Original WWI Württemberg Silver Military Merit Medal Wilhelm II

Description

Original Württemberg Silver Military Merit Medal – Wilhelm II

This original Württemberg Silver Military Merit Medal is an Imperial German military decoration from the reign of King Wilhelm II of Württemberg, belonging to the fifth model of the Militärverdienstmedaille used between 1892 and 1918.

The medal is an excellent representative example of the independent military award system maintained by the Kingdom of Württemberg during the German Empire and is particularly relevant to collectors of Imperial German medals, First World War decorations and Württemberg military history.

The obverse features a finely executed right-facing portrait of King Wilhelm II surrounded by the inscription:

WILHELM II KOENIG VON WUERTTEMBERG

At the base of the portrait is the small engraver’s signature K. SCHWENZER. This identifies the design with Karl Schwenzer, the Royal Württemberg court medallist responsible for the official portrait dies used for this model.

Künker catalogues this type as the fifth model of the Württemberg Military Merit Medal, with the portrait of Wilhelm II used from 1892 until the end of the Württemberg monarchy in 1918. Their documented silver example likewise carries the signature “K. SCHWENZER.”

“Für Tapferkeit und Treue”

The reverse carries one of the most evocative inscriptions found on Imperial German military decorations:

FÜR
TAPFERKEIT
UND TREUE

The words are surrounded by a detailed laurel wreath tied at the bottom.

The inscription translates approximately as “For Bravery and Loyalty” and communicates directly the military purpose of the decoration.

Weitze describes the Württemberg Silver Military Merit Medal of Wilhelm II as an award for Württemberg soldiers recognising bravery and loyalty, with the same reverse inscription visible on surviving First World War medal bars.

The Kingdom of Württemberg and Its Military Awards

Although Württemberg formed part of the German Empire from 1871, the kingdom retained its own royal traditions, military formations and system of decorations.

The Military Merit Medal had a much longer history than the particular Wilhelm II version represented here. The award tradition originated in the late eighteenth century, while the portrait type featuring Wilhelm II appeared after his accession to the throne.

Künker classifies the Wilhelm II portrait medal as the fifth model, dating from 1892 to 1918.

The decoration became especially important during the First World War, when Württemberg troops served as part of the German Army on the major European fronts.

Karl Schwenzer

A particularly attractive feature of INS18 is the visible K. SCHWENZER signature below Wilhelm II’s portrait.

Karl Schwenzer was the Royal Württemberg court medallist, and his designs appeared across the kingdom’s coinage and official medals. His work included the Württemberg Military Merit Medal created around the beginning of Wilhelm II’s reign.

The signature therefore forms an integral part of the official die design rather than being a later ownership or recipient engraving. Künker uses the same signature as an identifying feature when cataloguing original examples.

Silver Grade and Wartime Production

The Silver Military Merit Medal was produced over a long period, and its metallic composition changed.

Reference data based on the Landesmuseum Württemberg documents several production phases: early pieces were struck in high-grade silver, while wartime shortages led to progressively reduced silver fineness during the First World War.

Because these variants can be visually extremely difficult to distinguish, INS18 is catalogued as the Silver Military Merit Medal or silver-grade version without assigning a precise silver fineness from photographs alone.

This is preferable to making an unsupported claim such as “.993 silver” or assigning the medal to a particular wartime production period without weight or metallurgical testing.

Design

The medal is circular with a suspension loop and loose ring.

The obverse portrait retains strong detail, including Wilhelm II’s hair, beard and facial features. The surrounding lettering remains well defined.

On the reverse, the three-line inscription remains prominent within a full laurel wreath.

Standard documented examples of this model measure approximately 28 mm in diameter, although the exact dimensions of this particular piece should be measured physically before being entered into the final technical specification. Specialist examples are catalogued at approximately this size.

Condition

INS18 presents in attractive circulated and worn condition consistent with an original historical military decoration.

The portrait remains sharply recognisable and the inscription around the obverse is complete and legible.

The reverse wording “Für Tapferkeit und Treue” remains exceptionally clear, as does the surrounding laurel wreath.

There is natural surface toning, small marks, dark spotting and general evidence of age and handling on both sides.

The suspension loop and larger ribbon ring remain present.

The ribbon itself is not included in the photographs and is therefore not described as part of the item.

No aggressive polishing, repair or restoration is claimed.

The photographs form an integral part of the condition description.

Collector’s Interest

The Württemberg Military Merit Medal is particularly appealing to collectors because it combines several important collecting areas:

Imperial Germany, the Kingdom of Württemberg, the First World War, German state decorations, military bravery awards and the work of court medallist Karl Schwenzer.

It is also a useful example of the complex award structure that existed inside the German Empire, where kingdoms such as Württemberg retained their own decorations alongside broader Imperial and Prussian awards.

Unlike decorations of the later Third Reich period, this is an Imperial German award from the monarchy of Württemberg, predating the National Socialist era.

AUTHENTICITY

Offered as an original period piece on the basis of the features described above.

The portrait, lettering, reverse design, suspension system and visible K. Schwenzer signature correspond with documented examples of the Württemberg Silberne Militärverdienstmedaille, 5. Modell, Wilhelm II held and catalogued by specialist collections and numismatic auction houses.

No recipient attribution is made because these medals were normally issued unnamed and no supporting recipient documentation accompanies INS18.

What is INS18?

INS18 is a Württemberg Silver Military Merit Medal, or Silberne Militärverdienstmedaille, from the reign of King Wilhelm II of Württemberg.

When was this version used?

The fifth model with Wilhelm II’s portrait was used from 1892 until 1918.

What does “Für Tapferkeit und Treue” mean?

It means “For Bravery and Loyalty” or “For Bravery and Faithfulness.”

Who is depicted on the medal?

Wilhelm II, King of Württemberg, who reigned from 1891 until the end of the Württemberg monarchy in 1918.

Who was K. Schwenzer?

Karl Schwenzer was the Royal Württemberg court medallist responsible for the portrait die used on this version of the medal. His K. SCHWENZER signature appears below the king’s portrait and is visible on INS18.

Is this a First World War medal?

The type was used from 1892–1918, so it predates the war but was extensively awarded during the First World War. It should therefore be described as an Imperial German / WWI-era Württemberg decoration, rather than claiming without provenance that this individual medal was necessarily awarded during WWI.

Is INS18 made of solid silver?

It is the silver grade of the Military Merit Medal. However, several silver finenesses were used over the award’s production period, especially as wartime material shortages increased. A precise fineness cannot safely be assigned from photographs alone.

Is the recipient known?

No. No recipient attribution accompanies the medal.

How is authenticity assessed?

On the basis of the design, construction, materials and wear described above, considered together rather than any single feature.

Further Reading

For historical background, see Deutsches Historisches Museum: “Ehrenzeichen”, on the history of German decorations.

Before buying, read my Complete Collector’s Guide to WWII German Medals.

Historical Responsibility Notice: this item is offered as a historical artefact for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology.