Need help with Prussian military medal

Hello, my great grandfather emigrated from Prussia to the US in the late 1800s. I have a very poor copy (sorry) of a military service… memento? I’m trying to glean as much as I can from it, and more specifically whether it can be determined what the Iron Cross medal in the bottom right corner is about. Sadly I have not been able to track down much of his personal effects, I’m not exactly sure where all that went, so I basically only have this blurry photo of a photo. I do know that that is his head superimposed on the figure, as I have a very few other photos of his. Any help is greatly appreciated, either about the medal or about this kind of memorial of service.

 

Tried to fix some of the blur (sadly, at the expense of some of the finer details):

 

The only thing I can see is the date - 1875. The smaller lettering is a blurry mess, even blown up.

 

A Google Images search will bring up similars which will help you identify what you have. Here's an example.

https://www.darabanth.com/en/major-...eul-Leitner-litho-emleklap-31x45-cm~II842231/

Debora

 

So you're right. The shield on the left, black & white, is of Prussia. The shield on the right, red, white and black is of the German Empire. (And, forgive me if I'm stating the obvious. I'm trying to sort the imagery through in my own mind.)

Debora

 

I assume you're trying to associate the Iron Cross with his military service but it is more likely a standard. This is one belongs to the Crown Prince and dates to 1871-1892.

 

I think it’s 1878

my attempt at the de-blur makes it look more like a 5 than the original

 

You're right. 1878. And my example above is called a "Commemoration of My Service Time" Memorial Card. It is from Hungary.

Debora

 

Thanks for the responses, it’s giving me more leads. And I know virtually nothing, so I appreciate folks stating what others might find obvious, it isn’t to me. I’ll attach the original (I had cropped it slightly in my original post), you can see it’s a large paper that is a bit folded or bent on the ground/carpet, and it looks like the “cross” was laid against it for the photo. The white text are labels that were meant to translate, I think, what’s on there. My aunt must have contacted some distant relatives in Germany to get this picture, unfortunately she is no longer available to ask.

 

The language in the banner across the top appears to be Zur Erinnerung an Meine Dienstzeit or "To Commemorate My Service" according to Google Translate. This Austro-Hungarian example hasn't been personalized with an image of the officer. Kinda eerie, no?

Debora

 

Labels seen on new photo, read;
top left, similar to what Debora said.
top right, Kaiser Wilhelm's picture in the center of the three men.
bottom left, Under each pillar, only unity leads to strength ... Power and freedom.
bottom center, A picture of (man's name) pasted on the figure of the soldier.
bottom right, (name of medal) given to (man's name)

 

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

 

The next generation of Austrian officers landed in the trenches. All too literal for them.