Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Loyal Service

Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Loyal Service
Insignia of the Cross
Native name	Kreuz für treue Dienste
Awarded for	Military Merit, and Valour
Country	Schaumburg-Lippe
Combatant's Ribbon

The Cross for Loyal Service was a military award founded on 18 November 1914 by Prince Adolf II. of Schaumburg-Lippe as a recreation of an earlier award created by Adolf I during the Franco-Prussian War. It could be awarded to officers, men, and non-combatants. ^{[1] [2]}

Award Classes

Although the Order statutes only mentioned one class (a chest medal). However, another version of the award was also awarded to members of the House of Schaumburg-Lippe and other ruling families. This class was awarded as a pinback cross, similar to the Iron Cross 1st Class, which was worn as a breast star. However, this was legally the same award as the cross for non-royals. ^{[3] [2]}

Appearance

The insignia is a bronze Greek Cross, the ends of the arms of the cross have slightly splayed out, and the cross has a raised edge. On the obverse in the arms of the cross is the legend "FÜR TREUE DIENSTE 1914" meaning: "For Loyal Service 1914". In the centre of the Cross is the founder's monogram, an ornamented letter A, surmounted with a crown. The obverse of the cross, by contrast, is bare. ^{[1] [2]}

Wearing

The order could be awarded to both combatants and non-combatants. The ribbon for combatants was blue with three white stripes, while the ribbon for non-combatants was white with red and blue edge stripes (the colours of Schaumburg-Lippe). ^{[3] [2]}

Recipients

• Wilhelm von Apell
• Curt Badinski
• Ludwig Beck
• Werner von Blomberg
• Maximilian von Herff
• Joachim von Kortzfleisch
• Erich von Manstein
• Georg Alexander von Müller
• Manfred von Richthofen
• Johannes Severin
• Fritz Schlieper

See Also

• Lippe War Merit Cross

References

1. "Schaumburg-Lippe Loyal Service Cross". Australian War Memorial .
2. "Loyal Service Cross, 1870". Medalbook. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
3. "Schaumburg-Lippe Loyal Service Cross". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 2026-01-19.

Further Reading

• Jörg Nimmergut: Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945. Band II: Limburg–Reuss. Zentralstelle für wissenschaftliche Ordenskunde. München 1997. ISBN 3-00-00-1396-2. S. 628–649.