11 — Auszeichnungen

Awards & Decorations

Tapferkeit & Verdienst

A reference guide to the decorations most relevant to a mid-to-late-war Prussian infantry impression, and our unit's approach to wearing them honestly.

I.R. 29Orden
Our policy: we don't treat decorations as something reenactors "earn" through events or seniority. A member's persona wears only what's plausible for that persona's documented-style service history — and we lean conservative, since overclaiming decorations is one of the more common authenticity mistakes in this hobby. See each entry below for what "plausible" looks like.

Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse — Iron Cross, 2nd Class

  • Criteria: a single act of bravery in the face of the enemy, or sustained meritorious conduct
  • Prevalence: awarded extremely widely — over 5 million issued during the war
  • Fit for our unit: plausible and appropriate for a combat NCO or veteran Musketier with real campaign time behind him (e.g., after the Somme or an earlier engagement)
  • Worn as: ribbon in the second tunic buttonhole (day-to-day) or the full cross for formal/dress occasions

Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse — Iron Cross, 1st Class

  • Criteria: required already holding the 2nd Class, plus further, more significant acts of distinction
  • Prevalence: far rarer — roughly 218,000 awarded across the entire war
  • Fit for our unit: a stretch goal, not a starting point. Reserve this for a persona's later-war narrative development (e.g., after multiple major campaigns), not an initial impression
  • Worn as: a pinned cross on the left breast, not a ribbon

Verwundetenabzeichen — Wound Badge

  • Criteria: introduced in 1918; black for 1–2 wounds, silver for 3–4 wounds (or blinding/severe disfigurement), gold for 5+ wounds or total disability
  • Fit for our unit: entirely optional — only relevant if a member wants to build a wound into their persona's story. Not required and shouldn't be treated as a default
  • Worn as: a small badge on the left breast, below any Iron Cross
What we avoid: the Hindenburgkreuz (Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer) was a commemorative cross created retroactively in 1934/35 for WWI veterans — it did not exist during 1916–1918 and has no place in a mid-to-late-war impression. Similarly, we avoid inventing specific citations, dates, or named actions for a decoration unless they're drawn from an actual documented source (see the founder's persona notes for how this is handled).