This medal was introduced by King Frederick William III of Prussia (1797-1840) to award other ranks and NCOs for military galantry. However, it could also be awarded to the civil service for meritorious conduct. The difference between civil and military was apparently in the colours of the ribbon (missing here).

This would have been mounted on a wooden plaque, hence the holes at the corners. The design is taken from the Nazi era award, whose main difference is a capital 'R' directly under the middle feet of the horse.

This is the classic gallantry award for WW1, given when the award of the EK2 was deemed insufficient recognition. Hitler wore one, earned as a despatch runner! This cross is maker marked 'KO', a prolific maker, particularly of 2nd class Iron Crosses.

The pin (which has '26' punched in an oblong stamp for a factory called B.H. Mayer of Pforzheim) is a Nazi era production, probably made as a repair for the original 1914 cross, which has the maker's mark 'KO' (a WW1 maker) stamped by the hook on the reverse.

This medal (4cm) commemorates the enthronement of King Ernst August of Hanover, the last king of independent Hanover before it was absorbed into Prussia later in the 1860s. It is signed under his bust by the sculptor: 'BREHMER F.' The medal is nearly in fleur de coin condition.

This is the well-known gallantry award for the Great War, marked 800 on the reverse (ie 80% silver). Adolf Hitler was awarded one of these as a runner in his Bavarian regiment in WW1. The screw-back variety is considerably scarcer than the pin-back type.

The top element with the imperial crown above two crossed swords and oak leaves has the logo 'Deutscher Krieger Bund' for German Warriors League (ie veterans in a military sense), whereas the cross underneath has a portrait of the emperor in silhouette and gives the name of the district, in this case Oberlaunstein.

This medal, struck in silver, with the rose of Lippe borne on a shield under a municipal crown, was issued for 15 years' service, indicated by the 15 between the words 'Treue' and 'Jahrige'. Lippe is a small state near the Danish border and presumably St Johann is a town within Lippe.

Like its Prussian counterpart, this was awarded in WW1 for welfare and hospital work to civilians. However, this example appears to be made of bronze with all its original patina. The ribbon should have blue horizontal stripes in the centre white field, so this is close but not quite correct. Otherwise, the cross is in good condition.

This medal was awarded to rear area civilian personnel, such as nurses and doctors for war effort assistance. On the obverse of the medal, there is the cypher of Kaiser Bill, namely 'WR' with a crown above. I suppose the nearest English equivalent was the first issue of the Medal of the British Empire in 1917.