The Cross of Honour of the German Mother (), referred to colloquially as the (Mother's Cross of Honour) or simply (Mother's Cross), was a state decoration conferred by the government of Nazi GermanyStatutory Legislation of the Deutsches Reich: 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 Honour of the German Mother of 16 December 1938. Reich Law Gazette (RGBl) Part I, 1938, No. 224, Page 1923).Statutory Legislation of the German Reich: Satzung des Ehrenkreuzes der Deutschen Mutter vom 16. Dezember 1938, Reichsgesetzblatt (RGBI) Teil I, 1938, Nr. 224, Seite 1924 (In English: Statute of the Cross of Honour of the German Mother of 16 December 1938, Reichs Law Gazette (RGBl) Part I, 1938, No. 224, Page 1924) to honour a German-citizen mother for exceptional merit to the German nation.Statutory Legislation of the German Reich: Durchführungsverordnung zur Verordnung über die Stiftung des Ehrenkreuzes der Deutschen Mutter vom 16. Dezember 1938, Reichsgesetzblatt (RGBI) Teil I, 1938, Seite 1926 (In English: Executive Order to the Statutory Order on the Establishment of the Cross of Honour of the German Mother of 16 December 1938, Reich Law Gazette (RGBl) Part I, 1938, No. 224, Page 1926) Eligibility later extended to include ethnic German ('') mothers from, for example, Austria and Sudetenland, that had earlier been incorporated into the German Reich. Under the Nuremberg Laws, German Jews and those of partial Jewish ancestry were not considered full citizens () and were not eligible for the Cross of Honour.
The decoration was conferred from 1939 until 1945Stadtarchiv Solingen (In English: State Archives Solingen): Findbuch (B Burg an der Wupper 1653–1975) RS 2.1.1.1., A. Allgemeine Verwaltung, A.01. Landeshoheitssachen, Kgl. Haus, Ordensverleihungen, Nationalfeiern, 11. Antrag auf Verleihung des Ehrenkreuzes für kinderreiche Mütter, Organisation durch die NS-Volkswohlfahrt 1939–1944 (In English: Index (B Burg an der Wupper 1653–1975) RS 2.1.1.1., A. General Administration, A.01. Matters of Territorial Sovereignty, Royal House, Conferral of Honours, National Days, 11. Application for bestowal of the Cross of Honour for children-rich mothers, Organisation through the NS-Welfare-Office 1939–1944) in three classes: bronze, silver, and gold,Statutory Legislation of the Deutsches Reich: Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter, Reichsgesetzblatt (RGBl) Teil I, 1938, Nr. 224, Seite 1925, Anlage (Zum Artikel 3 der vorstehenden Satzung) (In English: Cross of Honour of the German Mother, Imperial-(Reichs) Law Gazette (RGBl) Part I, 1938, No. 224, Page 1925, Attachment Exhibit (to Article 3 of the preceding Statute)) to mothers who exhibited probity, exemplary motherhood, and who conceived and raised at least four 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 d'honneur de la famille française (Medal of the French Family), a tribute to the French mother who raised several children appropriately.
History In recognition of the substantial importance a woman's role and motherhood was in support of a strong Germany, the Cross of Honour of the German Mother was introduced by decree in Berlin on 16 December 1938 by Führer und Reichskanzler (leader and chancellor) Adolf Hitler. 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 Honour of the German Mother (Original text in German: "").
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.There were sighted public exhibits of government-issued deeds' of conferral (Besitzeugnis/Verleihungsurkunde) to recipient mothers for the Mother’s Cross on other national annual dates of celebration. So despite its institution in 1938, the first awards were rendered in May 1939.Angolia, John R. For Führer and Fatherland: Political & Civil Awards of the Third Reich, pp 67–69, .
Decoration The Mother's Cross was composed of three classes, and conferred to mothers in accordance with its statutory legislation: (In English: Statutory Order of the Leader and Chancellor on the establishment of the Cross of Honour 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.Protocol Document of the Deutsches Reich: Public exhibit – official government issued document: “Merkblatt – für die Auslese der Mutter, die für Verleihung des Ehrenkreuzes der Deutschen Mutter vorgeschlagen werden sollen” (In English: Information Sheet – for the nomination screening of a Mother, who is to be recommended for the bestow of the Cross of Honour of the German Mother)
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
Cross design The cross design is a slender elongated form of the Iron Cross or cross pattée and very similar in design to the Marian Cross of the Teutonic Order (), enamelled translucent-blue with a slim opaque-white border. Resting on the centre radiant starburst rays is a metal roundel decorated with the words "DER DEUTSCHEN MUTTER" (in English: TO THE GERMAN MOTHER) around an enamelled black straight centred "swastika" symbol, infilled white enamel. The cross design was the creation of the established Munich-based architect and sculptor Franz Berberich. The production of the cross involved several established (Presidential Chancellery) approved medal makers from across the German Reich.Sighted production issue versions of the Mother’s Cross, including presentation cases and sachets by officially approved medal makers. A maker's mark was never applied to the crosses produced; though each official house of manufacture did apply their name to the dark-blue presentation case (inside cover) for the 1st Class Gold Cross and the presentation sachets (reverse side) for each of the 2nd and 3rd Class Cross.
Cross reverse side inscription Inscribed on the reverse side of the cross, of which two official reverse-side styles exist, is the inscription (The Child ennobles the Mother) found on the initial version produced on inception during the early part of 1939. On the succeeding version produced from 1939 to 1945 the initial former reverse inscription was replaced during production with the date of the decoration decree . Directly beneath each of the two styles is the inscribed facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler; a style variation in this signature exists between the initial and succeeding version produced.
Neck ribbon The decoration was worn around the neck on its accompanying narrow blue and white ribbon of about 60–70 cm in length. No other format of wear or placement was permitted.Statutory Document of the Deutsches Reich: Official Identification Document (Ausweis) of the Cross of Honour of the German Mother – Reverse-Side Instructions Protocol for the Wear of the Crosses of Honour (Merkblatt über das Tragen der Ehrenkreuze).
Deed of Conferral and identification documents Accompanying the decoration was a deed of conferral ( otherwise ) sealed with the (Great Seal of the German Reich)Statutory Legislation of the Deutsches Reich: Verordnung über das Hoheitszeichen des Reichs vom 5. März 1936 (Reichsgestezbl. I S. 1287). and the facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler and facsimile countersignature of the Minister of State Otto Meissner, head of the Office of the President of Germany (). An official pale-blue photo identification document () was also available, this identified the holder and attested the bestowal of the decoration to the recipient mother, as well as provided instructions on the reverse side for correct wearing of the decoration, permitted at all "formal" state, celebrative and family occasions only.
Miniature of the Mother's Cross
An optional semi-official approved miniature version of the Mother's Cross measuring about 2 cm with reverse-side inscription, attached to a blue-white ribbon bow, was also produced in each of its three classes; it was authorized for purposes of general everyday wear only. The wearing of the blue-white ribbon bow alone, without the miniature cross attached, was also authorized for the same purpose. The miniature was an optional supplement, that could be purchased privately from relevant authorized supply stockists such as high-street jewellers or directly from the LDO () approved medal makers responsible for manufacturing private retail supply. Other formats made available by those manufacturers to recipients of the honour, such as brooches, were simply unofficial merchandising embellishments.
Legacy The Mother's Cross of Honour, upon the death of the honoured recipient mother, was permitted by statute to remain inheritable with the bereaved family as a keepsake remembrance.
Special Grade There was a version of this award that had small diamonds placed on the swastika. The precise requisites are unknown, but a photograph of this variant (seen on page 75 in the book Political and Civil Award of the Third Reich ) stated that it had been awarded to a Dresden woman who was the mother of sixteen children.
Nomination and conditions of conferral
Ideology The Cross of Honour of the German Mother represented the fundamental ideologies of the role of the mother (the role of women under National Socialism) and ethnic-nationalism (the Völkisch movement) of that time period in Germany. Its inception followed the earlier "Roaring Twenties" or "golden 1920s" as it was later referred in Europe and a period during Germany's Weimar Republic, which saw young women breaking with traditional "mores" or likewise step aside from "traditional" lifestyle patterns.
Nomination A recommendation presented collectively at the beginning of each month to the Präsidialkanzlei der Ordenskanzlei (Presidential Chancellery of the Chancellery of Honours) in Berlin for the Mother's Cross honour, could only be instigated by the local mayor's office, or on application from the Ortsgruppenleiter (local political party leader) of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), or the Kreiswart des Reichsbund der Kinderreichen (District Warden of the Reichs Union of Children-rich families).
Eligibility, criteria and bureaucratic process