saschaw

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As it's now may and many maybugs are flying around here, a decided to show you a small group of a "maybug" officer (Prussian Garde F?siliere) I aquired some months ago. It's the group of Bernhard B?ttcher, born Sept. 20th 1879 in Trebnitz near Lebus. The group came with one single photo, and I guess it might be him on the horse, as he's the only one to wear a 2 place medal bar.

And the small one, with: - Bayern, Silberne Milit?r-Verdienstmedaille (Tapferkeitsmedaille); - Bayern, Milit?r-Verdienstkreuz ?. Klasse mit Schwertern; - Preu?en, Eisernes Kreuz 1914 II. Klasse. It has a greeeeeeen backing.

Here two more Bavarian ribbon bars, that came with the two above. Both with Bavarian Bravery medal, one big from WW II era, another one which should be still WW I: Firstly, the biiiiiiig one: - Preu?en, Eisernes Kreuz 1914 II. Klasse; - Bayern, Silberne Milit?r-Verdienstmedaille (Tapferkeitsmedaille); - Bayern, Milit?r-Verdienstkreuz III. Klasse mit Schwertern; - Dt. Reich, Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1939 II. Klasse mit Schwertern; - Dt. Reich, Volkspflege-Ehrenzeichen bzw. Medaille dazu; - Dt. Reich, Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer; - Bayern, Jubil?umsmedaille f?r die Armee 1905(?); - Dt. Reich, Luftschutz-Ehrenzeichen II. Klasse. (the bar itself is broken, but as long as you don't want to w e a r it, no problem )

Hmm, and now what to do? It's not mine, but belonging to the old man's collection my fahter and I are selling for him. I guess we'll have to think about it ...

A thousand thanks Gentlemen for the name, you're amazing. I'll name my first born girl (!!!) after you two. Hmm ... will sound strange, but that's worth it for sure. But it still has to be him, doesn't it? I'd say there have never been any, they just made it like this. The war ribbon does yet indicate the swords, so they might have been thinking there wasn't a need for it. What do you think I am doing all the time?! I'll think about it, as there is another ribbon bar I'm not yet sure with - you know which ...

I'd say these are two pictures, with two different persons on it. The man with the many medals is for sure not a German but a French or BeNeLux. No, this does not help. If I remember correctly, he still awarded it in Luxemburg ... More helpfull is the French Legion of Honour which is post 1870 modell, and even more helpfull the Belgium Jubilee medal (sorry, cannot remember for what) on the right of the Turkish order. This one is from about 1905, so the picture dates most likely 1905 to, lets say 1910 era ... PS: Or(!): it is taken in World War I, and he does not wear enemy's awards any more - nothing from Germany or Austria?! PPS: Stupid idea, he still wears the Ottoman award. Makes the picture 1905 to 1914. PPPS: Fopund the Belgian medal here, it is from 1905.

Hm, you might be right. You are right, if the stripes are white, but to me, they seemed to be a very light blue.

For sure not the ribbon for the Bavarian Jubilee Medal, but presumably something exotic. Maybe something from Greece?

Or it isn't a general, but a Prussian officer shortly before he got a Red Eagle IVth class, but yet two "foreigners"?! Is this impossible?

And its reverse. Thanks in advance for any opinion.

Dear Gentlemen, here's a Prussian bar from "IIIrd Reich" era, with the TR awards in first place - well, why not. The second to last ribbon is for the Prussian "Kreuz des Allgemeinen Ehrenzeichens", but has a medal on it. Might it be possible the tailor took the wrong ribbon, or is just the medal wrong and should be exchanged? The medals are just hooked in ... BTW: It seems he didn't want a 1934 "Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges" ...

Yeah, here the pictures. It was sold for 189,- ?uro ..

Now this one would have been great ... Has been sold some days ago on Ebay Germany for 273,- ?uro. It had been sold some months ago without the orders on it, I'll look for the old pictures later ...

Hmm, is real gold possible for a World War I ribbon bar device? I' not sure, silver and silver gilt might be more likely ...

And the devices: real silver, and maybe ...

And the back, very fine quality and still very nice condition:

Thanks for your input, but noooooooo. They're higher. BMVO3aX(!) with BMVO4a and, as I said, not sure about the blue ribbon ... Seems to be involved in something medical, as he later got an Prussian and an Austrian Red Cross award. Ribbons are silk, backing is as well.

Thanks - no problem with those ordinary peace time ribbons ... Thanks Bernd. According to Holzmann, the change was in 1908, after Friedrich I. died in September 1907. I cannot image they just changed the peace time medals and still awarded the older ones for "colonial bravery". The problem is just that they must be d*mn rar and we did not yet notice one, aaand: there are many around with Friedrich II. medal and as well China or Southwestafrica, but these Friedrich II. have to be for WWI, of course. There wasn't to much bravery in Colonies after 1907, was it?

Thanks for the information - but that's what I've(!) been told.

Other side:

Hmm, no - but my father sold one on Ebay some weeks ago, 'course I still have the pictures:

And the back of the ribbon-ribbon bar ... PS: I forgot to mention the size: it 24x84mm large/small ...

Someone said "Hessen"?! Hmm, this one might be interresting for Rick, as it's the oldest small form "ribbon bar" I've ever seen: Hessen with Austria, Officer, between 1866 and 1871 - from a time, when real medal bars were not yet the rule ... It's just made of sewn-together ribbons - no needle, no bar in it, just ribbon.

Hey guys, thanks for your help, it seems I forgot the thread back then, long ago - my apologize. Here's a Bavarian ribbon bar I bought recently. It came with some others I'll might show later, even one of the same recipient. You probably want to guess the grades of the Military Merit Orders, please? The 5th might be a W?rttemberg Friedrichs Order as well as a Prussia Crown Order. I've seen yet many Bavarian (high) officer's bars without any Prussian orders, so my guess'd be that the W?rttemberger is at least as likely as the Prussian one, or even more.