Saxony, Kingdom. A Military Order of St. Henry, Commander Cross of General Alexander von Linsingen, c.1916

(Kurfürstlich Sächsischer Militär-St. Heinrichs Orden, Kommandeurkreuz). Instituted on 7 October 1736. (1807-1920 Issue). A silver gilt Maltese cross, each arm featuring pebbled fields and white enamelled bordering, green-enamelled rue florets in each quadrant, obverse centre presenting a yellow-enamelled medallion bearing a painted portrait of St. Henry, the last Saxon Holy Roman Emperor, circumscribed by a ring of blue enamel bearing the inscription FRIDR.AUG.D.G.REX.SAX.INSTAURAVIT, reverse centre presenting the Saxon coat of arms (alternating horizontal black and gold stripes with a diagonal rue crown), encircled by a ring of blue enamel bearing the inscription VIRTUTI IN BELLO (BRAVERY IN WAR), the bottom of the six o’clock arm is stamped with the letter S for metal content, measuring 51.79 mm (w) x 78.89 mm (h - inclusive of Imperial Crown with horizontally pierced ball suspension adorned by cross), weighing 37.7 gram, on a flat loop for suspension from period original light blue ribbon with yellow stripes near the edges, centre pieces are loose, heavy gilt wear present all over cross, a thinner shape denotes construction period circa 1916, and in overall near extremely fine condition. Accompanied by an Authentication and Appraisal by Medalnet Appraisal Services, Andreas Schulze Ising and Bernd Kruse.

Provenance Footnote: This cross is attributed to the Prussian Infantry General Alexander von Linsingen (1850-1935). Linsingen joined the Prussian Army in 1868 and, under the mentorship of Erich Falkenhayn, achieved divisional command in 1905 and corps command four years later. At the beginning of the First World War, Linsingen commanded the II Corps attached to the German First Army. He received a transfer to serve with Hermann von Eichhorn’s new Tenth Army, receiving command of the Austro-German Sudarmee in the Carpathians in January 1915, where he was tasked with the forthcoming attack on Przemysl. Linsingen received the Pour le Merite for capturing 60,000 Russian prisoners during the Battle of Stryi. Linsingen took command of the Army of the Bug and concurrently commanded Heeresgruppe Linsingen. From 1917 to 1918, he led the German advance into the Ukraine.

He received the Military Order of St. Henry, Commander Cross, personally through his majesty King Friedrich August II. of Saxony on 24 October 1916 for bravery on the Eastern Front. He survived the attack of the Russian Army on 5 June 1916 by regrouping the Saxon Army to support and replace the Austrian 4th Army formations.

Footnote: The Commander Cross was awarded 207 times in gilded silver.