GERMANY. Kaiserreich. Deutsch-Ostafrika (German East Africa) Wilhelm II, 1888-1918. Pattern Medal (Bronze, 38 mm, 24.46 g, 12 h), pattern of the First-Class Warrior Merit Medal for German Protectorates. By E. Weigand. Berlin, no date (1893). GUILELMUS II - IMPERATOR Bust of Wilhelm II to left in uniform of Garde du Corps. Rev. KRIEGS / VERDEINST in two lines, within laurel wreath. Heyden -. Nimmergut -. OEK -. Apparently unpublished and of great interest. Tiny marks and edge nicks, otherwise, extremely fine.


In 1892, Kaiser Wilhelm II established the ‘Kriegerverdienstmedaille I. Klasse für deutsche Schutzgebiete’ (‘First-Class Warrior Merit Medal for German Protectorates’ in German) as a decoration for acts of bravery awarded to indigenous soldiers (Askari) serving in the notorious Schutztruppe of German East Africa. Starting in 1893, the medal was also awarded to members of the Schutztruppe in German New Guinea, Tientsin, Kiautschou, and other colonial territories.

They were issued in two classes, made from gilt and plain silver. The second class corresponded to the Warrior Merit Medal introduced in 1873, featuring a monogram on the obverse (OEK 1894). The obverse design of the first-class was created by the renowned Berlin-based medalist Emil Weigand (1837-1907) and depicted Wilhelm II wearing a Pickelhaube and the cuirass of the Garde du Corps regiment. Wilhelm II was so pleased with this portrait that it was later used on the Rupees of the German East Africa Company (Jaeger 711-714). The reverse of both classes bore the inscription ‘KRIEGER / VERDIENST’ (‘Warrior Merit’ in German).

This particular piece is exceptional in multiple ways, shedding light on the otherwise obscure origins of this rare decoration. The reverse inscription ‘KRIEGS / VERDIENST’ (‘War Merit’ in German) was borrowed from Prussian awards dating back to the mid-19th century (OEK 1892). However, the final version of the Warrior Merit Medal replaced this inscription with ‘KRIEGER / VERDIENST’. H. von Heyden documented a silver second-class pattern featuring a reverse identical to our piece (H. von Heyden: Ehren-Zeichen der erloschenen und blühenden Staaten Deutschlands und Österreich-Ungarns, Frankfurt a. M. 1897, p. 49). No published records exist of a first-class pattern, and its precise background remains unresolved. However, our piece suggests that an additional first-class version in bronze may have originally been planned. Beyond being a numismatic and phaleristic rarity, this pattern sheds light on Germany’s colonial past and the award practices of the Schutztruppe.