Among the myriad decorations and badges issued by private veterans’ associations during the Weimar Republic, the Bundesehrenzeichen 1. Klasse (Federal Honor Badge 1st Class) of the Deutscher Kriegerbund 1914/18 (German Warrior League 1914/18) stands as a remarkable artifact of interwar German commemorative culture. This large pin badge, crafted in fire-gilded base metal with fine enameling, represents the aspirations of World War I veterans to honor merit and loyalty within their own organizational structures.
The Deutscher Kriegerbund 1914/18 e.V.
The Deutscher Kriegerbund 1914/18 e.V. was founded around 1925 as a registered association with its headquarters in Leipzig. It was a private veterans’ association that served as an umbrella organization for various regional World War I veterans’ groups. Among its member organizations were the Bund Badischer Frontsoldaten (League of Baden Front Soldiers), the Bund ehemaliger Westfrontkämpfer (League of Former Western Front Fighters), and the Bund Sächsischer Frontsoldaten (League of Saxon Front Soldiers), among others.
It is essential to note that this organization was distinct from the older Deutscher Kriegerbund of 1873 and also separate from the Kyffhäuserbund, the largest and most prominent German veterans’ federation. The Kriegerbund 1914/18 carved out its own niche within the complex landscape of Weimar-era veterans’ organizations.
The association’s patron, or Protektor, was Generaloberst Alexander von Linsingen (full name: Alexander Adolf August Karl von Linsingen, 1850–1935), a distinguished senior military figure of the Imperial German Army. The Bundesführer (Federal Leader) was Max Schiffel Ritter von Frauenstein, who is documented wearing the Bundesstern in a photograph dated 1927.
The Veterans’ Association Landscape of the Weimar Republic
During the Weimar Republic (1919–1933), numerous private veterans’ associations emerged across Germany, each issuing their own badges and decorations. These organizations operated in a complex environment alongside state-sanctioned bodies, serving as social and commemorative networks for former soldiers. They provided a sense of identity, camaraderie, and recognition that many veterans found lacking in the turbulent postwar society.
The decorations issued by these private associations are categorized in German numismatic scholarship as “Kauforden” – privately commissioned decorations that were sold to and awarded by the association to its members and supporters. While they carried no official state authority, they held significant personal and social value for their recipients, serving as tangible tokens of membership, service, and fraternal bonds.
The Badge: Description and Classification
The Federal Honor Badge, also referred to in period sources as the “Bundesstern” (Federal Star), was produced in two classes. The 1st Class, represented by the present specimen, was executed in fire-gilded base metal (Buntmetall feuervergoldet) with fine enameling. The 2nd Class was silver-plated. The badge measures 55 mm in height and features a central Reichsadler (Imperial Eagle) surrounded by the inscription “Für Verdienst und Treue” (For Merit and Loyalty). The reverse features a pin mounting for wear.
The Bundesehrenzeichen was awarded by the Deutscher Kriegerbund 1914/18 e.V. for merit and loyalty. It was likely instituted around 1927 and continued to be awarded until the organization’s dissolution in 1934.
Dissolution and the End of the Badge
The Deutscher Kriegerbund 1914/18 was legally banned and dissolved in 1934 during the Nazi regime’s process of Gleichschaltung – the systematic “coordination” and forced alignment of all associations and organizations under National Socialist control. This dissolution brought an end to the awarding of the Bundesehrenzeichen. The relatively brief existence of the organization, spanning only about nine years, combined with the limited number of awards issued, contributes to the extreme rarity of this decoration today.
Documentation and Significance for Collectors
This particular badge is documented as the title illustration in Jörg Nimmergut’s authoritative reference work, “Abzeichen und Auszeichnungen Deutscher Kriegervereine 1800–1943” (Badges and Decorations of German Warriors’ Associations 1800–1943), published in 2012 by Battenberg Verlag. The badge is described in detail on pages 5 through 7 of this standard reference. The fact that Nimmergut selected this badge for the cover of his comprehensive study underscores its significance within the field of German veterans’ association collectibles.
For collectors of German veterans’ association decorations, the Bundesehrenzeichen 1. Klasse of the Deutscher Kriegerbund 1914/18 represents an object of the highest rarity and scholarly interest. It combines fine craftsmanship – the fire-gilding and careful enameling attest to quality production – with a compelling organizational history that illuminates the rich and complex world of Weimar-era veterans’ associations.
