Classes
The Royal House Order of Hohenzollern came in the following classes:
- Grand Commander (Großkomtur)
- Commander (Komtur)
- Knight (Ritter)
- Member (Inhaber)
"Member" was a lesser class for soldiers who were no officers, and civilians. The Members' Cross (Kreuz der Inhaber), especially with swords, was a rare distinction for non-commissioned officers and the like. Another decoration, the Members' Eagle (Adler der Inhaber) was often given as a long-service award to lesser officials such as schoolteachers. The "Eagles" (the Members' Eagle and the Knights' Eagle, or Adler der Ritter) were solely civilian awards, and could not be awarded with swords. All other grades could be awarded with swords. During World War I, the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern became in effect an intermediate award between the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Pour le Mérite for Prussian junior officers. When awarded with swords it was worn on the ribbon of the Iron Cross.
The Princely House Order of Hohenzollern came in the following classes:
- Honor Cross 1st Class (Ehrenkreuz 1. Klasse)
- Honor Commander's Cross (Ehrenkomturkreuz)
- Honor Cross 2nd Class (Ehrenkreuz 2. Klasse)
- Honor Cross 3rd Class (Ehrenkreuz 3. Klasse)
- Golden Merit Cross (goldenes Verdienstkreuz)
- Silver Merit Cross (silbernes Verdienstkreuz)
- Golden Honor Medal (goldene Ehrenmedaille)
- Silver Merit Medal (silberne Verdienstmedaille)
The Merit Crosses, Golden Honor Medal and Silver Merit Medal were lesser grades for non-commissioned officers, enlisted men and their civilian equivalents. All grades could be awarded with swords. During World War I, the appropriate grade of the Princely House Order was often awarded to officers and men of Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl Anton von Hohenzollern (Hohenzollernsches) Nr. 40, an infantry regiment raised in the principalities of Hohenzollern and whose honorary chief was the Prince of Hohenzollern. Soldier in the regiment's sister reserve and Landwehr regiments also often received the decoration. Unlike the Royal House Order, awards of the Princely House Order were made on the standard ribbon of the order (the "statute" ribbon) regardless of whether they were with or without swords.
The classes of the Romanian version of the House Order were essentially the same as those of the Princely House Order, except that the Honor Cross 3rd Class of the Romanian version could be awarded with Oakleaves, and the Golden and Silver Medals could be awarded with a Crown. As with the Prussian and Hohenzollern versions, crossed swords could be used to indicate a wartime or combat award. Given the short existence of the order and the fact that Romania had a number of other decorations for valor and military merit (Order of Michael the Brave, Order of the Star of Romania, Order of the Crown of Romania, Air Force Bravery Order, Cross of Military Virtue, Air Force and Naval Bravery Crosses, Crosses and Medals for Faithful Service, Medals for Steadfastness and Loyalty), awards of the Romanian version of the House Order with swords are uncommon.
Read more about this topic: House Order Of Hohenzollern
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—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834)
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