GERMANY (Reich) – Cross of Honour of the German Mother, First Class in Gold

Description

GERMANY (Reich) – Cross of Honour of the German Mother, First Class in Gold
(Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter, 1. Stufe in Gold – “Mutterkreuz”)

Instituted on 16 December 1938 by Adolf Hitler, the Cross of Honour of the German Mother was established to recognize mothers who had borne and raised large families in accordance with National Socialist population policy. The decoration was awarded in three classes: Bronze for four or five children, Silver for six or seven children, and Gold for eight or more children. The first awards were presented on Mother’s Day, 21 May 1939, and continued until the end of the Third Reich in 1945.

The First Class Cross in Gold consists of a blue-enamelled cross pattée with white enamel borders, superimposed upon a radiating gilt starburst. At the centre is a circular white enamel medallion bearing a black swastika surrounded by the inscription “DER DEUTSCHEN MUTTER” (“To the German Mother”). The reverse bears the date “16 Dezember 1938”, commemorating the institution of the award, together with the facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler. The Gold Cross represented the highest grade of the award and was bestowed upon mothers who had successfully borne and raised eight or more children.

The decoration was worn suspended from a distinctive blue-and-white ribbon and was presented in a formal ceremony, often on Mother’s Day. Recipients underwent an extensive vetting process intended to verify their political reliability, character, family history, and compliance with the racial and hereditary standards imposed by the National Socialist regime. The award was intended both as a public recognition of motherhood and as a tool of state propaganda promoting population growth.

The example illustrated is a First Class Cross in Gold, retaining its original ribbon. The gilt finish remains well preserved, contrasting with the deep blue translucent enamel and white borders of the cross. The reverse displays the institution date and facsimile signature characteristic of wartime production. The ribbon exhibits moderate age-related wear and folding consistent with long-term storage and display.

Today, the Gold Mother’s Cross remains one of the most recognizable civil decorations of Nazi Germany. While often encountered in collections of Third Reich awards and insignia, it is also an important historical artefact reflecting the demographic policies and ideological priorities of the National Socialist state. Examples in higher grades, particularly those retaining their original finish and ribbon, continue to be sought after by collectors of German orders and decorations.

Condition: Very Fine; gilt finish substantially preserved with light wear to raised surfaces; enamel intact with minor age-related imperfections; reverse inscription and facsimile signature clear; original ribbon present with moderate creasing and age wear consistent with period use and storage.