Reproduction Hohenzollern Grand Commander's Breast Star.
one of the highest awards bestowed on senior officers and
only awarded to personnel who previously received the
Black Eagle Order. The award with swords recipients would
have already received all other higher wartime awards
including the Pour le Merite. It could only be topped by
the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross.
This award was rarely bestowed. Of the ten
recipients from 1861 to 1868 (two with swords and eight with
out) are to be found Prince Carl Anton von Hohenzollern,
the princes Karl and Friedrich Karl von Prussia, Field
Marshal Graf von Wrangel and Reichskanzler Bismarck who also
received the award in diamonds. In the First World War
approximately five Grand Commander's Stars with Swords were
awarded including Field Marshal von Hindenburg and Field
Marshal von Mackensen.
