German Mothers' Cross of Honor, Silver Class

German Mothers' Cross of Honour (Ehrenkreuz der deutschen Mutter) Silver Class (2nd Class): 6-7 children.

The cross is in excellent condition, very original and complete with its contemporary ribbon.

Curiosity: The honor was created by Adolf Hitler on December 16, 1938 to reward mothers of large families in Nazi Germany, in exaltation of the Aryan race.

Only women of certified German origin or women from countries absorbed into Nazi Germany such as Austria or Danzig were eligible to receive the honor.

The medal was not a permanent recognition because if a mother separated from her family, or if she was accused of marital infidelity or if she had suffered some social offense, she could be stripped of the honor.

The crosses were awarded annually, on the second Saturday of May (Mother's Day) according to the 1938 institution and the first award therefore took place in May 1939. The last was in 1944.

The first woman to receive the German Mothers' Cross of Honor was Magda Goebbels, wife of Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. The couple had six children together, and as such, Magda received the silver cross.

The award was the Nazi equivalent of the Soviet Heroic Mother and the Medal of Honor for Mothers of Large Families in Fascist Italy.

This cross was awarded in three degrees of merit depending on the number of children born and surviving in the family:

Gold Cross (1st class): 8 or more children

Silver Cross (2nd class): 6-7 children

Bronze Cross (III class): 4-5 children.