filfoster

It appears in the back pages of the English version of the Verlag book 'The German Generals'. It looks like the cover of a Thies auction catalog but might have been done up just for an add at the end of that book. ? It appears that the Hindenburg baton was the subject of a photo shoot at some time. I cannot find ANYTHING with a Google search for the Hindenburg baton and there are no photos in the Mythos Marshalstab book of the baton exept the bronze rendering of H's hand holding a simplified portion of the baton. There may be some reference, even without photos, of the top Schriftband that has the exact wording. I just can't guess how /what was omitted or abbreviated to make it fit if 'v. Beneckendorff u.v. Hindenburg' was, as it clearly shows, inscribed.

Does anyone have a copy or access to this old auction catalog? I suspect there may be additional photos of the item. I am not certain it was actually in the auction or just a PR piece, used to 'gussy up' the catalog. Thies has certainly had many high-end items over the years but it would be surprising for this particular piece to have ever been on the market.

Does anyone know or have a source for the exact wording of von Hindenburg's field marshal baton's upper Schriftband? From the photo in Thies's undated auction catalog, it appears that his full last name was used 'v. Beneckendorff u.v. Hindenburg' and there is a discernible 'K' at the beginning indicating the usual Konig Wilhelm II... But there just isn't enough 'band length' for the usual 'Konig Wilhelm II Dem Feldmarschall v. Beneckendorff u.v. Hindenburg' So....Something got dropped or abbreviated. How did they cram all that in without resort to a second line? The bottom appears to have "Fur Verdienst in Krieg und Frieden 1. NOV. 1914" which corresponds to the date of his promotion to field marshal. The other odd thing is the pattern for the baton seems to be the earlier 1905 to 1911 pattern with SEVEN alternating crowns and eagles, vice the later FIVE alternating crowns and eagles in column up the shaft of the baton. This according to the book "MYTHOS MARSCHALLSTAB"

Thank you. I will appreciate it. I hope to make a few ribbon bars for my uniforms.

I suppose one of the reasons no one has copied the Bavarian interimstab is because there were, excepting the usual royal honorary ones, only three Bavarian field marshals in the Great War, one being the King himself, Ludwig III, who did not take the field except to visit. His son, Rupprecht was, of course, an army commander on the Western Front. The king's brother, Leopold, a professional soldier, succeeded Hindenburg as the overall supreme commander on the Eastern Front, fronting, in the usual German army way, for General Max Hoffman, who actually ran it. The Bavarian field marshal batons, the parade batons, and the interimstabs, were beautiful creations. These are nicely illustrated in the well known reference book "Mythos Marshalstab"

Yes, I have tried other vendors, including History Bunker, years ago and no one has these. Unless someone on this board has or knows of one, It will be a matter of hit or miss searches on ebay and Google to find the smaller button.

The Prussian interimstab (just visible) was purchased on ebay from a Taiwanese seller in the early 2000's. It is a wonderful copy, which disassembles much like an original. The Bavarian interimstab is a custom made piece just completed. It was made by a Canadian historian and uniform/accoutrement recreatior who does mostly museum work. If you are interested, PM me and I can give you more information on it. As a custom one-off, it was not inexpensive. I would expect subsequent copies may be less, because the patterns, molds, etc. have been done now, at my expense.

Yes, I have acquired two or three nice ones that way but they are not common. There is perhaps a European source for these and the ribbons? I think Christian 1962 may be correct that full size ribbon was 'twisted' to fit the smaller width of the ribbon bar, much like a Bavarian ribbon.

Christian 1962: Thank you. I did not know the width was the standard width but I can guess it's how they were folded that got them to the proper ribbon bar width, 15-18mm? How were they folded, do you know?

Does anyone have a source for lengths of the 15mm ribbon for ribbon bars? And the devices for same?

Here it is complete with helmet and interim stab:

Here is the wartime field gray uniform, with the very large ribbon bar:

All done! Complete!

FARKAS: 'Close, but no cigar!' as they say. Let me know if you ever find any of these, thank you!

If I can get a small sized one, I will cast both sizes for a set for uniforms, No. 1 dress and KSD. Hope someone can help supply one.

Only the interim stab remains to be completed. Will post another picture with that when I have it.

2. Does anyone have a source for these?

No one has seen one rattling around a thrift shop window or display case?

No one has one of Granddad Field Marshal's spare buttons in a drawer?

..in particular, I need the smaller size one.

This article seems to answer question #1, but can anyone provide an answer to question #2? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11424287/Military-personnel-continue-wearing-Queens-cypher-uniforms-years-come.html

Two related questions. I understand that the British government announced some years ago that no new field marshals would be created. The uniforms of the ones extant therefore had/have only Queen's Crown (E II) buttons. With the ascension of Charles III to the throne, I assume there is no requirement to 'swap out' the earlier buttons for a 'King's Crown' pattern. 1. That said, is it likely any will be produced? "Why is he asking such a stupid question?" you may ask. Well, I have several uniform displays of British Field Marshal uniforms with only General Officer pattern buttons. Why? Because I have NEVER, after more than a decade of searching, been able to secure original or copy King's Crown field marshal buttons, until this past week when I bought one 22mm specimen online, hideously priced. 2. Does anyone have a source for these?

Thanks, I think it would. I only display them like this, on a table top. They are made to fit me, in the unlikely event anyone would ever ask me to wear it!

Stogieman: Thank you. It's been a long slog. Still working on the Bavarian Field marshal parade baton. Maybe this year sometime. I will post a picture if and when.

OK, Here is the current display: