PRE WW1 GERMANY WAR WITH AUSTRIA 1866 KONIGGRATZ CROSS ON PARADE RIBBON MOUNT

34mm wide bronze cross patt?e alis?e, a laurel wreath between the arms, with ribbed loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central medallion bearing the cipher ?WR? for King Wilhelm I, circumscribed ?PREUSSENS SIEGREICHEM HEERE? (Prussia?s victorious armies), the Prussian crown on the upper arm of the cross, the left, right and lower arms inscribed ?GOTT WAR MIT UNS. IHM SEI DIE EHRE? (God was with us. To Him be the glory); the reverse with a circular central medallion bearing the crowned Prussian royal eagle perched on a cannon, the upper, left, right and lower arms inscribed ?K?NIG-GR?TZ?, DEN 3?, ?JULI?, ?1866? respectively; on parade worn ribbon assembly.

The medal was instituted by King Wilhelm I on 20 September 1866 following the victorious war against Austria and its German allies. There were four versions: for those present at the battle of K?niggr?tz, for the Army of the Main, for ?Trueue Kriegern? (for those combatant troops not present at K?niggr?tz nor part of the Army of the Main) and for non-combatants. The medal was cast from the bronze of captured Austrian cannon. A good, parade worn example.