its length.

· Type V Cross: As type II except in zinc alloy.

Figure 6: Type VI 1912-1913 Commemoration Cross, obverse.

. Type VI Cross: As Type I except the arms, which are slightly concave, are finely pebbled and become wider toward the ends. On the center medallion is an impressed date in two lines, one above the other, 1912 over 1913. The cross is suspended from a round eye with a large round suspension ring passing through it to connect the ribbon.

Figure 7: Type VII 1912-1913 Commemoration Cross, obverse.

· Type VII Cross: As Type I except it is enameled white in the obverse and reverse

· Type I Reverse: As described above

Figure 8: Type II 1912-1913 Commemoration Cross, reverse.,

. Type II Reverse: As described above but with an engraved dedication

Designer: Unknown

Manufacturer: The Vienna Hauptmunzamt (Mint)

Number Issued: Unknown

Case: Unknown

Figure 9: 1912-1913 Commemoration Cross ribbon.,

Ribbon: A 40 mm wide tri-fold imperial golden-yellow ribbon with two 2.5-3 mm black edge stripes that are 2.5-3 mm apart and 2.5-3 mm from the edge of the ribbon

· A small rectangular ribbon for this medal was introduced on October 27, 1917.

Attachments: None