chuck

Just interested, does anyone know what the award criteria was for these type of medals? Are these for special merit or actually dependent on a number of years? "FUR TREUE DIENSTE" "FUR LANGJAHREIGE TREUE DIENSTE" "FUR FUNFZIGJAHRIHE TREUE DIENSTE" Cheers, Chuck

Demir. Reading O'Connor book on Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany in World War 1 he states the Crown Order has four classes "1st Class, with the badge worn on a sash and an eight pointed silver breast star". Sounds like your badge in the picture as the 2nd class was a rhomboid breast star. Am not an expert on award regulations, but would they award the star without the badge?? Experts, Anyone?? cheers, Chuck

Demir, Very nice historic set of medals. Thanks for sharing. Chuck

I think herman meant the Bavarian Military Merit Order on the war merit ribbon. The military merit cross is a lower award without any enamel. It looks like a 1st or 2nd class if it is meant for wear around the neck (the ribbon looks like a neck ribbon). Militar-Verdienstorden am Band fur Kriegsverdienst Chuck

According to Dr Von Hessenthal Schriebers' book on Honours and Awards of the German States he could convert to the new medal (4 July 1913) at his own cost. "Diejenigen Personen, denen das Ehrenzeichen bis dahin schon verliehen worden war, konnten es in der neuen Form auf eigene Kosten beschaffen und anlegen." Chuck

WOW, very impressive collection!! Chuck

80,55,30 Loyal Service decorations for NCO and Soldiers award during World War 1(1913-1921) State Jorg Nummergut Von Hessenthal Anhalt 15,12,9 Gendarmerie only 15,12,9 Gendarmerie Only Baden 15, 12, 9 15, 12, 9 Bavaria 15, 12, 9 15, 12, 9 Braunschweig no no Bremen no no Hamburg no no Hessen 15, 12, 9 15, 12, 9 Hohenzollern no no Lippe-Detmold no no Schaumberg-Lippe 21, 15, 9 Schnalle(1850-1918) 21, 15, 9 Schnalle(1850-1918) Lubeck no no Mecklenburg-Schwerin 15, 12 no 9 year medal? 15, 12, 9 9 not listed but in text of 12 year Mecklenburg-Sterlitz 15, 12, 9 15, 12, 9 Oldenburg 18,12,9 Gendarmerie only 18,12,9 Gendarmerie Prussian 15, 12, 9 15, 12, 9 Reuss 15, 12, 9 Cross/Medal 1917/18 15, 12, 9 Schnalle(1869-1917) Cross/medal 1917/8 Sachsen, Kingdom 15, 12, 9 15, 12, 9 Sachsen-Weimer 15, 12, 9 15, 12, 9 Sachsen-Altenburg no no Sachsen-Coburg no no Sachsen-Meiningen no no Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt/Sonderhausen 15, 12, 9 15, 12, 9 Waldeck-Pyrmont no no Wurttemberg 15, 12, 9 15, 12, 9

They are very elegant in their simple style. A question does the sword attachment by the rings mean it is from Eduard Foehr? Chuck

My Prussian Landwehr 1st Class in guilded bronze with makers mark from Sy-Wagner, "S-W". Chuck

Beau, Really like seeing the Waldeck Gold Merit Medal with Swords. Thanks, Chuck

Pete, Neal O'Connor book shows 103 awards of the Saxe-Meiningen Cross for Merit in War presented on the non-combattant ribbon in 1918, which is an officers awards. chuck

John, If you are interested in Saxon awards Sachsens-Orden is a very good web site with lots of information, but in German language only. http://www.sachsens-orden.de.vu/ It is a very nice award and i have one by the same maker. Cheers, Chuck

The Prussian life saving medal(Rettungsmedaille) and general honor cross 1900(Kreuz des Allgemeinen Ehrenzeichens 1900) both have similar colors and ribbons. In this case the width and placement of the white stripes looks like a life saving medal (Rettungsmedaille). cheers, chuck

thank you demir

very nice bar which gave me a chance to read about Bavarian awards, and have a http://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/militarverdienstkreuz-ohne-flammen-mit-schwertern-vergl-oek-418.html

Very wonderful bar. As the swords on the MVO are incorrect (and upside down) for for the 1866 to 1905 awards as well as the ribbon it makes you wonder why he replaced an award with a rather scare award, or is the more common ribbon the only one the taylor had available when he added the 1934 hindenburg cross? chuck

Hi Paul, Neal O'Connor's original research states that he counted 6,900 1st class awards, 55,000 2nd class combatant awards and 1,645 2nd class non-combatant awards in Eutin. He also states a slightly higher number from another researcher but does not breakdown the 2nd class in his book aviation awards of imperial germany volume VI. Chuck

Very impressive bar with a mounted Wurttemberg knight cross have been awarded only 182 time during World War 1(Klietmanm 1966). Cheers, Chuck

Brian, I haven't collected any EK, and would like to start with presentation piece. Who where the 5 official makers at the start of the war of EK?? Chuck

Cartaphilus, From what i have read in O'conners books their is no complete list of the awards during the 1st World War. He does state the 1st and 2nd class were still awarded, but the 3rd and 4th class all but ceased to be awarded for valor(with swords). Hence the low numbers i quoted for the 3rd class with swords in the previous post #8. cheers, chuck

Sorry i have nothing to add but i've enjoyed viewing the medal bars. Would it be more likely to see Prussian Officers with Dutch awards due to proximate, or did any of the other state militarize have a special relationship with the Dutch King? Cheers, Chuck

A little beat up...my Prussian Crown Order 3rd class with swords awarded 144 times according to O'Conner between 1885 and 1918. chuck

I assume the first iron crown with the green laural leaves is for wartime, and the last one on the very end a peace time award. any experts?? Chuck

Hi Rudi, Both silver badges on post 4 are really great would they have been produced during the war, or purely a post war after market?? Chuck

Hi Andreas, Thank you, it does answer part of my question that the crown order was awarded to Turkish Naval officers during World War 1. Interesting perspective is O'Connor quote from Herr Willi Geile on the 3rd class Red Eagle Order with swords that most awards went to Oberstleutnant (Naval rank would be a Fregattenkaptian) during the 1st World War. For even a crown order 3rd class award to go Hauptmann would seem like a rather high award considering he was a foreign officer. cheers, chuck