# Hanseatic Cross > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hanseatic_Cross > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hanseatic_Cross.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_Cross > Source revision: 1274873443 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Award Hanseatic Cross (Hanseatenkreuz) Obverse of the Hanseatic Cross from Bremen (left) and Hamburg (right) Type Single-grade Awarded for War merit Description Red-enameled cross pattée bearing the arms of the relevant city-state on the center medallion. Presented by Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck Eligibility Military and civilians who aided the war effort Campaign World War I Status Obsolete Established August/September 1915 Total Approx. 80,000 Obverse of the Hanseatic Cross from Lübeck (left) and reverse of all three versions, here Bremen (right) Precedence Next (higher) None Next (lower) None The **Hanseatic Cross** ([German](/source/German_language): *Hanseatenkreuz*) was a [military decoration](/source/Military_awards_and_decorations) of the three [Hanseatic](/source/Hanseatic_League) [city-states](/source/City-state) of [Bremen](/source/Bremen_(state)), [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg) and [Lübeck](/source/Free_City_of_L%C3%BCbeck), who were members of the [German Empire](/source/German_Empire) during [World War I](/source/World_War_I). Each republic established its own version of the cross, but the design and award criteria were similar for each. ## Establishment and criteria The Hanseatic Cross was jointly instituted by agreement of the [senates](/source/Senate#Alternative_meanings) of the three cities, with each senate ratifying the award on different days. The Lübeck version was established first, on 21 August 1915. The Hamburg version followed on 10 September and the Bremen version on 14 September. The cross was awarded for merit in war, and could be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel. When awarded for bravery or combat merit, it was the three cities' equivalent of the [Prussian](/source/Prussia) [Iron Cross](/source/Iron_Cross). ## Description The Hanseatic Cross came in only one class, a cross worn from a ribbon on the left chest. The cross was a red-enameled silver [cross pattée](/source/Cross_patt%C3%A9e) which bore the arms of the relevant city-state on the center medallion. The reverse was identical for all three versions and the center medallion bore the phrase "Für Verdienst im Kriege" ("for merit in war") and the date "1914". ## Recipients Main article: [List of recipients of the Hanseatic Cross](/source/List_of_recipients_of_the_Hanseatic_Cross) There were approximately 50,000 awards of the Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg, the largest Hanseatic city. The Bremen Hanseatic Cross was awarded approximately 20,000 times. Lübeck was the smallest of the Hanseatic cities, and its Hanseatic Cross was awarded approximately 8-10,000 times. The roll for the Lübeck Hanseatic Cross have been transcribed by an international team of phaleristic researchers from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The complete roll was expected to be available by fall 2008/spring 2009. ## References - Dr. Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann, *Pour le Mérite und Tapferkeitsmedaille* (1966). v t e Orders, decorations, and medals of the German Empire Kingdom of Prussia Order of the Black Eagle Order of Merit of the Prussian Crown Order of the Red Eagle Order of the Crown House Order of Hohenzollern Pour le Mérite Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg) Order of Louise Wilhelm-Orden Kingdom of Bavaria Order of Saint Hubert Military Order of Max Joseph Military Merit Order (Bavaria) Order of Theresa Order of Saint Elizabeth Royal Order of Saint George Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown Order of Saint Michael (Bavaria) Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art Order of Louis (Bavaria) Medical military Order Kingdom of Saxony Order of the Rue Crown Military Order of St. Henry Albert Order Civil Order of Saxony Order of Sidonia Order of Maria Anna Kingdom of Württemberg Order of the Crown (Württemberg) Military Merit Order (Württemberg) Friedrich Order Order of Olga Kingdom of Hanover Order of St. George Royal Guelphic Order Order of Ernst August Grand Duchy of Baden Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order Order of Berthold the First Order of the Zähringer Lion House Order of Fidelity Grand Duchy of Hesse House Order of the Golden Lion Ludwig Order Order of Philip the Magnanimous Order of the Star of Brabant General Honor Decoration Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel House Order of the Golden Lion Wilhelm Order Order of the Iron Helmet Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt Order of Philip the Magnanimous Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Order of the Griffon (Mecklenburg) House Order of the Wendish Crown Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Order of the Griffon (Mecklenburg) House Order of the Wendish Crown Grand Duchy of Oldenburg House and Merit Order of Peter Frederick Louis Friedrich-August Cross Duchy of Saxe-Weimar Order of the White Falcon Duchy of Brunswick Order of Henry the Lion Duchy of Nassau Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau Order of Adolphe of Nassau Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg Saxe-Ernestine House Order Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Saxe-Ernestine House Order (2006: Saxe-Coburg-Gotha House Order) Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen Saxe-Ernestine House Order Duchy of Anhalt Order of Albert the Bear Order of Merit for Science and Art Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen House Order of Hohenzollern Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen House Order of Hohenzollern Principality of Lippe-Detmold Order of the Cross of Honour (Lippe) Order of Leopold (Lippe) Order of Berta Order of the Rose of Lippe Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe Order of the Cross of Honour (Lippe) Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Loyal Service Principality of Reuss Princely Reuss Honour Cross Principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Princely Schwarzburg Honor Cross Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Princely Schwarzburg Honor Cross Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont Order of Merit (Waldeck and Pyrmont) Free cities Hanseatic Cross --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hanseatic Cross](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_Cross) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_Cross?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.