landsknechte

Finally got a better picture of the spange:

50+ ribbon bars and counting, and not a single medal bar as of yet. --Chris

Here's today's utterly random ribbon bar, winner of the "most bizarre use of a Bavarian DA ribbon" prize:

...and the reverse:

Perhaps a little on the "salty" side, but the only thing that I've got that even has enamel... --Chris

I very nearly bid on this broken CCC that was up on eBay for next to nothing. I figured it was "kinda cool" as a relic, but there was a niggling doubt in the back of my mind that I could never really shake. I passed on it. Being a ribbon bar addict, I haven't really spent much of any time studying CCCs, and would like to post these photos for the collective wisdom of the group. Was this a broken fake, or a broken real CCC? Thanks, --Chris

The two scenarios that come to mind for me: 1. The head chef in the Lippe-Detmold royal household left a little something to be desired. This particular prince knew the Heimlich maneuver. 2. "Oh, thank you for the Band-Aid your Excellency."

It's a Type-I, although you virtually need a microscope to tell.

Good point. It's been a while since I looked at an Ehrenlegion, and as such, I didn't catch the bound swords as a clue. Thanks! --Chris

This being my first bar with the EK spange on it, I haven't invested that much research time on those... What makes a "Type I"?

I've had this ribbon bar for about a year now, and a question just arose in my mind as to what the plain blue ribbon might be. I had always assumed that it was the Austrian Ehrenlegion decoration. Now, having seen plain blue ribbons on a few of the Treue dem Regiment type veteran's decorations with Marine Infantry bars, I'm wondering what the odds of it being that might be. Anyone have any thoughts? --Chris

This bar just arrived in the mail, courtesy of our very own Stogierick. Along with it, came an attribution to a Bavarian aviator named Bauer (exactly which Bauer hadn't quite been nailed down). What suprised me, once I actually got this bar in my grubby little paws is that the silver Luftwaffe DA was originally gold. If you look at the edge of the eagle, you can see that only the front was painted. No idea when it might have been painted, or for what reason, but there are traces of silver paint on the ribbon itself - suggesting that it was done after "installation". Rick Research was kind enough to poke his head out of his current research project to suggest that this might in fact be the bar of a Landespolizei officer that ended up in the Luftwaffe. Curiouser and curioser... --Chris

Ever since you got your paws on that grouping, it's piqued my curiosity... There are several possible candidates out there, but we now know that Weidinger's stuff survived to the present day. Perhaps in time, we might be able to balance out the distribution of ribbon bars at least a tiny bit more in favor of our corner of the continent. Not that I have any particularly evil plans. Of course not. 98.8% of the world's supply of MVK1XmKr bearing ribbon bars yet elude me. Mark my words, I shall have dominion! Oh. Excuse me. Was that out loud? Could they hear me? --Chris

Specifically pre-1934... A hideous long shot, I know, but I still have to ask. I have a simple little 3x ribbon bar that may have belonged to him. There's a device on there that is distinctive enough that an ID could be proven that way. --Chris

Again, that same stitching pattern... (I wish I could find the picture buried on my hard drive of the ribbon bar with the totenkopf device on the Ostfront ribbon.) --Chris

On the up side, at least the bad finish prevents us from seeing a reflection of him in der buff in the photographs of the items... --Chris P.S. Although, I've got to admit, it'd make a cool keychain if he'd kick the decimal place over two notches to the left.

Rotate it 90 degrees to the right, and that's the pic I ended up with.

Excerpted from the book that references him, that provides a little bit of background: In the spring of 1861 the State of Tennessee seceded from the Union; or rather, the Legislature and Governor Harris passed an ordinance of secession, and formed a league with the cotton States, contrary to the expressed will of the people. Soon after this a squadron of cavalry and a body of infantry were sent to Fentress county, Tenn., adjoining Clinton county, Ky. The citizens of the latter county considered this as a menace; but they were entirely helpless. No United States troops were in Kentucky, nor were any likely to be, as it was said that Kentucky's neutrality would be respected. The State authorities were known as secession sympathizers: General S. B. Buckner, commander of the State Guard, could not be relied upon. Here was a loyal people, who at that time could not receive the protection of either State or National Government! The citizens of Clinton county concluded to prepare for their own defence, if they should be attacked. A public meeting was held. Two companies were organized, one cavalry and on infantry. William A Hoskins was elected captain of the cavalry, J. A. Brents first lieutenant, J. P. Pickens second lieutenant, and J. A. Morrison third lieutenant. Anecdotal family history has him being KIA at some point, but I have not documentation of that as of yet. I've come across casualty lists for the 13th Cavalry that list one officer as being KIA, but nothing that says which one. Thanks for your help. --Chris

Yup... I'll second the hen's teeth comment. Looking closely at the photos that I had tucked away on my hard drive, I realized that the example that I had found (and saved the pics from wherever) was the exact same medal that you've got. The vaguely fingerprint-like pattern in the patina on the reverse gave it away. --Chris

...and here's a page that was posted elsewhere back when I was sniffing around investigating my little bar:

This second one (not mine, lifted the pic from the net) has thinner edge stripes that more closely reflect those on your decoration. I've only seen one other example of the Malta Order, so I can't really say whether or not there was any appreciable variation in the ribbons that they came with. There may have been some slight variation on the existing stock of Malta Order ribbons that were utlitzed for the Alwaloff, or perhaps the 4x decoration used original ribbon, and my 2x used some later stock. Can't say with an certainty, though. --Chris

I don't think there is any real connection other than Awaloff having created a self-styled "Sovereign Imperial Russian Chivalric Order of Malta" as the legitimizing authority behind his awards. I believe that he borrowed the ribbon of the established Order for his own purposes, if nothing else, to add a touch of legitimacy. --Chris Here's one example of what I am almost positive is the Awaloff on a ribbon bar:

Ralph, Be careful. I think they're breeding. --Chris

Perhaps I'll post some more when I can convince my scanner to play well with others. For the time being, I'll leave off with this:

Stumbled across a whole bunch of these a little while back: