bolewts58

My guess is this might be an early Ernst Blass concoction from the 1970s. Back then, knowledge about the French maker would have been rudimentary at best and I think it would have just added a bit of exotica to the piece that would have fooled most collectors.

How stupid are these people? It's quite easy to find out what an original wartime piece sells for (probably north of 15,000 € in good condition).

For one thing, "VON UNRUHE"??? LOL... Whoever engraved this is having a joke. Unruhe means restlessness or agitation. There's no place in Germany called "Unruhe". Also, the "J" should be an "I" and isn't the "8" in 1870 called an "over under" and a clear indicator of a fake? I think the hinge block is wrong and too high off the back. Genuine barrel hinges are soldered flat to the back. The beading is wrong. The frame is likely from a reworked 1914. Anything else?

I was kind of hoping for a comp copy...LOL? 😁 I bought one from Amazon and it should be here tomorrow. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Same cross but with a ribbon for a Bavarian regiment. http://www.medal-medaille.com/sold/product_info.php?products_id=13030

That is a generic regimental cross. There's no way of knowing unless you have the full size cross with the regimental bar.

I think it may be a Papal States order such as the Order of St. Sylvester. Close-up shots are needed to be sure.

It's the unofficial 8th Bavarian Reserve Division badge. In the first photo he is wearing on his collar (the correct location for it). In the second photo, he is wearing it above the EK1.

His medal bar would indicate that he didn't get the Austrian MVK 2, but the Order of Franz Josef (Knight) on Kriegsband for combat service.

Yes. I actually had a Militärpass to a NCO who served in Ukraine from 22/6/1918 to 30/12/1918 and received the Bug-Stern. His pass specifically states: "Besetzung zur Ukraine" (occupation of Ukraine).

A private purchase 800 silver and enamel screw-back Bug-Stern of the Schutztruppe Bug/Brigade Olita made by Paul Meybauer. These are generally referred to as the Bug-Stern for officers. But, actually anyone entitled who had the money could buy and wear this. It was originally instituted on February 1, 1919 for a minimum of 1 month's service in Kurland and Lithuania. However, less well known is the fact that it was also awarded retroactively for border defense in the Ukraine and Belarus against the Russians in 1918 when the unit was known as Brigade Bug as part of the Armee Bug serving in the region of the Bug River which ran through Poland, Belarus and Ukraine. So, it's actually both a WW1 award and a Freikorps award.

This beautifully enameled award is a bit outside the focus of this thread as it is post-war. But since it has a very direct link to a well-known regiment of the Imperial German Army that saw a lot of action in WW 1, I thought it might be of some interest. If it's inappropriate, let me know and I will delete it. Ehrenzeichen der Freiwilligen Hundertschaft Krose (Badge of Honor for Volunteer 'Company' Krose - It's difficult to precisely translate "Hundertschaft" as it's an old German military term for a unit roughly the size of a company of 80-100 men, based on ancient Germanic tribal formations which themselves were modeled on the Roman 'Century'. Freiwillige Hundertschaft Krose was formed by Oberleutnant a.D. Wilhelm Krose from former members, primarily officers and senior NCOs of Infanterie-Regiment Bremen (1. Hanseatisches Nr. 75) when the 3rd Polish uprising in Upper Silesia began on May 3, 1921. It participated in the defence of the city of Pitschen, the fighting at Kostau and Seichwitz and on May 24-26 it participated in the storming of the Annaberg Mountain. The award was given by Oberleutnant a.D. Krose for those who had distinguished themselves principally in the defense of the city of Pitschen, as well as the storming of Annaberg and other associated struggles in Upper Silesia. Awards were manufactured by Heinrich Timm, Berlin based on a design by Krose. The central medallion shows the red and white stripes of the ribbon of the Bremen Hanseatic Cross in honor of the wartime service of Krose and his men in Infantry regiment Bremen. The exact number of awards or crosses manufactured is not known. However, since this Freikorps only formed the 3rd Company of Selbstschutz-Bataillon Pitschen from the city of Pitschen in Upper Silesia, it’s generally believed that only around 100 crosses were awarded.

"Vati" = Dad

Original Silesian Eagles with Oakleaves and Swords are now quite scarce especially this type which was purpose built rather than a conversion. The oakleaves and swords are riveted rather than as if often the case fastened through a drilled hole by means of flat splints. The badge is heavily vaulted and the oakleaves and swords vaulted with it to form a very tight fit. Unfortunately, the original matte black finish on the obverse was polished off, most likely by the original recipient as was often done to make the badge "shine". In hand, the details are quite fine.