landsknechte

There is still one piece that eludes me, but I suspect I'd have to get a bit cat burglar-y to get it... 😎

As an aside, this particular Großes Verdienstkreuz may have an interesting backstory. The seller stated that it was "Discovered in Athens, Greece and likely was presented to a late former Prime Minister whose estate the seller handled some time back." A Greek Orthodox Order of St. Mark (photos in a thread here) came out of the same group. On a lark I cross referenced a database of Greek Prime Ministers and lists of Verdienstorden recipients. There were a few matches, typically a higher grade of the award commensurate with the rank of Prime Minister. The oddball was Georgios Papadopoulos who received the lone Großes Verdienstkreuz in 1960 while he was a lowly diplomat, prior to the coup d'état that was to follow in a few years. As best I can tell the award and it's case appears to be correct for the period. I haven't been able to track down any further info on the alleged auction, so who knows? For the time being, I'm leaving it in an open file. If anyone runs across anyone especially knowledgeable in Greek dictator memorabilia, let me know.

After some infuriating postal issues, I've collected replacements for the medals tragically (and inexplicably) removed by the prior owner, as well as an appropriate wound badge and a Großes Verdienstkreuz: Additionally, I was able to track down a little bit more information and an another photograph in a historical "who's who" of Passau published in the 1990s. Tausend Passauer: Biographisches Lexikon zu Passaus Stadtgeschichte

Looking at the 1918 Naval Ranklist, it only shows the Crown Order and the EK. Hopefully someone with some later war resources can help out. I don't know if you noticed, but they're splitting up a group. At the very least, give 'em a look and make sure to save the photos.

I'm trying to prove or disprove a bit of an odd story... I picked up a German decoration (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Great Cross). The seller stated that it was "Discovered in Athens, Greece and likely was presented to a late former Prime Minister whose estate the seller handled some time back." I cross referenced a database of Greek Prime Ministers and Verdienstorden recipients, and Georgios Papadopoulos was the lone Großes Verdienstkreuz match. He was awarded it in 1960 while he was a humble diplomat. The rest were awarded higher grades of the award, once they had achieved a higher office. As best I can tell, the award itself looks like one from the right era. Does anyone know if there was an auction where something like this might have been sold off at some point? Perhaps his widow selling off some of the clutter? Ultimately I bought it to complete a display for someone else entirely, so it's no great loss should it prove to be anonymous. However it's got a distinctive chip in the enamel that might show up in a catalog photo, so there might be a possibility. As an American with no knowledge of the Greek language and a similarly named American political figure clogging up the works, my search engine efforts have been fruitless thus far. Anyone know where I should look next?

Thanks!

I'm a complete neophyte in this area, and I'm trying to figure out the appropriate sword that would have been carried by enlisted men in the 11th Hussars in the immediate lead up to WW1. I'm not sure of the precise date of the attached photos, but AFAIK they're the correct unit around the same period. Any thoughts?

Yep. That's just the product of years of squinting at old German handwriting. I was able to track down a copy of an old book ("Verleihungen von militärischen Orden und Ehrenzeichen des Grossherzogtums Baden im Ersten Weltkrieg 1914-1918" by Erhard Roth) that listed the recipients of that award. The date isn't tied to his commission, it's the date of the award. I'm not enough of a Baden specialist to help out much beyond that.

From what I've got: Fritz Heydecke Leutnant d.R. in RIR 249 - award date 09.06.1915

Ernst has a long mustache... Since the original post, I reached out to the Bavarian Archives. They had a rather extensive file on him (~330 pages). I got a copy of his Offizierspersonalakt, and copies of a few photos of him taken from a few different albums. I haven't been able to track down any photos taken in the 20th century as of yet, and I'm curious as to the mustache he ultimately attained. Leutnant, 2. Fuß-Art.Rgt. (1882) Premierleutnant, 2. Fuß-Art.Rgt. (1889) Hauptmann, 2. Fuß-Art.Rgt. (1896) Hauptmann, 1. Fuß-Art.Regt. (1897)

I did contact him, but he was unable to change it. It might have been too close to the end of the auction.

That was one of Rick Lundström's bars. It was one of those sold at the Bene Merenti auction a number of years back, and it's in one he used in a certain rather contentious article. I don't know 100% that it's a unique attribution, but i looked Dr. Roediger in the Naval Ranklist, and everything seemed to line up. Even though the seller was willing to ship to this side of the pond, eBay was steadfast in not allowing me to bid due to location. Grr...

I've seen the decoration below described as the Greek Orthodox Order of St. Mark. I'm having very little success tracking info on it down thus far. Anyone know anything about this one? (This example isn't mine, but it's related to a group I'm researching.)

Thank you for the detailed response. You're absolutely right, about it being a WW1 veteran who ended up in the RAD. It's the guy discussed in this thread. I knew he had been wounded before in 1918. I just wasn't sure if the 1937 document was vouching for the 1918 injury, or describing a second one.