Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Gold Mother’s Cross, or Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter, complete with its full length ribbon and original presentation case marked for Liefergemeinschaft Pforzheimer Innungen. The Gold grade was the highest level of the award and was intended for qualifying mothers with eight or more children. This example remains in very good condition, with bright metal finish, well preserved enamel, a lightly age toned ribbon, and an attractive maker marked case.

The Cross of Honor of the German Mother, commonly referred to as the Mutterkreuz or Mother’s Cross, was instituted on December 16, 1938. The award was issued in Bronze, Silver, and Gold grades, with the Gold Cross representing the highest level.

The cross retains its bright finish and multicolored enamel work in very good condition. The enamel is especially well preserved with little to no visible wear. A full length ribbon remains attached to the cross and shows only minor age toning.

The reverse is dated:

16 December 1938

and also bears the facsimile signature of Adolf H.

The original fitted presentation case is maker marked on the inside of the lid:

Liefergemeinschaft Pforzheimer Innungen

This identifies the Supplier Community of the Pforzheim Guilds, an association through which smaller firms in the Pforzheim manufacturing center could participate in production and supply.

The exterior of the case carries a gold embossed representation of the Mother’s Cross with a central gold mobile swas. The case remains fully functional. The leatherette covering shows several small tears and areas of deterioration around the corners, while the interior lining remains in very good condition.

With its Gold grade cross, full length ribbon, strongly preserved enamel, dated and signed reverse, and original Liefergemeinschaft Pforzheimer Innungen presentation case, this is a particularly attractive example of the German WWII Mother’s Cross. The minor ribbon toning and small tears and deterioration to the case covering are fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a German WWII civilian award, Mother’s Cross, Pforzheim maker, cased decoration, or advanced Third Reich award collection.

The Cross of Honour of the German Mother, referred to colloquially as the Mutterehrenkreuz (Mother’s Cross of Honor) or simply Mutterkreuz (Mother’s Cross), was a state decoration conferred by the government of the German Reich to honor a Reichsdeutsche German mother for exceptional merit to the German nation. Eligibility later extended to include Volksdeutsche (ethnic German) mothers from, for example, Austria and Sudetenland, that had earlier been incorporated into the German Reich.

The decoration was conferred from 1939 until 1945 in three classes: bronze, silver, and gold, to Reichsdeutsche mothers who exhibited probity, exemplary motherhood, and who conceived and raised at least four or more children in the role of a parent. A similar practice, that continues to this present day, was already established in France since 1920, by conferring the Médaille de la Famille française (Medal of the French Family), a tribute to the French mother who raised several children in an appropriate way.

In recognition of the substantial importance a woman's role and motherhood was in support of a strong Germany, the Cross of Honor of the German Mother was introduced by decree in Berlin on 16 December 1938 by Führer und Reichskanzler (leader and chancellor) AH. The preamble of the statutory decree declared:

As a visible sign of gratitude of the German nation to children-rich mothers I establish this Cross of Honor of the German Mother

The crosses were awarded annually on the second Sunday in May (Mothering Sunday or Mother's Day), but also extended to include other national annual occasions of celebration. So despite its institution in 1938, the first awards were rendered in May 1939.

The Mother's Cross was composed of three classes, and conferred to mothers in accordance with its statutory legislation: Verordnung des Führers und Reichskanzlers über die Stiftung des Ehrenkreuzes der Deutschen Mutter vom 16. Dezember 1938. Reichsgesetzblatt (RGBI) Teil I, 1938, Nr. 224, Seite 1923 (In English: Statutory Order of the Leader and Chancellor on the establishment of the Cross of Honor of the German Mother of 16 December 1938. Imperial-(Reichs) Law Gazette (RGBl) Part I, 1938, No. 224, Page 1923), and its stringent nomination screening protocol.

Classes
-1st class, Gold Cross: eligible mothers with eight or more children
-2nd class, Silver Cross: eligible mothers with six or seven children
-3rd class, Bronze Cross: eligible mothers with four or five children