*German, WW2, The Cross of Honour of the German Mother (Mutterkreuz) – 2nd Class (Silver)*
A second class (six or seven children) Cross of Honour of the German Mother. Inscribed on the reverse: 16 Dezember 1938 with a copy of Hiltler’s Signature.
Design
The Cross of Honour of the German Mother featured a slender, elongated design similar to the Iron Cross and the Marian Cross of the Teutonic Order. It was enamelled in translucent blue with a slim white border, and its centre displayed a roundel with the inscription “DER DEUTSCHEN MUTTER” surrounding a black enamelled swastika. Designed by Munich-based architect Franz Berberich, the cross was produced by several state-approved medal makers, though no maker’s mark was applied to the medals themselves.
The reverse side of the cross initially bore the inscription “Das Kind adelt die Mutter” (“The Child ennobles the Mother”), but from 1939 onward, it was replaced with the decree date “16. Dezember 1938.” Below the inscription, Adolf Hitler’s facsimile signature was featured, with slight design variations over time.
The decoration was worn around the neck on a narrow blue-and-white ribbon, measuring approximately 60–70 cm in length, with no other permitted means of wear.
Background
The Cross of Honour of the German Mother (Mutterkreuz) was a Nazi Germany state decoration awarded from 1939 to 1945 to German mothers who exhibited exemplary motherhood and had at least four children. It had three classes: gold (eight or more children), silver (six or seven children), and bronze (four or five children).
Introduced by Adolf Hitler on 16 December 1938, the decoration aimed to promote high birth rates and reinforce Nazi ideological views on motherhood. It was awarded annually on Mother’s Day and other national events. The cross design, similar to the Iron Cross, featured a blue and white enamelled cross with a swastika at the centre, created by architect Franz Berberich.
Eligibility was restricted to mothers of German blood who were deemed morally and genetically fit. A rigorous bureaucratic process ensured recipients met ideological standards, including good character, an orderly household, and adherence to Nazi racial policies. Various government agencies participated in this vetting. Recipients received privileges such as priority access to goods and services, public recognition, and a salute from Hitler Youth members.
A special diamond-encrusted version existed for exceptional cases, such as a Dresden mother of sixteen children. An estimated 4.7 million mothers received the award by 1941. After World War II, the Mutterkreuz was banned, as it bore Nazi symbols and ideology. Unlike some other wartime decorations, it was not redesigned for post-war recognition.
*Condition*
Excellent used condition. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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