Turkish War Medal
The War Medal ("Harp Madalyasi"
in Turkish or "Türkische Kriegsmedaille" in German) was also
known as the Iron Crescent ("Eiserne Halbmond") by the
Germans or the "Gallipoli Star" by the British. It was instituted in
March 1915 by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed V. It was awarded for
bravery to many German combatants stationed in the Ottoman Empire
during the First World War.
The medal consisted of a five pointed red
star edged and decorated in white metal, usually worn on the right
breast below the usual medal bar. Examples of the medal vary greatly
in quality from simple painted iron stars issued by the Ottomans during the
war, to elaborately enamelled German replacements often privately made
after the war.
Although the medal was not officially hung
on a ribbon, a ribbon was authorised for the War Medal to be worn
without the medal itself in the second buttonhole in a similar style
to the Iron Cross, Second Class. When worn in the buttonhole with
the Iron Cross it was worn beneath the Iron Cross.Some bars were
seen with the breast badge of the medal worn on the ribbon. It could also be worn as a ribbon
on a miniature bar. The ribbon was
red with a white stripe on either side. Non-combatants had the
colours reversed on their ribbons. Clasps in Arabic could also be
worn for campaigns and unofficial versions were later made with
German lettering.
Imtiyaz Medal
The Distinction Medal ("Imtiyaz
Madalyasi") was instituted in 1882 in gold and
silver orders both of which came in first and second
classes (the second being smaller than the first). It
was the highest ranking military award of the Ottoman
Empire. It consisted of a round medal bearing the
Ottoman coat of arms and Arabic script hung on a red and
green ribbon (the red half being on the wearer's right
hand side). The Distinction Medals awarded for the First
World War had a clasp of the same metal as the medal
with the Arabic date for 1915 and crossed sabres below
it.
Liyakat Medal
The Merit Medal ("Liyakat
Madalyasi") was instituted in 1890 in gold and
silver orders both of which came in first and second
classes (the second being smaller than the first). As an
award it ranked below the Distinction Medal and above
the War Medal. It consisted of a round medal bearing the
Ottoman coat of arms on a red ribbon with a green stripe
down either side. As with the Distinction Medal it was
awarded during the First World War with a clasp of the
same metal as the medal with the Arabic date for 1915
and crossed sabres above it.
Medjidie Order
The Medjidie Order was
instituted in 1851 and named after the reigning
Sultan Abdul Mejid I. It could be awarded in five
classes. The award consisted of the Sultan's royal
cipher surrounded by an inscription on a
circle of red enamel on a seven pointed jewelled
star surmounted by a red crescent and five pointed
star. Most awards of the order were to high ranking
officers and officials. German and Austro-Hungarian
officers were occasional recipients during the First
World War.
Recommended External Links - Turkish Medals, Antique Photos and an article on Turkish Medals at Digger
History
Recommended Reading - Turkish
War Medal by Demir Erman |