filfoster

Rudi: Many, many thanks! Yes, this is the same parade baton that Ludwig appears to be holding in many photos, including a good one in the Jan Kube book of many years back. Question: Do you recall if it was this pattern on all sides? I must assume so. It is interesting that a photo of a military review in Germany interwar, of Princes Rupprecht and Leopold, show each holding Bavarian parade batons of different appearance. (Yes, I know they were both also Prussian field marshals but these batons are distinctly not the Prussian pattern). The batons they hold are not only different from the Ludwig III but also from each other! It may have been that Bavarian field marshals, particularly of the Royal House, were allowed a lattitude in the design of their own batons. The top interimstab appears to be a Prussian one, which would be correct also as Ludwig III was made a Prussian field marshal. The middle one is clearly the Bavarian interimstab.It is the only color photo I have ever seen, and has more detail than any photo I have yet seen. I will treasure these photos as they are likely the only ones I will ever see, in color and close detail!

Nada? This demonstrates the difficulty of finding what is essentially a very 'ordinary' looking button. I had the same trouble finding French and Italian general officer buttons-it took half a decade! (Still looking for British Field Marshal KC buttons and Admiral of the Fleet buttons).

This really is a small niche interest, isn't it?

Does anyone know of a source for late-era Austro-Hungarian general officer buttons, the ones worn on the 'German' everyday pike grey tunic or the white gala tunic? These are not overtly 'military' at all but I have not been able to find a single one that is unattched to a uniform. I am attempting to replicate the German dienstrock and need at least one to make others. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Does anyone have photos (or a hyperlink to one) of a Bavarian field marshal's parade baton or interimstab? The only photos I have or have found show only one side and there seems to be considerable variation among contemporaneous specimens, for example, an interwar photo of Rupprecht and Leopold attending some military review shows what appear to be two very distinctly different Bavarian (both were also Prussian field marshals, I believe) batons. The photos I have seen (two) of the interimstab show a very simple silvered, cylindrical 'head' surmounted by an open Bavarian crown and the usual braid and tassled loop through the headpiece near where it attaches to the shaft. Any details are difficult to see but presumably are the Bavarian crest. Surely photos must reside in some auction catalogue or museum collection that I have not found. Any help?

Thanks for that. I will also post there. Well, wait a minute. I am a ninny. I see that THIS IS the medals and orders forum and your comment was an admonshment to be patient. I started a duplicate thread which I doubt will double my chances of success. I hope someone, somewhere, has something as I have been at this for a long while.

Surely one of these has come to auction or is on display in a museum somewhere.

My first thread, and sorry if my search missed something already covered. Here is a subject of little interest to most but to me all the same. I wondered if anyone had any photos of either the parade baton or interimstab of a Bavarian field marshal? I cannot find anything online, or in my photo books that is helpful. The usual photos of Ludwig III or Leopold or Rupprecht only show one side of the batons, and no detail of the caps. They seem to show a distinct individuality as Leopold's appears much different than the King's or Rupprecht's (parade batons). I have not found any in the few auction catalogues I am able to access. Help, please?

This is a wonderful thread to read and a good service to collectors. I seek good copies of Imperial and Third Reich medals and decorations, particularly Orders, because I use them to embellish replica uniform ensembles. It would be prohibitive to buy, even if I could find them. originals just to fill loops. I make ribbon bars and medal bars, using what I can find. Fortunately, many good decorations have been copied and are sold as such. There is a legitimate market for good copies. It is a shame that crooks cannot leave well enough alone. The examples shown above show how well some of these things can be made. My own work will never trouble serious collectors but will happily satisfy an empty uniform front.

Sorry to pile on to an essentially 'dead' thread, but no one seems to have shared my own view. My recall of The Last Kaiser and The German High Command at War would answer the question of why Ludendorff didn't get the Black Eagle: It's because, as these books make clear, that the Kaiser didn't really like him very much. While the valor awards of the PLM and the IK Grand Cross were probably obligatory, in the mind of the All Highest at least, it seems likely he would snub this imperious servant, with Ludendorff's brusque and very un-courtly manners, by withholding the highest Knighthood order in his gift, simple as that. The Kaiser was certainly sensitive to class distinctions as Hindenburg's initial recall from retirement was as much to be Ludendorff's superior, as any other real function. I am aware that the highest Red Eagle award (Grand Cross-a lovely order), was an 'automatic' with the award of the Black Eagle but it does not appear that the award of the Black Eagle was ever a given for attaining any particular rank or deed. The breast star that Ludendorff is often photographed wearing looks like a Black Eagle but on close examination, appears to be a Red Eagle order with swords.