Claudio

This was one of his restauration's project: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/32182-medal-bar-of-the-later-generalmajor-hans-sturm/ the EK was broken and loose as well as the KVK2, the DA 25J and the Luitpold Med. Wasn't that easy as it looks, since the ribbons were very tightly sewn to the bar. It needed a lot of patience to restore it! ciao, Claudio

Thanks Paul! Definitely a keeper... ;-)

Dear forumites, I am proud to show my latest acquisition to you: 10er Grossenordensschnalle des General der Kavallerie Franz Maria Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels (*21.8.1876 in Düsseldorf - † 25.11.1947 in Bad Wildungen) Preussen, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914 am Kämpferband (OEK 1909) E gs/S Preussen, Kgl. Hausorden von Hohenzollern, Kreuz der Ritter mit Schwertern (OEK 1789) Sv, Herst. Godet, RS Medaillon fehlt Sachsen-Weimar, Hausorden vom Weissen Falken RK 2. Kl. mit Schwertern (OEK 2340) S/S Waldeck und Pyrmont, Verdienstkreuz 4. Klasse mit Schwertern (OEK 2857) S Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer mit Schwertern (OEK 3803/1) St br, Hersteller CEJ C.E. Juncker, Berlin Weimar Republik, Schlesisches-Bewährungsabzeichen sog. Schlesischer Adler, II. Stufe mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (OEK 3306) Br/vs Preußen, Kronenorden 4. Klasse (OEK 1762) Br vg, mit Herstellerpunzen "WK" Deutsches Reich 1933-45, WH-DA 1. Kl. für 25 Dienstjahre, Kreuz (OEK 3852) E vg Deutsches Reich 1933-45, WH-DA 3. Kl. für 12 Dienstjahre, Medaille (OEK 3854) E vg Preussen, Zentenarmedaille 1897 (OEK 1965/1) GBr Werdegang: (from Wikipedia http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Maria_von_Dalwigk_zu_Lichtenfels ) Franz von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels trat am 4. August 1896 als Fahnenjunker in das Königlich Preußische Heer ein. Er kam dabei zum Königin Augusta Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 4. In diesem wurde er am 22. März 1900 zum Leutnant befördert. Das Patent wurde dabei auf den 22. März 1898 festgelegt. 1909 wurde er beim Thüringisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12 zum Oberleutnant befördert. Bei diesem wurde er am 1. Oktober 1913 zum Rittmeister befördert. Als solcher wurde er dann als Chef einer Eskadron eingesetzt. Auch bei Beginn des 1. Weltkrieges kam er dann als Eskadronchef an die Front. Im 1. Weltkrieg wurde er neben beiden Eisernen Kreuzen und dem Ritterkreuz des Königlich Preußischen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern mit vielen anderen Orden ausgezeichnet. Nach dem Ende des Ersten Weltkrieges führte er zuerst einen Freiwilligenverband. 1920 wurde er dann als Rittmeister in das Reichsheer übernommen. Im Frühjahr 1920 gehörte er beim 200.000 Mann-Übergangsheer als Eskadronchef zum Reiter-Regiment 10. Bei der Bildung vom 100.000 Mann-Heer der Reichswehr wurde er weiter als Eskadronchef im 10. (Preuss.) Reiter-Regiment eingesetzt. Als solcher wurde er am 1. April 1921 zum Major befördert. Am 1. Mai 1923 wurde er dann in den Regimentsstab vom 18. Reiter-Regiment nach Stuttgart-Cannstatt versetzt. Dort verbrachte er dann fast die nächsten 4 Jahre. Am 1. Februar 1927 wurde er zum Kommandeur vom 15. (Preuss.) Reiter-Regiment in Paderborn ernannt. Als solcher wurde er am 1. März 1927 zum Oberstleutnant befördert. Auch bei seiner Beförderung zum Oberst am 1. April 1930 war er noch immer Kommandeur vom 15. (Preuss.) Reiter-Regiment. Am 1. Oktober 1931 gab er sein Kommando ab. Er wurde dafür zum Kommandeur der Kavallerie-Schule in Hannover ernannt. Als solcher wurde er am 1. Februar 1933 zum Generalmajor befördert. Auch bei seiner Beförderung zum Generalleutnant am 1. Oktober 1934 war er noch immer Kommandeur der Schule. Erst am 1. April 1937 gab er sein Kommando an Gereralmajor Erich Volk ab. Er wurde jetzt als General z.b.V. beim III. Armeekorps eingesetzt. Bei der Mobilmachung vor dem 2. Weltkrieg wurde er zum Kommandierenden General des Stellvertretenden Generalkommando III. Armeekorps in Berlin ernannt. Damit wurde er gleichzeitig auch zum Befehlaber vom Wehrkreis III ernannt. Am 1. September 1940 wurden ihm die Charakter eines General der Kavallerie verliehen. Am 1. Dezember 1940 wurde er zum General der Kavallerie befördert. Am 28. Februar 1943 wurde er von seinem Kommando entbunden und in die Führerreserve des Wehrkreises versetzt. Am 31. Mai 1943 wurde ihm das Deutsches Kreuz in Silber verliehen. Am gleichen Tag wurde er endgültig aus der Wehrmacht verabschiedet. Bereits 1947 ist der General Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels gestorben. Thank you in advance for your most appreciated comments or additional information to this high officer. ciao, Claudio

Hi Chris, I stumbled on this webpage in Germany which apparently they mount orders on bars: http://www.ordensmanufaktur.de/ I never used their services, but accourding to them they already in business for 10 years. From the pictures it looks good, but not perfect. My brother however is really good at it (almost anal); he already restaured some of my bars. I might took a while to get it done, but it will look perfect. Send me a private PM if you are interested. ciao, Claudio

Nice one! …also with that half-sized (Prinzengrösse) Zentenarmedaille… ;-)

Yes dear Tom... Helmuth Weidling (RK mit Eichenlaub) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmuth_Weidling what an interesting career... he begins in a Fieldartillery Regiment to go to WWI and be on a airship.... WW2 almost exclusively on the Eastern front, from Regimental to Panzercorps commander and finally last commanding General for the defense of Berlin and died in captivity in Russia, 10 years after the war. There's a very nice picture of him with his "Felspange"... About Saucken bar... yes it could have been the real deal, but to mee it didn't really matter... I didn't like the assembly work, the disposition of the medals and plus you had to pay a premium because it was of a famous highly decorated General, but neither photos or documents came with it. C

I couple of these high officers are really quite big shots and very well known generals.... like von Chappuis (noble origins, he served in Gren Garde Regt 5 as Fähnrich, RK-Träger later commited suicide) and especially von Saucken (RK mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten... They had surely more medals on their bars... ;-) V. Saucken medal bar was on sale on a German auction http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/56578-medal-bar-of-general-der-panzertruppen-dietrich-von-saucken/... however I am not quite sure it was really his bar.

Also a possibility is that this medal bar was assembled recently with new ribbons (or ribbons that would not pass a UV light test) and it's a fake, maybe coming from Austria, as they are known to be very efficient with the productions of such bars... Is there a picture of the back? C

Could be the Austrian (KuK) Red Cross Medal? I think it's the only possible medal I can think of...

Hi Dave, I also thought that this bar is too tough too identify; I mean just a HHOX and a Austrian MVK3 is not enough to narrow down the search. Furthermore like you said, because this bar has the DA combination for 18 years, that signifies that this officer went back in service in 30ies, but between 1920 and 1934/36 could have been just a state employee or maybe even not that. It could have been possible to ID if there was one WWI bravery award or small state order on it. But still it's a great medal bar that I would be very interested to have also in my collection. ;-) C

Very much possible... like GFM A. Kesselring he begun his career in the Fussartillerie and also in the twenties he was still an Artillery officer, until 1934 when he went to the Luftwaffe... :-)

Great bar, Tom! As I already commented on the WAF, a text book bar of a Senior LW officer. Too bad that it might be to less in order to identify the wearer, if you don't find a picture of him with this bar. Nothing is impossible... I really love this bars with Imperial enameled bling-bling and long service awards. It tells a lot about the original owner of the bar; a long career beginning with WWI (or even before) and ending during WWII.

Hi Jock, It's quite complicated for me to explain, even more in English... practically there are the discs on the reverse are attached to two rivets and by opening (moving up) the top part, you can then remove the two discs and so fix it to a tunic, that has to have 2 holes in it to fit the rivets. I hope I was clear enough. ciao, Claudio

This is rare...

Hi Greg! I am also more a butt-fetisch than a titts-pervert... Some of mines... I am still looking for a couple EK1 with a special reverse configuration. EKs are always very much fun to collect; a simple cross with a terrific design (created by great German Architect Schinkel) and character that is still very attractive, also 200 years after its creation. Still surpasses with his classy looks 99% of all medals created after it, IMHO... C

One of my favorite marches (also one of uncle Wolf's Lieblingsmärsche... what a coincidence )... Parademarsch Nr. (Möllendorfer), played by her Majesty guards' band... It was played superbly, with a exquisite British twist of course, I must say!

In the background a nice "zackiger" Marsch... "Die Ehrenwache"... weitermachen! ;-)

It doesn't end... yet!!!!

I guess at the museum... I was looking for one of them for a long time and never found one! This very Pickelhaube is no more on display, very likely put away in the Museum archives... hopefully not sold or taken away...

Some of very nice late 19th century stuff... See also General Pickelhaube of the FAR3, own Queen Mary of Bavaria Regiment, Crown Prince Rupprecht Garde Marine Infanterie tunic, King's Ludwig III Uniform as Inhaber of the Bayerisches Jäger-Batallion Nr. 1... where to stop!!!! Aaarghhh.... it's quite impossible...

more... Napoleonic and first half of the 18th century stuff... some of these items might not be on the permanent exhibition, since these pictures were taken in 2009.

Ok, I lied... I found some more old pictures about Ingolstadt on my PC...

mmmh... After all Major a.D. Exner didn't spend the whole war at front, but he could receive a nice array of medals. How on earthdid he get the Chilean medals? It has maybe to do with his Civilian occupation?

Last ones... 1934-1945 period... there was more, also post war, but I didn't take pictures of that part. Enjoy!!!

A newly opened section opened at a separate totally renovated venue (Festung Tilly), about the Bavarian police corps... from late 19th century up to nowadays... Really interesting exhibitions... very well done! Some Municipal police Pickelhauben and uniforms an oil 3/4 portrait of a Hilfspolizist in the early 20ies (I think Oberbayern)