Cross of Honor of the German Mother
Encyclopedia
The Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter (in English: Cross of Honour of the German Mother), referred to colloquially as the Mutterehrenkreuz (Mother’s Cross of Honour) or simply Mutterkreuz (Mother’s Cross), was a state decoration
and civil order of merit conferred by the government
of the Deutsches Reich
(German Reich) to honour
a “Reichsdeutsche” (imperial-German) mother for exceptional merit to the German
nation. Eligibility later extended to include Volksdeutsche
(ethnic-German) mothers from, for example, Austria
and Sudentenland, that had earlier been incorporated into the Deutsches Reich realm.
The decoration was conferred from between 1939 until 1945 in three classes of order, bronze, silver, and gold, to Reichsdeutsche mothers who exhibited probity, exemplary mother
hood, and who conceived
and raised
at least four or more child
ren 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 de la Famille française
(Medal of the French Family), a tribute to the French
mother who raised several children in an appropriate way.
in Berlin on 16 December 1938 by Chancellor of Germany
(Reichskanzler) 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: ”Als sichtbares Zeichen des Dankes des Deutschen Volkes an kinderreiche Mütter stifte ich das Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter”). The Mother’s Cross was conferred annually thereafter principally on ‘Mother’s Day’, but also extended to include other national annual occasions of celebration.
or cross pattée
and very similar in design to the Cross of the Teutonic Knights
Order (German: Deutscher Ritterorden or Ritterkreuz), 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: OF 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 Präsidialkanzlei (Presidential Chancellery) approved medal makers from across the Deutsches Reich realm. A maker’s mark, however, 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.
signature of Chancellor (Reichskanzler) Adolf Hitler; a style variation in this signature exists between the initial and succeeding version produced.
and thus is worn around the neck on its accompanying narrow blue and white ribbon
of circa 60–70 cm in length. No other format of wear or placement was permitted.
of conferral (German: Besitzeugnis otherwise Verleihungsurkunde) sealed with the ‚Hoheitszeichen des Deutschen Reiches‘ (Great Seal of the German Reich) and (facsimile)-signature of Chancellor (Reichskanzlar) Adolf Hitler and (facsimile)-countersignature
of the Minister of State
Otto Meißner
head of the Office of the President of Germany (German: Präsidialkanzlei). An official pale-blue photo identification document (German: Ausweis) was also available, this identified the holder and attested the bestow 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.
es, were simply unofficial merchandising embellishments.
(the Völkisch movement
) of that time period in Germany. Its inception followed the earlier ‘Roaring Twenties’ or ‘golden 1920’s
’ as it was later referred in Europe and a period during Germany’s “Weimar Republic
” era, which saw young women breaking with traditional “mores
” or likewise step aside from “traditional” lifestyle patterns.
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 Reichsbundes der Kinderreichen” (District Warden of the Reichs Union of Children-rich
families).
In some detail, these criteria required, for example:
In the event the authorities were to find such discrepancies during their investigations leading to non-eligibility, the family risked being regarded or stigmatised “asozial” (anti-social
) or dysfunctional, which at that time was viewed as an intolerable risk and threat for the present and future wellbeing of the German nation, it was declared inconceivable and abhorrent to consider or recommend any mother of such family background for the Mother’s Cross honour. In a further extract from the official application screening protocol, the local mayor’s office was also encouraged, if his office was recommending a mother, to consider whether the mother in question, who has gifted her children life, has born children likely to bear sacrifices in the interest of preserving the German nation, or whether the children are or may pose a burden and peril to the future of the German nation, and the children perhaps should have better remained unborn.
. They were treated like royalty with the greatest respect. No standing in line for them. At the butchers shop the best cuts of meat would go into their baskets. A helper or nurse was assigned by the government to help them take care of the brood and arrived first thing in the morning”. An annuity
was also considered for a recipient mother of the decoration, but due to government budget constraints, this proved unworkable. Members of the Hitler Youth
organization were also instructed; a wearer of the Mother’s Cross was to be honourably greeted (saluted) when encountered. The Völkischer Beobachter
(People’s Observer) national newspaper (1938 Issue No. 25) stated: "…the holder of the Mother’s Cross of Honour will in future enjoy all types of privileges that we by nature have accustomed to our nations honoured comrades and our injured war veterans."
” day (German: Erntedankfest), equivalent to thanksgiving
, and 24 December 1939 Christmas Eve
. It was not until Mother’s Day 1940 onwards that eligible mothers aged below 60 were finally presented with their Mother’s Cross decoration and once again these presentations were deferred until a later date that same year. A recipient mother who could not attend their official invitation to a local public presentation ceremony received their decoration delivered through the postal service. Some presentation ceremonies were also recorded filmed events chronicled by the "Die Deutsche Wochenschau
" (The German Weekly Newsreel).
, the central application archives held at the “Präsidialkanzlei” (Presidential Chancellery) in Berlin were lost or otherwise destroyed by closing war events, however, its estimated that up until September 1941 there were a total of 4.7 million recipient mothers honoured with the Mother’s Cross decoration.
of Germany, which existed from between 1933 to 1945, the Mother’s Cross was occasionally referred to as the “Mütterverdienstkreuz” (English: Mother’s Cross of Merit). The Mother’s Cross, however, belongs to the decorations and medals bestowed during the “Third Reich” era of Germany, and as such, incorporates by design the adopted “swastika” symbol, the wearing or display of which in public places especially in Germany of such decorations is since 26 July 1957 restricted and regulated by German law (Ref. Bundesgesetzblatt (BGBl) I, 1957, S. 844, §6) in accordance with the succeeding ‘Law on Titles, Orders and Honours’ of the Federal Republic of Germany
(German: Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen).
State decoration
State decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....
and civil order of merit conferred by the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of the Deutsches Reich
Deutsches Reich
Deutsches Reich was the official name for Germany from 1871 to 1945 in the German language.As the literal English translation "German Empire" denotes a monarchy, the term is used only in reference to Germany prior to the fall of the monarchies at the end of World War I in 1918...
(German Reich) to honour
Honour
Honour or honor is an abstract concept entailing a perceived quality of worthiness and respectability that affects both the social standing and the self-evaluation of an individual or corporate body such as a family, school, regiment or nation...
a “Reichsdeutsche” (imperial-German) mother for exceptional merit to the German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
nation. Eligibility later extended to include Volksdeutsche
Volksdeutsche
Volksdeutsche - "German in terms of people/folk" -, defined ethnically, is a historical term from the 20th century. The words volk and volkische conveyed in Nazi thinking the meanings of "folk" and "race" while adding the sense of superior civilization and blood...
(ethnic-German) mothers from, for example, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Sudentenland, that had earlier been incorporated into the Deutsches Reich realm.
The decoration was conferred from between 1939 until 1945 in three classes of order, bronze, silver, and gold, to Reichsdeutsche mothers who exhibited probity, exemplary mother
Mother
A mother, mum, mom, momma, or mama is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that grew into a child. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally...
hood, and who conceived
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
and raised
Parenting
Parenting is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood...
at least four or more child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren in the role of a parent
Parent
A parent is a caretaker of the offspring in their own species. In humans, a parent is of a child . Children can have one or more parents, but they must have two biological parents. Biological parents consist of the male who sired the child and the female who gave birth to the child...
. A similar practice, that continues to this present day, was already established in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
since 1920, by conferring the Médaille de la Famille française
Médaille de la Famille française
The Médaille de la Famille française is a decoration awarded by the government of France to honour those who have successfully raised several children with dignity.-History:...
(Medal of the French Family), a tribute to the French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
mother who raised several children in an appropriate way.
History
In recognition of the substantial importance a woman’s role and motherhood was in support of a strong Deutsches Reich nation, the ‘Cross of Honour of the German Mother’ was introduced by decreeDecree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
in Berlin on 16 December 1938 by Chancellor of Germany
Chancellor of Germany
The Chancellor of Germany is, under the German 1949 constitution, the head of government of Germany...
(Reichskanzler) Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. 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: ”Als sichtbares Zeichen des Dankes des Deutschen Volkes an kinderreiche Mütter stifte ich das Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter”). The Mother’s Cross was conferred annually thereafter principally on ‘Mother’s Day’, but also extended to include other national annual occasions of celebration.
Decoration
The Mother’s Cross comprised three classes of order, and was conferred to mothers in accordance with its statutory legislation: “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. Imperial-(Reichs) Law Gazette (RGBl) Part I, 1938, No. 224, Page 1923), and its stringent nomination screening protocol.Classes of the Order
In decreasing order of seniority, these are:- 1st Class Order, Gold Cross. – eligible mothers with eight or more children
- 2nd Class Order, Silver Cross. – eligible mothers with six to seven children
- 3rd Class Order, Bronze Cross. – eligible mothers with four to five children
Cross Design
The cross design is a slender elongated form of the Iron CrossIron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
or cross pattée
Cross pattée
A cross pattée is a type of cross which has arms narrow at the centre, and broader at the perimeter. An early English example from the start of the age of heraldry proper A cross pattée (or "cross patty", known also as "cross formée/formy") is a type of cross which has arms narrow at the...
and very similar in design to the Cross of the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
Order (German: Deutscher Ritterorden or Ritterkreuz), enamelled
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
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: OF THE GERMAN MOTHER) around an enamelled black straight centred “swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
” symbol, infilled white enamel. The cross design was the creation of the established Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
based architect and sculptor Franz Berberich. The production of the cross involved several established Präsidialkanzlei (Presidential Chancellery) approved medal makers from across the Deutsches Reich realm. A maker’s mark, however, 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 ”Das Kind adelt die Mutter” (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 1939-1945 the initial former reverse inscription was replaced during production with the date of the decoration decree ”16. Dezember 1938”. Directly beneath each of the two styles is the inscribed facsimileFacsimile
A facsimile is a copy or reproduction of an old book, manuscript, map, art print, or other item of historical value that is as true to the original source as possible. It differs from other forms of reproduction by attempting to replicate the source as accurately as possible in terms of scale,...
signature of Chancellor (Reichskanzler) Adolf Hitler; a style variation in this signature exists between the initial and succeeding version produced.
Neck Ribbon
The decoration is a neck orderNeck order
A neck order is a type of decoration which is designed to be worn and displayed around a person's neck, rather than hung from the chest as is the standard practice for displaying most decorations....
and thus is worn around the neck on its accompanying narrow blue and white ribbon
Ribbon
A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily for binding and tying. Cloth ribbons, most commonly silk, are often used in connection with clothing, but are also applied for innumerable useful, ornamental and symbolic purposes...
of circa 60–70 cm in length. No other format of wear or placement was permitted.
Deed of Conferral and Identification Documents
Accompanying the decoration was a deedDeed
A deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, or affirms or confirms something which passes, an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions sealed...
of conferral (German: Besitzeugnis otherwise Verleihungsurkunde) sealed with the ‚Hoheitszeichen des Deutschen Reiches‘ (Great Seal of the German Reich) and (facsimile)-signature of Chancellor (Reichskanzlar) Adolf Hitler and (facsimile)-countersignature
Countersign (legal)
Countersigning means writing a second signature onto a document. For example, a contract or other official document signed by the representative of a company may be countersigned by his supervisor to verify the authority of the representative...
of the Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
Otto Meißner
Otto Meißner
Otto Meißner was head of the Office of the President of Germany during the entire period of the Weimar Republic under Friedrich Ebert and Paul von Hindenburg and, finally, at the beginning of the Nazi era under Adolf Hitler.-Life:The son of a postal official, Meißner studied law in Strasbourg from...
head of the Office of the President of Germany (German: Präsidialkanzlei). An official pale-blue photo identification document (German: Ausweis) was also available, this identified the holder and attested the bestow 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 circa 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 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 (Leistungsgemeinschaft der Deutschen Ordenshersteller) approved medal makers responsible for manufacturing private retail supply. Other formats made available by those manufacturers to recipients of the honour, such as broochBrooch
A brooch ; also known in ancient times as a fibula; is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments. It is usually made of metal, often silver or gold but sometimes bronze or some other material...
es, 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.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-nationalismNationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
(the Völkisch movement
Völkisch movement
The volkisch movement is the German interpretation of the populist movement, with a romantic focus on folklore and the "organic"...
) of that time period in Germany. Its inception followed the earlier ‘Roaring Twenties’ or ‘golden 1920’s
Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London, Berlin and Paris for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
’ as it was later referred in Europe and a period during Germany’s “Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
” era, which saw young women breaking with traditional “mores
Mores
Mores, in sociology, are any given society's particular norms, virtues, or values. The word mores is a plurale tantum term borrowed from Latin, which has been used in the English language since the 1890s....
” 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 BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
for the Mother’s Cross honour, could only be instigated by the local mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
’s office, or on application from the “Ortsgruppenleiter” (local political Party leader
Party leader
In politics, the party leader is the most powerful official within a political party.The party leader is typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public. As such, he or she will take a leading role in developing and communicating party policy, especially election...
) of the National Socialist German Workers Party
National Socialist German Workers Party
The National Socialist German Workers' Party , commonly known in English as the Nazi Party, was a political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party , existed from 1919 to 1920...
(NSDAP), or the “Kreiswart des Reichsbundes der Kinderreichen” (District Warden of the Reichs Union of Children-rich
Reichsbund der Kinderreichen
Reichsbund der Kinderreichen or , Reich's Union of Large Families or, literally: "Reich's League of those wealthy in children", was one of the most important pronatalist groups founded in Germany after World War I....
families).
Eligibility, Criteria and Bureaucratic Process
The nomination involved a lengthy and exhaustive bureaucratic process. Not only were certain characteristics of the mother observed and eligibility studied thoroughly, but those too leading to the grandparents. The conferral of the Mother’s Cross was so highly regarded by the government in Berlin, that additional bureaucratic resources assigned to lesser civil and military decorations were pulled for the exhaustive administrative procedures that this decoration alone required. Its precedence especially during Germany’s wartime period saw all other civil honours and decorations but the Mother’s Cross temporarily suspended since the original purpose for its establishment was now more so significant. Local government agencies such as the Social Welfare Agency (Wohlfarhtsamt), Public Health Department (Gesundheitsamt), Youth Welfare Agency (Jugendamt), Police (Polizei) and other government agencies were all consulted in the eligibility investigation process. The decoration could and was only to be bestowed to the most honourable proven mothers. Accordingly, the following legislative prerequisites were to be strictly met:- a) that both parents of the children were “deutschblütig” (of German blood-heredityHeredityHeredity is the passing of traits to offspring . This is the process by which an offspring cell or organism acquires or becomes predisposed to the characteristics of its parent cell or organism. Through heredity, variations exhibited by individuals can accumulate and cause some species to evolve...
) and genetically-fit,
- b) that the mother of the decoration was indeed “worthy” of the decoration, and
- c) that the children were live births.
In some detail, these criteria required, for example:
- I). evidence to be provided by the mother in the form of a signed declaration “that the mother – and her husband – is/are “deutschblütig” (of German blood-heredity), that their four grandparents are not of JewishJewsThe Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
or other foreign ethnic origin, nor have ever belonged or subscribed to the Jewish religionJudaismJudaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, and in circumstances where the husband or marriage is deceased – confirms further that no contradictory facts are known in believing the “Deutschblütigkeit” (German bloodline) of the former husband”. Unless doubts were cast to suggest otherwise in the validity of the declaration given, it was to be accepted as sufficient.
- II). the mother was indeed “worthy” of the decoration (I.e. proven an honourable mother of reputable moral standing, genetically healthy and genetically-fit. With no evidence of prior confinement to a state penitentiary (German: Zuchthaus), marital infidelityExtramarital sexExtramarital sex occurs when a married person engages in sexual activity with someone other than his or her marriage partner.Where extramarital sexual relations breach a sexual norm it may also be referred to as adultery, fornication, philandery, or infidelity...
, unlawful abortionAbortionAbortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, or any other personal burdens of tabooTabooA taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
or social offences such as prostitutionProstitutionProstitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
or promiscuous behaviour, intimate interracial relationships (miscegenationMiscegenationMiscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....
) or otherwise exogamyExogamyExogamy is a social arrangement where marriage is allowed only outside of a social group. The social groups define the scope and extent of exogamy, and the rules and enforcement mechanisms that ensure its continuity. In social studies, exogamy is viewed as a combination of two related aspects:...
, amongst other criteria that were required to be investigated and evidenced by government authorities).
- III). Further conditions observed, involving the entire family, were that the children are clear of hereditary illnesses or genetic disorders, that a conscious responsibility exists without supervision in the parents being mindful of maintaining the family home to acceptable orderly standards and to nurturing their children towards being useful fellow compatriots. The husband had not served a prison sentence, the family were not conceiving a great number of dependants (children) as a form of subsistence for the receipt of significant monetary disbursements of state child supportChild benefitChild benefit is a social security payment disbursed to the parents or guardians of children. Child benefit is means-tested in some countries.-Australia:...
(German: Kinderbeihilfe) and thereby feel entitled to avoid regular employment in exploiting such lifestyle, the family members were not chronic alcoholics, work-shy nor had conflicts with the law and police or presented other social delinquencies, and the family were not burdening private or public social welfareWelfareWelfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
aid.
In the event the authorities were to find such discrepancies during their investigations leading to non-eligibility, the family risked being regarded or stigmatised “asozial” (anti-social
Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour, behaviour that helps or benefits society...
) or dysfunctional, which at that time was viewed as an intolerable risk and threat for the present and future wellbeing of the German nation, it was declared inconceivable and abhorrent to consider or recommend any mother of such family background for the Mother’s Cross honour. In a further extract from the official application screening protocol, the local mayor’s office was also encouraged, if his office was recommending a mother, to consider whether the mother in question, who has gifted her children life, has born children likely to bear sacrifices in the interest of preserving the German nation, or whether the children are or may pose a burden and peril to the future of the German nation, and the children perhaps should have better remained unborn.
Benefits and Privileges
A number of small financial benefits including various privileges were bound to the honour, one example being preferential treatment, precedence and priority service within society and public services. As one recount recalls “…they were always given the best of everything: housing, food, clothing, and schooling for their children. Old people even had to give up their seats on the bus or streetcarTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
. They were treated like royalty with the greatest respect. No standing in line for them. At the butchers shop the best cuts of meat would go into their baskets. A helper or nurse was assigned by the government to help them take care of the brood and arrived first thing in the morning”. An annuity
Annuity (European financial arrangements)
An annuity can be defined as a financial contract which provides an income stream in return for an initial payment with specific parameters. It is the opposite of a settlement funding...
was also considered for a recipient mother of the decoration, but due to government budget constraints, this proved unworkable. Members of the Hitler Youth
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
organization were also instructed; a wearer of the Mother’s Cross was to be honourably greeted (saluted) when encountered. The Völkischer Beobachter
Völkischer Beobachter
The Völkischer Beobachter was the newspaper of the National Socialist German Workers' Party from 1920. It first appeared weekly, then daily from February 8, 1923...
(People’s Observer) national newspaper (1938 Issue No. 25) stated: "…the holder of the Mother’s Cross of Honour will in future enjoy all types of privileges that we by nature have accustomed to our nations honoured comrades and our injured war veterans."
Annulment of Recognition
The receipt of the decoration was, however, no guarantee of permanent recognition, it could be annulled on a case-by-case basis under certain circumstances on the advice of the “Reichsminister des Innern” (Reichs-Minister of Interior). For instance, it could be annulled if the mother ceased to be “worthy” by neglecting her children, marital infidelity, or exhibited other problematic behaviour.Public Presentation Ceremonies
The first public presentation ceremonies, following inception of the Mother’s Cross in December 1938, were held on Mother’s Day 21 May 1939 across Germany. However, due to the unexpected high number of mothers eligible for the decoration across all classes on its inception, despite a stringent nomination criteria, resulted in the initial presentations being restricted to mothers of age 60 and above due to various administrative and logistics limitations. The first year presentations were also extended to include 1 October 1939 “harvest festivalHarvest festival
A Harvest Festival is an annual celebration which occurs around the time of the main harvest of a given region. Given the differences in climate and crops around the world, harvest festivals can be found at various times throughout the world...
” day (German: Erntedankfest), equivalent to thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
, and 24 December 1939 Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
. It was not until Mother’s Day 1940 onwards that eligible mothers aged below 60 were finally presented with their Mother’s Cross decoration and once again these presentations were deferred until a later date that same year. A recipient mother who could not attend their official invitation to a local public presentation ceremony received their decoration delivered through the postal service. Some presentation ceremonies were also recorded filmed events chronicled by the "Die Deutsche Wochenschau
Die Deutsche Wochenschau
Die Deutsche Wochenschau is a series of German newsreels from 1940 until the end of World War II.After the invasion of Poland , the Nazis consolidated four separate newsreel production efforts into one...
" (The German Weekly Newsreel).
Total Decorations Conferred
Exact total decorations bestowed throughout its existence are no longer traceable through the limited official records that survived the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the central application archives held at the “Präsidialkanzlei” (Presidential Chancellery) in Berlin were lost or otherwise destroyed by closing war events, however, its estimated that up until September 1941 there were a total of 4.7 million recipient mothers honoured with the Mother’s Cross decoration.
Miscellaneous
At the end of the “Third Reich” dictatorshipDictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
of Germany, which existed from between 1933 to 1945, the Mother’s Cross was occasionally referred to as the “Mütterverdienstkreuz” (English: Mother’s Cross of Merit). The Mother’s Cross, however, belongs to the decorations and medals bestowed during the “Third Reich” era of Germany, and as such, incorporates by design the adopted “swastika” symbol, the wearing or display of which in public places especially in Germany of such decorations is since 26 July 1957 restricted and regulated by German law (Ref. Bundesgesetzblatt (BGBl) I, 1957, S. 844, §6) in accordance with the succeeding ‘Law on Titles, Orders and Honours’ of the Federal Republic of Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
(German: Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen).
See also
- Médaille de la Famille françaiseMédaille de la Famille françaiseThe Médaille de la Famille française is a decoration awarded by the government of France to honour those who have successfully raised several children with dignity.-History:...
– the French equivalent - Order of Maternal GloryOrder of Maternal GloryThe Order of Maternal Glory was a Soviet civilian award created on 8 July 1944 by Joseph Stalin and established with a decision of the Praesidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR....
and Mother HeroMother HeroMother Heroine was an honorary title in the Soviet Union awarded from 8 July 1944 to all mothers bearing and raising 10 or more children. The title was accompanied by the bestowal of the Mother Heroine Order and a certificate conferred by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR...
- the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
era equivalent