landsknechte

My best Wurttemburg bar isn't really even a bar...

It was a whopping $10 at the local flea market. The seller looked like he had either hit an estate sale or (more likely) bought an abandoned storage locker. There were some bits and pieces that suggested there may have been an American army officer's junk involved somewhere along the way.

I think I may still have the business card of a Member of the Victorian Order that I met while working at my last job, but he was a big guy, and I'd imagine the shipping on him would cost a pretty penny... Seriously though, gorgeous bar.

Most of the rest of the lot is fairly mundane. However, this lapel bow turned out to be a pleasant surprise. In the auction listing, it was turned sideways in the photo - couldn't make heads or tails of it. According to RR, it might just be traceable when the appropriate Wurttemburg rolls come out.

Does the insignia on the cannons mean anything to anyone?

Not terribly exotic, but the Weimar era Bavarian KEK is a nice touch.

The reverse.

Just finished the first week at a new job, and now that the dust has settled, I can actually get around to posting some pics from the lot...

It was strange, but it took me quite a while longer to find a photo of FvB than it did his son who was KIA in WW2. (He's the one with the bandage on his head.)

The bar, and a copy of his 1960's memoirs about the 7 F.A.R.

Major Friedrich Freiherr von Berchem - originally of the Bavarian 7 F.A.R. Spent most of WWI as an aerial observer. Survived WWII as well with the Luftwaffe, commanding an airbase (I think).

Now, if you'll excuse me - I have to squeegie the drool off of my keyboard. Be back in a minute.

Personally, I rather enjoy the DIY Weimar strangeness. Granted the standard Bulgarian / Hungarian / Austrian commemoratives are a bit droll, I find the various veteran's association decorations quite interesting.

Rick, if you wouldn't mind, could you drop me a clue (whenever) as to what sort of person the recipient was? Still trying to develop a mental picture of what sort of folks would have ended up with the Dutch decoration on that bar. -C

I think the technical term is S.O.L.

Does the reverse match the reverse of this medal? (Found uploaded to a OMSA database listed as a Carlos I "Royal Household Medal".)

Whomever do you mean?

I have the strangest feeling I have seen this ribbon before, but I can't put my finger on it. Hrm. I, for one, would get in line early for such a book. Weimar decorations are an infuriating hobby.

...and the lucky bidder can't even open the package without incurring the full wrath of the law. Such a shame.

Does the pattern or insignia on the helmet covers depicted in these photographs ring any bells with anyone?

Would that place the blue edged red ribbon as the Hessian Phillip, or as the similarly ribboned Bavarian decoration whose name completely eludes me at the moment? Also might the placement of the 1918 Jubilee be indicative of an overly royalist bent?

With White Falcons being as uncommon as they are, does this look like it might be ID-able?

This lapel bow is the most interesting item in a lot that will very soon be winging it's way across the Atlantic to yours truly. I wanted to throw it out there to the collective wisdom of the group for evaluation. My main questions... Officer or enlisted? I don't know enough about the St. Michael to know what grade indicates what. Is the plain red ribbon likely to be a White Falcon, or the civil grade of the Luitpold Jubilee? What sort of person would have had this sort of a combo?

...and last but not least, the label. It doesn't really show in the photograph very well, but the date is 1945.

What unit does this represent??