Cross of Merit for Women and Girls

The Cross of Merit for Women and Girls, or literally Women and Virgins (Ehrenkreuz für Frauen und Jungfrauen), was created on 22 March 1871 by Kaiser Wilhelm I, German Emperor, in his capacity as King of Prussia. The award was presented only to women, but was not a Ladies Order in the most narrow sense. Women and girls were awarded at the request of Empress Augusta, and the award was bestowed by the Kaiser.

Cross of Merit for Women and Girls Ehrenkreuz für Frauen und Jungfrauen
Awarded for	self-sacrificing work for the good of the fighting troops and their families
Country	Prussia
Presented by	King of Prussia
Eligibility	Prussian women and girls
Campaign(s)	Franco-Prussian War
Established	22 March 1871
Total	2979
Ribbon of the cross
Related	Iron Cross

Description of the award

The appearance and shape is very similar to the Iron Cross, but on the obverse at the junction of the arms is an emblem of the Red cross. On the reverse there is the royal crown above the intertwined monograms "A" and "W" and the date of 1870–1871. The cross was worn from suspended by a bow on the left chest. The ribbon is the same as that of the Iron Cross for non-combatants, white with black stripes at the edge.

Recipients

• Princess Louis of Hesse and by Rhine (26 June 1871)^[1]
• Countess Hedwig von Rittberg (1871)^[2]
• Marie Simon (1871)^[3]
• Elisabeth Deichmann-Schaaffhausen^[4]