Christian1962

Firefighters were and still are volounteers in Austria. There are only few professional organisations in bigger cities like Vienna, Graz, Linz,... which are part of the city government. The medal was re-established in 1922 and again in 1949 for 25 and 40 years volounteer service. A similar medal was created for the Hungarian part of the empire too. Regards Christian

I owned a similar piece with that very detailed elaborated eagle beaks and that kind of a broader body. It was made by Bachruch. Regards Christian

The "Offizierskreuz des Roten Kreuzes" is not very rare. As you can see the case is in bad condition. A very good peace with case will cost 600 €. Ask for a pic of the backside, there are two different kinds of mounting. You can see it here: https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/6734487/ I am not sure now: the seller want´s 2.400 € for both - Franz Joseph (as shown above) AND Red Cross? This is too much in my opinion. Maybe it´s worth 1.300 - 1.500 for both if the backside of the Red Cross is okay. Regards Christian

Price depends on your local market I would say. Here in Austria it´s not a really rare item. Gold FJO with case go up to 1.500 €. Without case I would not pay more then 1.000 €. Here a link to Dorotheum in Vienna: https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/7388794/ Kindest regards Christian

It appears to be legit and yes, it´s made from gold. You can recognize that on the hallmarks on the ring and on the hinge of the center backside medaillon. What´s the price? Kindest regards Christian

You are welcomed any time. Regards Christian

Yes, it´s quite rare. It was awarded six (not five) times, here is the list: PVBl. 35/1918 vom 27.02.1918, A. h.E. vom 20.02.1918 – Präs. 5.800 vom 21.02.1918: Vidossich Rudolf, Oberst, ük. im GAR 3, Kdt. einer Infanteriebrigade PVBl. 141/1918 vom 12.08.1918, A. h.E. vom 03.08.1918 – Präs. 27.619 vom 05.08.1918: Hrozny Edler von Bojemil Josef, Fmlt., Kdt. einer Infanteriedivision Puchalski Stanislaus von, Fmlt., Kdt. einer Infanteriedivision PVBl. 151/1918 vom 24.08.1918, A. h.E. vom 15.08.1918 – Präs. 29.438 vom 18.08.1918: Le Beau Aurel, Fmlt., Kdt. einer Infanteriedivision Bardolff Dr. iur. Karl, Fmlt., Kdt. einer Infanteriedivision PVBl. 200/1918 vom 09.11.1918, A. h.E. vom 31.10.1918 – Präs. 40.112 vom 02.11.1918: Soos von Badok Karl, GM Kindest Christian

And really rare original case for "Kleine Dekoration" - congratulations! Christian

Dear Enzo, your Militärverdienstkreuz is a really desiderable and beautiful piece - congratulations! I purchased some pieces out of the Fattovich collection, esp. breaststars and "Kleine Dekorationen" for rare Leopoldorden decorations. Most of them are in Mericka´s book from 1974. It´s fun for me to own them in spite most of them are Rothe collector´s copies from the sixties. Regards Christian

Here just for interest a 2nd class with 2nd award laurel wreath. It´s a purchase from the famous Fattovich collection which was sold some years ago. It´s an early Rothe collectors copy in gold:

I can add a "Kleine Dekoration" for the 1st class just with "Kriegsdekoration" but without swords: And one for the peacetime "Kleine Dekoration": Both 3rd classes are gold. Regards Christian

Dear Ian, it reads "Schwanda" - Generalmajor Karl Schwanda. Kindest regards Christian

You should not forget that it could have been a kind of political statement. There were some people who did not come in for the Austrian medal because they denied the Austrian government, esp. illegal nationalsocialists. Others denied to mount the Austrian medal after 1938 because of opportunism. Regards Christian

He received the knights cross of MMTO for the Denmark-campaign in 1864. Here a cutout from k.k. Staatshandbuch 1874: Regards Christian

Here is the link: https://www.militaria.at/Book.aspx?book=47567520&Language=en Regards Christian

I can add a little detail: if you have a look onto the hallmarks, you can see that they are very blurry. This is a typical cast issue. The hallmarks would be more distinctive if they were hit and not just casted. Regards Christian

you will get it at Morch & Son´s in Kopenhagen: http://www.mwmorch.dk/uk/products/miniature-decorations/europe-outside-scandinavia.aspx Regards Christian

He was a long time Aide de Camp of Franz Joseph. Therefore he received the Franz Josef Kreuz. I accidentially met a Countess Hoyos last week and she told me it is said that he was one of the first to see Kronprinz Rudolf after his suicide in Mayerling. Regards Christian

I think, I could provide some infos too: 01.11.1878 Leutnant i.d.Res. (DR 3) 01.11.1889 Oberleutnant (DR 14) 01.05.1897 Rittmeister (DR 14) 01.05.1908 Major (DR 14) 01.05.1912 Oberstleutnant (DR 14) 01.11.1914 Oberst [70] (DR 14) 01.05.1918 Generalmajor with rank from 14.06.1918 Here a link to Austrian States Archives: https://www.archivinformationssystem.at/detail.aspx?ID=76043 Regards Christian

Hello, foreign orders were just listed in "Haus-, Hof- und Staatshandbuch". Here is a copy from the 1914 issue which should display all decorations bestowed until 1913: I could find some more in the 1916 issue: Here follows the link: https://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1916&size=45&page=61 and I can add his last list of Austrian decorations - effective with March 1918: Link: https://library.hungaricana.hu/en/view/RanglistenHeeres_1918/?pg=59&layout=s&query=Hoyos Regards Christian

Dear Glenn, you are right with Ruhestandsschematismus. Because of the fact that I don´t own any of them and they are not available online, they are not on my screen. Thank you for your post. Kindest Christian

The MVK was introduced in 1849 and it was instituted with the "war" ribbon even for peacetime and wartime service. The war decoration was instituted in 1860 and the ribbon was still the same for both. There was never another ribbon for the imperial MVK. Regards Christian

I agree with Simius Rex. It is a fireman rank of "Feuerwehrmann" after 1945. The star is not embroidered but stamped. Therefore it is not a lieutenant-equivalent rank. Here you have an actual pic, if you scroll down: https://feuerwehr-wildermieming.at/2017/03/16/jahreshauptversammlung-2017/ Regards Christian

If you want to check foreign orders for Austrian colonels and generals you have just the chance to do it in the k.u.k. Staatshandbuch. Only here the foreign orders were listed. I have checked the last one of 1914 and here Lawrowski did not own any foreign decoration. Here the link: https://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1914&size=31&page=676 Regards Christian

I read "Feneteör" which makes not really sense. I could not find a similar name or place. Regards Christian