BACKGROUND: The Cross of Merit for War Aid was introduced in December of 1916 by King Wilhelm II, who, after rendering it to himself, made the first award of this medal to Field Marshall von Hindenberg.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The medal takes the form of a die struck zinc Maltese cross , whose central medallion, to the obverse, features a Prussian crown above the stylized letters "W" and "R," for Wilhelm II of Prussia. To the reverse, the medallion features a spray of oak leaves arching beneath the inscription "Für Kriegs-Hilfdienst" (For War-Help-service). A perforation is to the upper arm of the cross, through which passes the suspension ring for a section of its original ribbon. The ribbed moire ribbon is edged with narrow red stripes, between which are six narrow black stripes spaced equidistantly upon a white background.