Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen (Hannover)

The General Honorary Decoration of the Kingdom of Hanover was instituted on 5 June 1841 by King Ernst August of Hanover in two divisions:

for military merit

for civil merit

Both medals are made of silver and display the founder’s crowned and intertwined initials E. A. R. (Ernst August Rex) in the center. On the reverse of the medal for military merit, the words KRIEGER-VERDIENST (Warrior Merit) appear within a laurel wreath. On the medal for civil merit, VERDIENST UMS VATERLAND (Merit to the Fatherland) appears within an oak wreath.

The award for military merit was worn on the left breast on a white ribbon with yellow side stripes; the award for civil merit was worn on a white ribbon with yellow side stripes and black edge stripes.

Around the turn of the 20th century, the decoration was also referred to as the Hanoverian General Honorary Decoration (HvAE).