So I allready got my printed copy yesterday, this was a fast delivery! Great article I have to say! Just one minor note to it. On page 53 Dave wrote: "In several states, such as the Duchy of Brunswick, one was required to have recieved the Iron Cross before being considered for the state award." Well I can't say for other states, but for the Duchy of Brunswick I can say, that this is not true in this absoluteness. It is true for must all soldiers who recieved the war merit cross of Brunswick, that they also have recieved the IC2, but there was a pool of 10 - 14 wmc of Brunswick for every company and unit with soldiers of the Duchy of Brunswick or soldiers who are related to the Duchy to give to theses soldiers for bravery even if they haven't got the IC2 yet. And the rule which Dave mentioned was also not applicable at the begin of the war! Take a look at the newspaper from 9th of October 1914, where 72 names were listed from soldiers who recieved both decorations and 91 names of soldiers of the infantery regiment 92 who just recieved the wmc without having or recieving the IC2.

I am really looking forward to reading this article, I checked the webpage and there are two pages of this article to be seen. Picture 3 shows a fascinating 4 medals medal bar from a man of the duchy of Brunswick. From left to right there is war merit cross 2nd non combatant of Brunswick, a knight 2nd of the order of Henry the Lion, an iron cross 2nd class non combatant and a prussian merit cross for war aid to be seen. As beautyfull as this little medal bar is, it is against every regulation. The statement from Duke Ernst August from 24th of January 1916 reads as the following: "I hereby determine that the orders and medals from the duchy of Brunswick have to be worn in this succession: war merit cross on the ribbon for combatants and non combatants knight cross with swords knight cross order 4th class with swords order 4th class Knights of the iron cross 2nd class on the black and white and on the white and black ribbon have to wear it on the first place before any other order from Brunswick! " So the right and official succession on this medal bar should have been: IC2, war merit cross 2nd, KC2, merit cross for war aid. I am interested if Dave has written anything on this topic.

Great, I just ordered my printed copy today! It is the third one, which I purchased, so maybe I should subscribe to it?

I have seen a bar with the Spangen on the EK2 and the Ehrenkreuz... Vets did strange things between the wars

I have never seen a Hungarian World War Commemorative Medal with Gefechtsspangen (campaign bars). Were they originally allowed? Thanks!

Not that it is needed, but another great reason to subscribe to this magazine. Fingers crossed my next issue is not unduly delayed by the dreaded covid 😞

This will probably be the most interesting article you will read this year... few people understand the States as well as Dave Danner.... https://www.militaria-history.co.uk/store/back-issues/iron-cross?fbclid=IwAR3Bm4O1Eh2wFWV-PA67xXaHgChN9XwbtwOcpfdiuwHMJmhEI9M45g5IdVM

Hello Gents, I just wished to update my information regarding the authenticity of this individual being officially authorized the E.K. II, as noted on his Genealogical document. Someone, in addition to myself were seemingly concerned as to the apparent lack of his official E.K. II Award Document, although a few of his other certificates were present ? So basically, all I had was the fact of it being included on his Family Lineage document. Well, hopefully, I can put this to rest & confirm the award, based upon what I 'think' is it being listed on page 24 of his WW2 era We browse, along with 2 other items directly below the E.K. II reference. Now again, I'm not absolutely certain at this point, but hopefully someone more familiar with such things will be kind enough to please confirm this fact. THANKS AGAIN, Best, Dom P. Also, here's a much better scan of the 1st page of his Genealogical document, which hopefully will shed a bit more light on his WW 1 service. I'm especially interested in what it refers to about his Front service ? THANKS ... Best, Dom P.

Hello Gents, I just wished to update my information regarding the authenticity of this individual being officially authorized the E.K. II, as noted on his Genealogical document. Someone, in addition to myself were seemingly concerned as to the apparent lack of his official E.K. II Award Document, although a few of his other certificates were present ? So basically, all I had was the fact of it being included on his Family Lineage document. Well, hopefully, I can put this to rest & confirm the award, based upon what I 'think' is it being listed on page 24 of his WW2 era We browse, along with 2 other items directly below the E.K. II reference. Now again, I'm not absolutely certain at this point, but hopefully someone more familiar with such things will be kind enough to please confirm this fact. THANKS AGAIN, Best, Dom P.

Hello Gents, In the interest of being thorough, I've decided to add the below Files, as perhaps someone may see something within them to further my knowledge of this Group. Lately, I just can't seem to get away from attempting to research guys who choose not to utilize their 1st name, as in this particular case. He was apparently born as Wilhelm Heinrich, although appears to have preferred to go by just Heinrich.[ Didn't he realize that by doing so it was going to cause some obscure 'Yank' problems 100 years down the road ? In fact, I just finished researching an American Civil War Lieutenant's Medals who chose to due the exact same thing ! ] On this man, I'm particularly interested in confirming his 'exact' last name, & also his post WW1 civil occupation, if at all possible. His surname is spelled in a few places in the older, German script method, & for the uninitiated link is myself, it's extremely difficult to dechiper. I am hoping his Wehrpass will assist me somewhat when I receive it, & especially if it confirms his WW1 E.K.II award, although I'm confident that it was an do feel that it was an authorized decoration. If anyone happens to have any ideas regarding the recipient, I would deeply appreciate hearing your thoughts, & or comments. THANK YOU, Best regards, Dom P. / dpast32

Yes, I thought so to until I noted the date attributed to it on one of the Genealogical documents. It specifically notes 27 January 1916, so there's got to be something to it anyway, I do hope ? Note that towards the bottom of this attached document, you will observe that it specifically refers to an E.K. II being awarded, with the date of 27 January 1916 being specified. Now yes, I do admit to it is indeed not the official award document, however, in my experience, it's quite unlikely that he would have claimed such had it not been a genuine award. [ I could indeed be wrong though, but in this instance I truly don't think so ? ] I am hoping though that his E.K. II is documented, therefore confirmed within his Wehrpass, but as I haven't received it yet, I can't say for sure. I am hoping though ! Best, Dom P. / dpast32

Nothing uncomman there... but the lacking EK doc makes the group a it like a car without wheels

Hello, In the German Army as in others, musicians acted in combat as auxiliary stretcher bearers , hilfkrankentrager. apart existed the Sanitaeter , men who belonged to the Medical Corp of the Army, trained in first aid technics . Sanis , were assigned to Coys , Bataillons and Regiments. other component of Medical were the stretcher bearers platoons or Coys

OK Gents, perhaps these scans will help. Please see the following Link: https://stewartsmilitaryantiques.com/german-wwi-wwii-medal-award-documents-wehrpass-grouping.52151.archive.htm

Hello Gents, Please excuse my apparent ignorance in this area, as the E. K. Series of awards is not my primary area of expertise. I picked up what I'm hoping to be an interesting addition to my collection, although I'm not at all certain as to just how far I'll be able to research it. Briefly, it's an Iron Cross 2nd Class identified by related documents as being awarded to an 'Sanitater und Musiker' who was awarded it for an action on 27 January 1916, at the front with the Imperial German's 80th Reserve Infantry Regiment. From what I've learned over the years, that term would be primarily be used to describe a Stretcher Bearer, & may have been awarded for perhaps transporting wounded personnel under enemy fire / shelling, etc. I guess what I'm curious about is whether the EK II would have been a relatively common award for someone with his particular function & Gefreiter rank, or perhaps may be been somewhat uncommon ? If anyone happens to be familiar with these awards I'd deeply appreciate hearing their views on the subject. THANK YOU Best, Dom P. / dpast32

Good Day, I am looking for help in trying to identify a possible military item. I am not even sure of the best placed to post this. The British Museum suggested that it may be Russian, But I otherwise have no additional information to give. It is currently attached to a pocket watch via chain. The pocket watch is dated back to approximately 1890, but I am not certain the two are originally connected to each other. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

My copy arrived 'down under' about the time I thought it would, but having said that eBay items do seem to take a lot longer.

Hi, thanks, no, I will get one soon, just wondering how covid is effecting the mail in your area, and covid and brexit in the EU. France to Germany 2-3 days no problem... UK to Germany may not arrive at all, or with great delays... bought a keyring off UK ebay, 2 weeks to arrive.

G'day Chris, Issue 8 arrived (Australia) with me today. Can I help you with anything? Regards, Ian

Illegal copies are not allowed to be posted here. The magazine survives by people paying to read it and would die if people chose to post illegal copies instead.

Try to download it from here:

Post is slow, I am keen to get it!

I found an interesting quote of a German man of letters. Hermann Otto Rudolf Presber said at the beginning of WW1: "Und mögen Orden gleißen,des Goldwerts sich bewußt, das schlichte Kreuz aus Eisen schlägt all sie auf der Brust. Kein andres ist zu achten,ihm gleich an seinem Wert, das in der Not der Schlachten,den Mann und Kämpfer ehrt." In Englkish it would read like this: "And even if medals glitter, aware of their gold and value, the simple cross of iron beats them all on the chest. No other is to be respected, nor equal to it in its value, which honors the man and fighter in the distress of battles."

Just remembered that I had this in the back of the drawer. A letter written in 1927 from a Mr Weisse who had promised to send a souvenir to an associate in England. The letter contained an EKII (which I still have). Quoting directly from the hand written letter: "here enclosed is one, an "Iron Cross." It is not easy to get them as the German braves are as proud of them as the British with the V.C." So, even getting on for ten years after the war, it seems as though the veterans held them in very high regard. As a side note the EKII was enclosed in it's own hand written titled envelope "Iron Cross won by a German somewhere on the Great Battlefield" and includes the certificate stamped KGL.PR.MAGDEB.PION.BATL.No.4 - 5.KOMPAGNIE signed in purple crayon by 'Martin'

The purpose of this section is what i am posting now... a correction... Some lucky research... Jakob Maier seems to have been the ring supplier for the prewar association rings. Different versions for different units. I am not sure if he was the actual maker, the ad offers everything from beer mugs to pipes... he may have been a retailer as opposed to maker?