landsknechte

Not a "baff002" creation, but still painful nonetheless...

It's not the Iron Division medal, that one has very narrow white edge stripes. I honestly haven't a clue what it is, and that's probably why I remember it in the first place.

--Chris

A little while ago, this lot of items were up on eBay. Unfortunately, I never bothered to keep track of who ultimately won it. Didn't really matter at the time.

Now, this bar appears on eBay:

The seller's track record doesn't exactly give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. I can't help but wonder if a new EK ribbon was slapped on that first bar, and then medals were thrown on to complete the package.

Makes one wonder...

--Chris

Now that I've got a rare moment off work, I'm finally getting a chance to update my collection catalog (i.e. book of notes)... What is the "proper" name for the zeal medal, and what would the name for that, and the St. Stanislaus be in Russian?

Thanks,

--Chris

It's all a matter of geography. You're in Lovecraft territory over there. I live in the backdrop for "Lost Boys". There's a very fundamental difference in paradigm. Not having the benefit of first-hand exposure to the Black Ranklist of the Ancients in the Miskatonic University Library, I've had to slowly float my way down the vortex artifact by artifact.

The Pandora's box of speaking the hidden names associated with relics from another time. Perhaps not as benign a hobby as we had been led to believe.

Of course, perhaps I only think that I have choice in the matter...

--Chris

P.S.

When I get some time, I'll post the photos of my new Oberleutnant von Mebpaxnomon-Opopazp grouping.

"Since I don't eat, drink and sleep ribbon bars, it really helps to understand..."

You DON'T??????? 

I dream them, too.

Some of these must have slid by ME while I was actually... sleeping.  Eternal vigilance is very tiring!

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You know you're starting to head towards the point of no return when you start to see ribbon patterns in other places that haven't the slightest connection to them. I caught myself looking at a stack of multicolored 3.5" floppies, and picking out the Ostfront and Saxon FAM that were incidentally formed by the diskettes.

I'm sure that there are other collectors that see similarities between patterns in mashed potatos and die flaws in German war badges, so really it's just a matter of choosing your insanity.

--Chris

Here's a better photo of the ribbon in question:

are there small white stripes at both sides, nearly not to see, a bit rubished and it only looks completely blue? then it could be the greek order of redeemer.... just to think about it, I have a similar bar with a redeemer on it where the white stripes are nearly not to see....

Heiko

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My old photohosting website seems to be a little flaky. Here's the picture again:

...and a pic of the family homestead (up until 1838):

Friedrich Egon August Karl Maria Freiherr von Berchem, Major der Luftwaffe a. D.

After much searching, I finally tracked down an image of the arms of the barons von Berchem.

Posted for War Lord

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Interesting variant on the standard ribbon there on that one on the far left...

The Barons Massenbach-- of whom there were/are so many that they formed a Family Association in 1914-- bore this crest

[attachmentid=6787]

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Gotta love them "vons".

My wife affectionately refers to me as "the bottomless pit of useless knowledge".

Obsessively tracking down utterly random details on obscure Bavarian noblemen... A man after my own heart!

--Chris

I haven't done one of these types of pix in quite awhile......... here's what the FedEx Gal brought today! Yummy!

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Good haul.

I drooled over that White Falcon bar quite a bit.

--Chris

#6:

a. No Hindenburg Cross, therefore it should be pre-1934. Given that, why is the EK in first place?

b. I'm not sure what the criteria for that particular grade of the Princely Hohenzollern House Order was, but I'd wager it probably doesn't jive with the MVO4XmKr.

c. It's an officer's bar with a 24 year long service ribbon, and no 1911 Jubilee.

#8:

a. Shouldn't the Friedrichsorden be in front of the Wilhelmskreuz?

Hi, again, Landsknechte -

Faded baby blue it is. As a matter of fact, a close look at the reverse of the bar shows a patch of the bright cornflower blue of the long service ribbon; accenting how  faded the obverse has become.

Yikes! I do not how the creative spelling of your signature happened; I apologize; and hope that this one comes out correctly.

Best wishes,

Wild Card

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I couldn't find a good way to photograph it, but simply pulling back the fold in the long service ribbon shows a really dramatic difference in the color.

The Hessian decoration being referred to is supposed to be a bright "baby blue", however that ribbon is notorious for fading out to a dingy white. It definately was blue, earlier in it's career. The only way to see it now is to pull back the backing a little bit, and hiding there under the backing is the original unfaded bright blue.

--Chris

Ooookay... Now I'm getting it. I had thought that black was associated with the Navy. Perhaps not as strongly as blue, but still linked.

Thanks,

--Chris

Anybody could get it. Enlisted Hessians in Hessian units would have gotten a Hessian long service award, but Hessian officers got the Prussian one. So this is

a) a native or non-native officer's bar or

b) a non-Hessian NCO's bar or

c) a naval any ranks ("Reichs" long service) bar

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I was unaware that scenarios a and b were even possible, and as such had assumed that c was probably about the only viable possibility. Especially with the black backing.

Thanks,

--Chris

Was the Hessian Bravery Medal restricted to Hessians, or was it awarded across the board?

Nothing says rebellion like a swastika on a bucket!

Sheesh.

I was able to borrow a camera, so...

Honestly I have no clue where this thread would best fit, but this particular spot on the dial seemed to be a little bit less abstract than most everywhere else... Anyhow, I stumbled across this American 1941 edition of Mein Kampf recently in an antique store. Anyone have any ideas as to how much this might be worth?

--Chris

Stumbled across an interesting ribbon bar at a local surplus store:

1914 EK2

Hessian Bravery Medal

Hindenburg Cross w/ Swords

Plain blue long service ribbon

Russian St. Stanislaus

Double wrap style with black felt backing.

I'll post pictures soon (left my camera at work), but in the mean time, I wanted to bounce this combination off the collective wisdom of the group. My gut feeling is Navy, but I'd love to hear whatever the others in the group have to say.

Thanks,

--Chris