Stogieman

Hi, it looks cast, as opposed to struck/minted/coined. But I am not aware of anyone making fakes of this cross.

Nope, now your into the realm of pure speculation, with no way to ascertain and/or back up any idea. Unless of course you write to the Bavarian Archives and actually manage to get a copy of his "jacket".....

I suggest a trip in person as being your highest probability of success!!

PS: If you do decide to go at some point (or anybody else for that matter!) PLEASE let me know.... I have several names I need researched too!

John... the lapel bow with the double mini Luftwaffe eagles is outstanding! First time I've seen the minis mounted like that!

Now that's the Fran?ois we all know & love! jumping

Hi Wayne, I do not think there was any such thought process. "Marking" as you call it in your post was not an indication of some "future plan", but a reward for services rendered.

When The NSDAP came to power in the 1930's, having received such awards was not indicative of anything other than past military service and/or bravery. What was more important to the NSDAP was political adherence and reliability.

A significant number of highly decorated individuals from WW1 were ignored, censured or executed based upon political disagreement or "racial impurities"... including at least one recipient of the PLM.

I am not sure I understand the question and/or preposition at hand?

You open with a "I'm looking for equivalents" statement.

Equivalents of what?

Your listing of "highest military decoration" by the main kingdoms (Excluding Baden, a Duchy) is correct. The awards are all of your criteria...

Excluding the WOKwX, which was not the highest military award, it's a "House Order" with swords attached.

But again, these were not "markings" of some future plan....

Not really sure what your after here.

An outstanding bar to a Junior Officer from a Saxon Duchy? The Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt HOwX is very, very hard to find on ribbon bars!

Note that the Hannover Vet Medal has a ribbon that is identical to the Silesian Eagle, Second Class! Rick and I wondered how many of these have been mistaken one for the other! :speechless-smiley-004:

Those are some seriously nasty facial wounds he has there.... I had a CDV of a Saxon Doctor with similar facial wounds once... I cannot imagine what these guys went through.

Yes, definately a Bauer, probably Karl. The awards that can be traced, fit him. The other Bauers are shown for illustrative purposes only. KB was in a unit that had two officers awarded the AFK all on the same day. Highly improbable it would be anyone else, but cannot be claimed conclusively.

Another outstanding piece Ralph! Seems you've caught the "case/box/bag" bug!

Christophe. Obviously the first cross is a match for yours. Of the other two, my best guess would be the second cross with the wider (repaired) pin is war-time. Note the larger openings. I would guess that anything with a greater degree of workmanship would be earlier.

Again, for me, I so no distinction between WW1 awards given before 1918, or purchased by the recipient prior to the end of WW2.

After the end of WW2, there was a severe decline in not just the quality of materials available to work with, but also in the skill level of those making medals, decorations and orders.

That style of pin/hinge catch is more commonly seen in post-WW1 crosses. Especially the Juncker pieces. Meybauer pins are very similar in shape, but usually a bit thinner/longer. The pin you have is most likely Juncker and that would date it to post 1918.

I do not believe this detracts from the piece in the least. It's one I would certainly be pleased to own and/or offer for sale. remember that with how messed up things were at the end of the war.... many awards were not even made until after 1918! It is doubtful that everyone received a cross during the failing months at the end of the war.

Two options here. Meybauer or Juncker. Both probably made 1920-1940 era. Very nice cross!

Interesting that he mounted his "foreign" combat award behind his Colonial DM's... talk about Prussian....

OK, not a fighter, here's where we went with this guy:

Sargeant Karl Bauer (FFA4 in summer, 1916)

Anhalt Friedrich Cross, 2.kl. gazetted 28 June 1916 in Feldflieger Abteilung 4

EK1/EK2

Brunswick EAK2

Bavarian MMK1wK/X

Honor Cross for Combattants

Bavarian 15-Year LS Cross

(bumped down to Luftwaffe 12/4)

Repeat on the EK2, 1939-45

Bavarian Pilot Badge

He was a mechanic until at least 22Feb18 when he was posted to FEA 1b. He may have received pilot training at that time, but I lose track of him. This is what I have:

(Sergeant)

FeldLuftAbt 2 _______ 2Aug14 - 11Dec14

FFA 4b ____________ 11Dec14 - 15Jan17 (renumbered)

(Vzfw.)

FA 47b ____________ 15Jan17 - 10Jan18

AFP 3 _____________ 10Jan18 - 22Feb18

FEA 1b ____________ 22Feb18 -

Vizefeldwebel Bauer, Pilot, FA 293(A)b, wounded in action 16 September 1918.

Additional Bauers:

22.06.1918

Vizefeldwebel Josef Bauer (F) in der Gegend von Ayette durch Bodenbeschu? schwer verwundet

16.09.1918

Vizefeldwebel Hans Bauer (F) und Leutnant der Reserve Heinz Jordan (B) im Luftkampf mit 8 Sopwith Camel schwer verwundet.

Das Flugzeug geriet in Brand und die Besatzung konnte sich mit dem Fallschirm retten.

Unteroffizier Bauer erlitt einen Bauchschuss, Leutnant Jordan eine leichte Knieverletzung.

(Kofl 17 Bericht Nr.55 vom 19.09.1918)

So we have several Bauers, perhaps the names were annoted incorrectly on the casualties list. In any event that unit was a support unit, not a jagdstaffel

Hi Chris, Rick was able to narrow this down to (probably) one Bavarian enlisted Pilot. There were two Officers that received the Anhalt Cross the same day from this unit. Hang on and I'll see if I can dig out the notes.

Outstanding Bar. Simply outstanding!

:food-smiley-004:

Hmmm, where to begin? I'll have to comb through about 900 archived ribbon bar pictures! :speechless-smiley-004:

C'Mon Fran?ois, you're holding back! Show us yours!

very nice bars! Keep 'em coming!

If I remember correctly, there's less than 250 Double medal winners. Makes for a narrow pool of recipients and hikes the rarity scale through the roof. I've only ever found one double ribbon bar, one double medal bar. I've only seen fotos of one more in a collection in Germany. (The owner likes to tease me and every month or so eMails me photos of some of his stuff..... how mean can a guy get?)

Hi Jason, I never knew for sure, but it came in together and I hate breaking things up, even packets. I suspect you are probably right. The mark is for the Prussian State Mint... but I do not know if they made WB's

I have always thought this to be one of the most attractive of the bronze vet awards. Nice to see so many nice examples!

Hey Mike, welcome aboard!

Christophe! Bienvenue!