Ehrenkreuz

Ehrenkreuz is a German term meaning "Cross of Honour" or "Cross of Merit." It is not a single decoration but a generic designation used for various awards in German-speaking countries to recognize different forms of service, bravery, or family achievements.

Historically, the form and meaning of an Ehrenkreuz have varied by regime and era. During the Nazi period several crosses bore this name. The Ehrenkreuz des Deutschen Mutter, introduced in 1938, was awarded to mothers for bearing and raising multiple children. The Frontkämpfer-Ehrenkreuz (Cross of Honour for Front-Line Soldiers) was established in the 1930s to recognize veterans of World War I. Other crosses existed as part of state decorations of that era.

In the postwar period, Germany reorganized its awards system. The modern, officially used decoration for civil and military merit in the Federal Republic of Germany is the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Merit), established in 1951. It is the central order of merit of the country and is not officially referred to as an Ehrenkreuz, though informal usage may occur to describe a cross-shaped award of honor.

Designs of Ehrenkreuz decorations vary by era and type, often cross-shaped insignias with ribbons; some have multiple classes such as gold, silver, or bronze in older decorations. The term highlights the cross motif and ceremonial function rather than a single, uniform award.