SMGP-0909 Baltic Cross By Meybauer

A gorgeous near mint award!

The Baltic Cross (Baltenkreuz) was a military decoration awarded by Germany during the Weimar Republic. It was instituted by the Baltic National Committee, an organization that represented the German ethnic population of parts of what is now Latvia, in 1919. The award took the form of a black oxidized metal cross, on which was superimposed a gilt cross based on the coat of arms of the Teutonic Knights. It was a pin back award, intended to be worn on the left chest pocket of the uniform. There was also a ribbon for this award that could be worn in the buttonhole, with the blue and white colors of the Baltic Landwehr. Some Baltic Crosses were made with a suspension ring and were intended to be worn as part of the large formal ribbon bar. These are not Second Class awards; there was only one class of this award. The Baltic Cross was awarded to all officers and men of the Freikorps or other volunteer paramilitary organizations that fought against the Bolshevik Army in the Baltic region for at least 3 months between 1918-1919. It was issued along with a numbered award certificate from the Baltic National Committee. I 1934 and 1935, the Nazi government instituted laws stating that the Baltic Cross was a state recognized decoration that was allowed to be worn on the uniform. 1957 laws also permitted this award to be worn.