Cross of Merit for Women and Girls

Cross of Merit for Women and Girls Ehrenkreuz für Frauen und Jungfrauen
Awarded by King of Prussia
Country	Prussia
Eligibility	Prussian women and girls
Awarded for	self-sacrificing work for the good of the fighting troops and their families
Campaign	Franco-Prussian War
Statistics
Total awarded	2979
Related	Iron Cross

The Cross of Merit for Women and Girls (Ehrenkreuz für Frauen und Jungfrauen) was created on 22 March 1871 by Kaiser Wilhelm I, German Emperor, in his capacity as King of Prussia. The award was presented only to women, but was not a Ladies Order in the most narrow sense. Women and girls were awarded at the request of Empress Augusta, and the award was bestowed by the Kaiser.

Description of the award

The appearance and shape is very similar to the Iron Cross, but on the obverse at the junction of the arms is an emblem of the Red cross. On the reverse there is the royal crown above the intertwined monograms "A" and "W" and the date of 1870–1871. The cross was worn from suspended by a bow on the left chest. The ribbon is the same as that of the Iron Cross for non-combattants, white with black stripes at the edge.

References

• Maximilian Gritzner: Handbuch der Ritter- und Verdienstorden aller Kulturstaaten der Welt. Weber, Leipzig 1893 (Nachdruck: Reprint-Verlag Leipzig, Holzminden 2000, ISBN 3-8262-0705-X).

Orders, decorations and medals of Prussia
Orders	Order of the Black Eagle Order of the Red Eagle House Order of Hohenzollern Order of the Crown Johanniter Order Order of Louise Pour le Mérite Wilhelm-Orden Order of Merit of the Prussian Crown
Military decorations	Iron Cross Kulm Cross Military Merit Cross Military Honor Medal Merit Cross for War Aid Warrior Merit Medal
Civil decorations	Lifesaving Medal General Honor Decoration Merit Cross Jerusalem Cross Cross of the Mount of Olives Red Cross Medal Ladies Merit Cross Cross of Merit for Women and Girls