Graf

Hi Iver, Well done It is a very nice old miniature of the 4th Class 2nd Grade It is rare because it is double sided Also it looks like it is from the first Emmiassion with "7 dots" This emmission did not have 1st Grade of the 4th Class Check for any silver or maker marks - on the ring Regards Graf

Hi Guys, This is my last addition to my L1 collection Best Grafhttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2013/post-12584-0-12172500-1380509633.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2013/post-12584-0-45120300-1380509550.jpg

Hi, This is small contribution to the topic 4-th Class 2-nd Grade Set -Order, Box and Document to German Officer Graf

Hi Andreas, This is 6-th Class of The Order of St Alexander with swords in the middle without a crown .... missing ribbon (Red, Triangular Austian type) This is war time -Military Division (the swords in the middle) -Perhaps was awarded to the German Officer during WW2 Because it is 6-th Class without crown the German Officer was with a low Rank. Since you got it with a group of other odrers form WW2 period -it is very likely King Boris III Model 1918-1943 It is very likely by German or Austrian manifacturer I cannot see any Marks therfore it is very likely silvered base metal Regards Graf

Hi, Just small update on the topic I do not know whether I am lucky or simply more persistent on my search..however I have already 4 Bronze medals 2 French only and 2 Bilingual You can see differend shades of bronze and different form of th crowns Best Graf

Hi Andreas, You might be right about the Rank of the Officer I will make a close up picture of the shoulder boards. The handwritting is not a signature ..it says STALINGRAD. Here is one more Document for Officer Class (4th Class 2nd Grade) to a German Officer Regards Graf

Regarding the Miniatures of this Order They are relatively common in the lower Classes and more rare in the higher Classes. Yours is double sided and of very good quality, which makes it very rare. I have few Miniatures, however all are one sided Graf

Hi Dedehansen, Did you get any Documents wwith this Group ? New World gave a very nice information regarding 1941 Model of The Bulgarian Order for Bravery Usually the Geman Officers and Sodiers had the Order given together with Docunent in German This 3-rd Class 2-nd Grade maght have been given to a High ranking Officer -Oberst or General During this period the highest given award was 3rd Class 1st Grade Here are some examples -3rd Class 1st Grade with a photo of German general Wearing it Sorry no Docunent or a name 4th Class Sodiers Cross with the Awarding Document to a German Sodier. Graf

Hi, I left my opinion on the tread Fake Bulgarian Orders it is OK To be 100% sure run the "needle test' as i described it on the other tread Regards Graf

Hi, I can not see anything wrong with the Order It is very nice 3rd Class -Commander - King Boris Model 1918-1942/3 If you want to be sure it is better to do the "needle test" > Be gentle. and do not try to run the needle along the surface to avoid danage ( sometimes the enamel is protected by a very thin fine layer of coating) With a fine neddle try to penetrate the green, white and the red enamesl The fake modern enamel is soft and the needle will sink very easy. I am sure the enamel is OK. This is picture of my Commander from this Model If the test is negative i.e, Good then Congrats on the nice buy. Regards Graf

Hi Ralph A, Thank you Do you think it is made by S & L Regards Graf

one more view Note The box is a modern Luxury and did not come with the Order Graf

The Reverse view Graf

Dear Members, I have this Pour le merite for several years. I know it is post war, however i canot identify the period it was made It is 52,8 x 53.00 mm Weight -26.9 g i have not tested the material, however it has very nice solid gild. The enamel looks very old dark blue with the reverse quite rounded with few small chips. There are not any marks. It came with a short ribbon wide 57 mm, which has very nice soft texture and looks older compared with the new reproductions Does not glow. Regards Graf

The reverse view - 800 mark and Rothe & Neffe Maker Mark

Hi Chris, Thank you for your IMHO. It makes sense because the box acording to the Previtera Book " Iron Time" is described as post war. I assume because the General had few uniforms, he might have had at least two EK1 and Ek2 sets...or perhaps it could be the war time item ...I have not seen any 800 marked post war EK1, but my collecting experience is not as long as yours and that of some of the Forum members. Here is one more addition to the Topolc It is Prinzen EK1 by Rothe & Neffe..initially I did believe it was by the firm Meybauer, however after comparing few marks I concluded it is the Rothe Graf

Hi Chris, Thank you. I am still waiting an anwer to my initial question...could anyone clasify/identify the period of the EK1 or recognise the maker Regards Graf

Dear Members, This is picture of The EK1 and EK2 part of the Groupiing It has several more documents and awards(Bulgarian) and personal wartime field letters written by the General to his wife I hope you will like the EKs Part Regards Graf

Hi Chris, Yes, There is a Urkunde for EK2 as well ..and it is also signed by Fieldmarshal Von Mackensen The Group also has a letter to the General ( at the time of awarding he was Oberst) with congratulations and also personally signed.by V. Mackensen I will list them if you would like me to do so Regards Graf

Here is closer view of the 1914 of the EK1 in question The Four looks "closed 4", however the arms of the"4" on the top are very close but nod "closed" Regards Graf

Hi Marauder, The Four looks "closed 4", however the arms of the"4" on the top are very close but nod "closed" Also the design of the whole cross does not look like S&L Also the Cross size coresponds to the WW1 type 42.1 x 42.2 mm Here is picture of "closed" 4 post WW1 S&L

One more view The Cross looks it is made of the old type silve.r I do not agree that it is post war piece I ussually give a light clean of my EKs, however i decided to leave this one as it is, because it is apart of a Big group and it comes with Certificiate..any alterations can japordise the value of the group. Regards Graf

The Mark

The reverse view

Hi Marrauder, Sorry for the bad photos Hre are better ones The mark next to the hinge is boxed 800 See on the close photo Graf