Stogieman

I cannot imagine what it must have been like to live through that, after the fact. The only parallel in the US would have been the Civil War. In some cases, even families were torn apart with some fighting for the Union and some fighting for the Confederacy.... a bloody, terrible time in our history that cost hundreds of thousands of lives...

You have to love the 2-place bravery bars. They exempify the war........ I usually assume the recipient did not make it. After a few hundred of these float through your hands the impact of that really sinks in......

It's sobering.

I'd agree with Chip but take it one step further. Very nice with a bigger photo in there. Often times, you'll see this with only a tiny head glued in!

Ouch Martin! That's a heck of an "experience hit" to take....... if the dimensions alone are different I would suspect you have the ability to argue the piece being a cast copy of the examples I mentioned. I would certainly give it a try........

Hopefully, the Holiday was what it should have been! Cheers! Rick

Man, not even a rise out of His Tamaraness............. what on earth is the world coming to??

ahhhhh, Thanks Heiko, I missed that detail!!

I think both view points are probably true. The Gold (issued pieces) WBN was gold, even during WW1. A silver gilt piece could simply be an individual attempt by the recipient to either raise some cash, or enhance his silver piece.

But what Claudio says is true on several accounts:

A) not an officially issued/sanctioned piece

B) cannot be claimed to be one

Also, I have just looked at some photos from Wild Card of a different example in gold that I am awaiting a couple of answers to questions on!!

Why is there no Honor Cross on the bar? If he/she received either a combat, or a nc on combat ribbon EK2, how can we have 1 1938 3. Reich award yet no Honor Cross??

Hi Claudio, is it possible we might have the same situation here that we see with the Saxon Silver FAM?? there are numerous fire-gilded examples floating around and they were never issued that way!

Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time.........

I've had gilt, I've had 333 gold ones....... never a 835 though. That would be too fabulous to even consider!!

Wow, pretty fascinating stuff Chris! Congrats for snagging a nice document!

Interesting thread..... I only have one Sovereign. No exciting stories go with it though...... it was a gift from my wife on the occasion of our wedding!

Hi Tom, the first case with the embossed EK I have not seen before..... very, very nice. I'm glad you snagged the Austrian one from Paul........ very special indeed!!

I will also add........ owning many groups of bars that I worked very hard to save and in the end being the only person (really seems that way) who cares that it's a group, I find no fault, no foul in this group being broken up by the original seller.

Thanks again guys, I've printed out this entire thread so this question will never be asked again (about the one guy anyway! ;>) )

Man, I never find anything when I go on vacation.............. maybe I should go with Chris next year!!

Note the massive prongs on the swords. At somepoint, someone stitched (at the corners) some red wool backing material which is simply there....... the corner stitches are gone and the only thing that keeps it on are the pin and the "cut" of the backing as it encompasses the pin, hinge and catch!!

Because inquiring minds want to know..............

The back is interesting, your typical, wide-open ribbon and stitching:

** Members should be advised that Dr. Hansen aka Tom Hansen, aka hawkeye has had his membership priviliges on this Forum suspended. In addition, he has been suspended from Wehrmacht-Awards.com due to the serious breach of good judgement and ethics. **

Hi Mike, I've seen the second one as a definite cap badge before. Maybe your initial thought on the first "one" was right!!

Hi WC, sadly, another giant leaves us with his memory and his legacy...... as with George & Eric, the furrow they plowed for the rest of us to follow will continue to bear fruit and their memory and purpose will always be remembered.

You have my deepest sympathies. Tony & his family will be remembered in my thoughts and in my prayers.

Hi Mike, looks like someone mounted them as a set, probably originally individual pieces, right? Pretty neat!

Picture???????? Please!

Oh yeah, entire thing looks like a sample of typical patriotic item of WW1 era