diff --git a/api/routes/_generic.js b/api/routes/_generic.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d466cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/routes/_generic.js
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"use strict";
+
+// HTTP status codes by name
+const codes = require('./http-codes');
+
+const genericPatch = (req, res, next, modelClass) => {
+  if (!req.body || (req.body._id && req.body._id !== req.params.id)) {
+    // little bit different as in PUT. :id does not need to be in data, but if the _id and url id must match
+    const err = new Error('id of PATCH resource and send JSON body are not equal ' + req.params.id + ' ' +
+      req.body._id);
+    err.status = codes.notfound;
+    next(err);
+    return; // prevent node to process this function further after next() has finished.
+  }
+
+  req.body.updatedAt = new Date();
+  req.body.$inc = {__v: 1};
+  if (req.body.hasOwnProperty('__v')) {
+    delete req.body.__v;
+  }
+
+  // PATCH is easier with mongoose than PUT. You simply update by all data that comes from outside. no need to
+  // reset attributes that are missing.
+  modelClass.findByIdAndUpdate(req.params.id, req.body, {new: true}, (err, item) => {
+    if (err) {
+      err.status = codes.wrongrequest;
+    } else if (!item) {
+      err = new Error('item not found');
+      err.status = codes.notfound;
+    } else {
+      res.locals.items = item;
+    }
+    next(err);
+  });
+};
+
+exports.genericPatch = genericPatch;
diff --git a/api/routes/campaigns.js b/api/routes/campaigns.js
index c992cbf..136b2ce 100644
--- a/api/routes/campaigns.js
+++ b/api/routes/campaigns.js
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ const idValidator = require('../middleware/validators').idValidator;
 const CampaignModel = require('../models/campaign');
 const WarModel = require('../models/war');
 
+// util
+const genericPatch = require('./_generic').genericPatch;
+
 const campaigns = new express.Router();
 
 // routes **********************
@@ -56,34 +59,7 @@ campaigns.route('/:id')
          })
 
          .patch(apiAuthenticationMiddleware, checkMT, (req, res, next) => {
-           if (!req.body || (req.body._id && req.body._id !== req.params.id)) {
-             // little bit different as in PUT. :id does not need to be in data, but if the _id and url id must match
-             const err = new Error('id of PATCH resource and send JSON body are not equal ' + req.params.id + ' ' +
-               req.body._id);
-             err.status = codes.notfound;
-             next(err);
-             return; // prevent node to process this function further after next() has finished.
-           }
-
-           req.body.updatedAt = new Date();
-           req.body.$inc = {__v: 1};
-           if (req.body.hasOwnProperty('__v')) {
-             delete req.body.__v;
-           }
-
-           // PATCH is easier with mongoose than PUT. You simply update by all data that comes from outside. no need to
-           // reset attributes that are missing.
-           CampaignModel.findByIdAndUpdate(req.params.id, req.body, {new: true}, (err, item) => {
-             if (err) {
-               err.status = codes.wrongrequest;
-             } else if (!item) {
-               err = new Error('item not found');
-               err.status = codes.notfound;
-             } else {
-               res.locals.items = item;
-             }
-             next(err);
-           });
+           return genericPatch(req, res, next, CampaignModel);
          })
 
          .delete((req, res, next) => {
diff --git a/api/routes/wars.js b/api/routes/wars.js
index eb42cf9..65b04d2 100644
--- a/api/routes/wars.js
+++ b/api/routes/wars.js
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ const LogFlagModel = require('../models/logs/flag');
 const LogBudgetModel = require('../models/logs/budget');
 const LogPointsModel = require('../models/logs/points');
 
+// util
+const genericPatch = require('./_generic').genericPatch;
+
 const wars = new express.Router();
 
 // routes **********************
@@ -169,34 +172,7 @@ wars.route('/:id')
     })
 
     .patch(apiAuthenticationMiddleware, checkMT, (req, res, next) => {
-      if (!req.body || (req.body._id && req.body._id !== req.params.id)) {
-        // little bit different as in PUT. :id does not need to be in data, but if the _id and url id must match
-        const err = new Error('id of PATCH resource and send JSON body are not equal ' + req.params.id + ' ' +
-          req.body._id);
-        err.status = codes.notfound;
-        next(err);
-        return; // prevent node to process this function further after next() has finished.
-      }
-
-      req.body.updatedAt = new Date();
-      req.body.$inc = {__v: 1};
-      if (req.body.hasOwnProperty('__v')) {
-        delete req.body.__v;
-      }
-
-      // PATCH is easier with mongoose than PUT. You simply update by all data that comes from outside. no need to
-      // reset attributes that are missing.
-      WarModel.findByIdAndUpdate(req.params.id, req.body, {new: true}, (err, item) => {
-        if (err) {
-          err.status = codes.wrongrequest;
-        } else if (!item) {
-          err = new Error('item not found');
-          err.status = codes.notfound;
-        } else {
-          res.locals.items = item;
-        }
-        next(err);
-      });
+      return genericPatch(req, res, next, WarModel);
     })
 
     .delete(apiAuthenticationMiddleware, checkMT, (req, res, next) => {
diff --git a/api/tools/signature-tool.js b/api/tools/signature-tool.js
index 8fe9b7e..86a0010 100644
--- a/api/tools/signature-tool.js
+++ b/api/tools/signature-tool.js
@@ -137,48 +137,7 @@ let addDecorationsAndSave = (userId, loadedImage, res, next) => {
                      return next(err);
                    }
                    if (awardings.length > 0) {
-                     // TODO: simplify this sorting hell
-                     awardings.sort((a1, a2) => {
-                       if (!a1.decorationId.isMedal && !a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
-                         if (a1.decorationId.fraction === a2.decorationId.fraction) {
-                           if (a1.date !== a2.date) {
-                             if (a1.date < a2.date) {
-                               return -1;
-                             }
-                             if (a1.date > a2.date) {
-                               return 1;
-                             }
-                           }
-                           return 0;
-                         } else {
-                           if (a1.decorationId.fraction === 'GLOBAL' && a2.decorationId.fraction !== 'GLOBAL') {
-                             return -1;
-                           }
-                           if (a2.decorationId.fraction === 'GLOBAL' && a1.decorationId.fraction !== 'GLOBAL') {
-                             return 1;
-                           }
-                         }
-                       }
-                       if (a1.decorationId.isMedal !== a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
-                         if (a1.decorationId.isMedal && !a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
-                           return 1;
-                         }
-                         if (!a1.decorationId.isMedal && a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
-                           return -1;
-                         }
-                       }
-                       if (a1.decorationId.isMedal && a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
-                         if (a1.date !== a2.date) {
-                           if (a1.date < a2.date) {
-                             return -1;
-                           }
-                           if (a1.date > a2.date) {
-                             return 1;
-                           }
-                         }
-                         return 0;
-                       }
-                     });
+                     awardings.sort((a1, a2) => sortAwardingsForSignature(a1, a2));
 
                      // use synchronized call to keep correct order of decorations
                      async.eachSeries(awardings, (award, callback) => {
@@ -262,5 +221,47 @@ let saveJimpImageAndCompress = (image, userId, res, next) => {
   }, 3000);
 };
 
+const sortAwardingsForSignature = (a1, a2) => {
+  if (!a1.decorationId.isMedal && !a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
+    if (a1.decorationId.fraction === a2.decorationId.fraction) {
+      if (a1.date !== a2.date) {
+        if (a1.date < a2.date) {
+          return -1;
+        }
+        if (a1.date > a2.date) {
+          return 1;
+        }
+      }
+      return 0;
+    } else {
+      if (a1.decorationId.fraction === 'GLOBAL' && a2.decorationId.fraction !== 'GLOBAL') {
+        return -1;
+      }
+      if (a2.decorationId.fraction === 'GLOBAL' && a1.decorationId.fraction !== 'GLOBAL') {
+        return 1;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  if (a1.decorationId.isMedal !== a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
+    if (a1.decorationId.isMedal && !a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
+      return 1;
+    }
+    if (!a1.decorationId.isMedal && a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
+      return -1;
+    }
+  }
+  if (a1.decorationId.isMedal && a2.decorationId.isMedal) {
+    if (a1.date !== a2.date) {
+      if (a1.date < a2.date) {
+        return -1;
+      }
+      if (a1.date > a2.date) {
+        return 1;
+      }
+    }
+    return 0;
+  }
+};
+
 
 module.exports = createSignature;
diff --git a/api/tools/util.js b/api/tools/util.js
index 155ac34..86f699e 100644
--- a/api/tools/util.js
+++ b/api/tools/util.js
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ const timeStringToDecimal = (timeString) => {
   return hour + (sek / 3600);
 };
 
-
 const decimalToTimeString = (decimal) => {
   const hours = parseInt(decimal.toString().split('.')[0]);
   const minutesFloat = ((decimal % 1) * 3600) / 60;