landsknechte

Take a close look at the ribbon for the St. Vladimir - it looks rather homemade being cobbled together out of two pieces of ribbon. I suspect that there are a few of the ribbons on here that were called in to service as "close enogh" expediencies. That blue and white ribbon could be leftover Bavarian Landwehr miniature ribbon (as below) used to represent something else. --Chris

There were only a few combinations that would have been possible for buttonhole wear, but I seem to think that I have seen them used that way. A 1939 EK / Ostfront combination comes to mind. These combo ribbons were also used for the "roll" type lapel bows as well. --Chris

I have no idea if this style of lapel bow decoration is at all typical for Russians, but they were certainly common enough in Germany. Perhaps, given the improvisation on the St. Vladimir, this was made for a Russian ex-pat in Germany. Anyhow, my read on this is: 1. Order of St. Anne 2. Order of St. Stanislaus 3. Order of St. Vladimir 4. ? 5. ? Does anyone have any clue what #4 might be representing in the context of a Russian bar? --Chris

Download a freeware image viewer program like Irfanview and resize 'em. Inquiring minds want to know.

There's something vaguely British about the way that device looks, but that's a completely uneducated guess based purely on aesthetics.

I'm fairly certain that I've seen the 14IR commemorative loose somewhere before, but I don't believe I've ever seen it on a ribbon before. The Alfons thing is completely alien to me.

No stamps or tags on the interior of the shirt. No evidence of there being any other patches removed. I'm admittedly something of a neophyte when it comes to American militaria. Can anyone provide any insights as to the vintage of this shirt.

Some further construction details...

The patches check out with blacklight, and it's obvious that the SHAEF replaced some other patch.

Just picket this shirt up at a local thrift shop, one of two that they had for sale amongst their "Halloween costumes". The other had most of the buttons smashed, but was otherwise identical.

For a moment, I thought I had found the rare "flaming cocktail shaker" shoulderboard cypher of the Fallschirm-bartender-regt.

...it's not authentic, but what the heck is it???

Not one of mine, but I one I came across in my quest to track down obscure Bavarian Weimar-era things. #2 - is obviously a regimental commemorative. #3 - no idea..

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but for most people, pink explosive dinosaurs are a little bit out of the mainstream.

No problem. I didn't know if you had noticed or not, but take a close look at the ribbon bar. The two different ribbons are actually one single peice of ribbon woven to represent two different decorations. Not exactly rare, but fairly uncommon. --Chris

It has to be post-1934, since that's when that the Hindenburg Cross was created.

The medal bar (from left to right)... Prussian 1914 Iron Cross Bavarian Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class Hindenburg Cross The lapel bows & the ribbon bar... Saxon Friedrich August Medal (the yellow one), most likely bronze Prussian 1914 Iron Cross

So far, from what Rick's posted, it looks like Rittmeister Ehrenkrook is the only one from that unit that got the White Falcon (of either grade) and survived long enough to have gotten the Hindenburg Cross. The other two were dead before 1934. Are there any pictures of him in particular? Thanks, --Chris

What is that ribbon in last place? I can't, for the life of me, place it. Also, can anyone more familiar with the situation in Finland comment as to just how big the German involvement actually was. How big a pool of officers of sufficient rank to net a 1st class would have been over there? --Chris P.S. Here's the aforementioned salty bar:

If anyone stumbles across an officer that served in Finland that had a Saxe-Weimar White Falcon (1st Class), Saxon Albrechtorden, EK and nothing else (at least nothing else that would have appeared on a post 1934 ribbon bar) - please let me know. It's a snowball's chance, but I'm hoping to stumble across the owner of a ribbon bar. Thanks, --Chris

This beauty is soon to be joining my collection, courtesy of our good Stogierick: One of 154 Saxe-Weimar White Falcon 1st Classes out there. Thankfully, unlike my other example of this award, it doesn't look like it was pulled off of a sunken U-boat. (I don't have the picture handy, but it gives new meaning to the word "salty".) Hopefully the White Falcon rolls will be published, barring that, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Finnish ribbon might ultimately prove to be the decisive clue. I can't imagine that there would have been that many of the 154 that were over there, had this particular combination of awards, and survived the war. Well, one can hope... --Chris

Bear with me, but that period falls into a "dead spot" in my studies. What would the connection have been? --Chris

M G H S-W A

I wouldn't even consider this one without having a chance to fondle it first-hand. My paranoia is directly proportional to the pricetag.

I need to get a better sock drawer...