German WWII Cased Mother’s Cross in Gold-This is a near excellent example by a rare maker. This mother’s cross in gold is beautiful. The gold finish, and the blue enamel is intact and gorgeous. This has a long original ribbon that is very clean with vibrant colors. This ribbon is not sewn together but someone has added closure clips to each end. The dark blue leatherette case is also near excellent. The release pin and hinge work as they should. The embossed mothers cross on the top of the lid is nice and intact. The inside upper lid is lined in an off-white flocking. The bottom is white velvet flocking, that is slightly bent and has a spot of discoloration in the upper left corner. The case is marked under the lid, for Hans Gnad, Wien VII. This is in near excellent condition overall.
History: The Mother’s Cross was introduced by Adolf Hitler on December 16th 1938 as part of a large propaganda campaign aimed at increasing the birth rate. The award was officially designated, “Honor Cross of the German Mother”, and was instituted in three grades to recognize and reward childbearing German females.
The three grades consisted of the bronze cross for bearing four or five children, the silver cross for bearing six or seven children and the gold cross for bearing eight or more children.
The criteria for the award included that the parents be of pure German blood, and that the mother was worthy of such an honor. On its introduction the cross had the impressed inscription to reverse, "Das kind adelt die Mutter", (The child ennobles the mother), but this was inexplicably changed sometime in 1939. Bestowal of the cross was accompanied by an award certificate, a cash incentive for each child born and a miniature cross for everyday wear, with the actual cross being reserved for formal or ceremonial occasions. Also, interesting, members of all youth organizations were required to salute wearers of the Mother’s Cross.