Claudio

Interesting bar! The last order looks like the Japanese order of the Golden Kite.... but I might be wrong! ciao, Claudio

Whoops... I see now! I was to much excited about that I guess... but still I would like to know how much would fetch nowaday a RAO3SchleifemitXamRing... any era! :speechless1:

...and last but not least the document for the Long Service cross for 25 years (DA für 25 Dienstjahre, Offiziere)...

The document for the Kronen-Orden 2. Klasse... ;)

The less exciting but still very nice document for the Kronen-Orden 3. Klasse...

Now it gets more interesting... this decoration mentioned in this document is (unfortunately) not on v.Rheinbaben medal bar, but, if I read correctly - I still have some problems with Sütterlin script -, is the Roter Adler Orden 3. Klasse mit der Schleife und Schwerter am Ring!!!! Quite rare to say the least... according to the very informative Andreas website (see http://www.medalnet.net/Rote_Adler_3.htm) this class has been bestowed only 15 times!!!! :speechless1:

The also quite decorative and beautiful document for the Düppeler Sturm-Kreuz für Combattanten... :love:

A very elaborate and decorative document for the Königgrätz Erinnerungskreuz (1866)... Beautiful!

Dear forumites, Stephan was so nice that he sent me some scans of his ancestor's documents and most importantly a picture! I want to thank him for sharing them to us... Of course I would terribly appreciate any valuable comments to the scan I am going to post. Thanks again Stephan! Here's the first image... a portrait of Viktor von Rheinbaben wearing some sort of court parade dress (help!) and his medal bar... difficult to distinguish, but it might be the very medal bar I am so fortunate to own in my collection.

Dear Mr. von Rheinbaben, If one day I decide to sell this medal bar, you will be the first to know. Of course we (collectors and enthusiasts of German military history) would love if you could share some info or even some scans of your distant relative's documentation, not out of curiosity, but for learning more about Major von Rheinbaben's interesting military career and deeds. Mit freundlichen Grüssen Claudio

Guten Tag Herr v. Rheinbaben, It is my pleasure to know one of the direct descendants of Major von Rheinbaben and gladly welcome you on this forum on behalf of all my friends and collector enthusiasts. I am the current owner of your Grand-Grand Uncle's medal bar. I bought it at an auction in Germany a couple of years ago. You can gladly send me a PM (personal message) if you have something personal to share or ask. mit freundlichem Gruss Claudio P.S.: Maybe just a technicality, but I wanted to stress this fact: the medal bar is now in my rightfully ownership since I legally purchased it for quite a lot of money. If somebody in your family decided at some point years ago to sell this medal bar, it was their choice. I know that the medal bar came from a Gentleman’s collection in the USA who passed away some years ago and his family gave it to an auction for sale. This gentleman, I believe, had it in his collection since years, maybe already as soon as from early 80ies. I am sure that there are a couple of collectors here who could confirm it to you.

Hi Rick! Very good news indeed... I guess you narrow it down quite a lot... I don't think there were many German diplomats being awarded with the MVO... Ciao, Claudio

...also his Russian General shoulder boards! Lot's of other items in the inventory of the Swedish Army Museum... A very unique and complete group! :speechless1:

Thanks Kim for mentioning the link about the virtual photo's inventory of the Army Museum... I found something more... that is interesting: the ribbon bar and some rank insignia...

Hi Kim! Thanks a lot for your very interesting additional info and pictures. Do you know what are the three last medals on the miniature bar? Ciao, Claudio

Dear Ulan, I am quite impressed about the way you're trying to defend your newly acquired medal bar. It is incredible to see how much can be discussed about such a clearly recently put together bar. Bottom line is when a bar is good, not much has to be added or questioned... Usually you get just a couple of comments like; great bar, congrats, I wish I had in my collection, etc. I really do pay a lot of attention to what some of very knowledgable members of this forum want to share... that means a lot to me. However I must say that it never crossed my mind to purchase this bar on Ebay when I first saw it. There are many things that don't really make sense on this medal bar for the reasons explained by my fellow forum's members and collecting friends, but mostly is my guts feeling. I have been collecting since 25 years and I would never trade a single medal bar in my collection (I do own a couple of them... ) with this one you're showing here. That's it... I said it. Don't feel offended by my comment; If you are happy... I am happy for you! Good luck with it. Ciao, Claudio P.S.: I am enclosing a "Colonial" medal bar of a known Bavarian officer, just for comparison...

Hi Rick, I understand that you're skeptical... Maybe somebody has to check these sources and references... For example: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28986/supplements/9973 (see under 15th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, I. Thord-Gray temp. Major) Thord-Gray, Ivor (1960). Gringo Rebel: Mexico 1913-1914 (2nd ed.). Miami Press. ASIN: B0007FRTXY. London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28986, p. 9973, 24 November 1914. Retrieved on 2007-10-31. London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29488, p. 2090, 22 February 1916. Retrieved on 2007-10-31. "Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved 2007-07-23. Swedish Royal Library: "Thord Ivar Hallströms handlingar" Some 1,000 letters and documents regarding Ivor Thord-Gray deposited in the Kungliga Biblioteket (Royal Library) in Stockholm Svenskar i krig 1914-1945 (Swedes at War 1914-1945), by Lars Gyllenhaal and Lennart Westberg. ISBN 91-85057-08-8 " Ivor Thord Gray - soldat under 13 fanor", by Stellan Bojerud, ISBN 978-91-85705-13-9 I don't want to justify the work of the Army Museum of Stockholm, but I can tell you one thing; Swedes in general are quite honest and precise with their research. Like Switzerland, Sweden is after all not a Banana republic like for instance Libya. You should see the museum; it's really professionally well done by students and academic decree enthusiasts in Military History. Why should they lie about such a person? They couldn’t care less about him, since they don’t have to follow any political agenda dictated by a ruling regime. I could get more info on this officer, but I am not interested to prove this to be true and read several different books in Swedish. Maybe some Swedish forum member could add more vital and interesting information. I just wanted to share something that I found very interesting. There are a lot of people like Swedish or Swiss volonteers who fought during WWI or WWII (my grand-father was in the French legion in Indochina and a great-uncle fought, as a Swiss with also US citizenship, the Japanese in the Pacific). Therefore I am more inclined to believe this story; of course not everything is probably true or some decorations have been added without having deserved them, but who didn't do that... Ciao, Claudio

his uniform...

A brief summary of his career...

Let's put a face to this adventurer!

Some of the Finnish orders and medals were either created or directly approved by Mannerheim...

Some portraits of Mannerheim...

A picture of Mannerheim when he was an officer in the Imperial Chevalier Guards...

Hi F922! Yes I was also at the Mannerheim's museum... great exhibition! Very interesting indeed! The visit includes also a guided tour... the guides there they really know a lot about the subject. Very impressive! Like you rightly said it was not possible to take any pictures... but I bought a book! ;-) The display of Mannerheim's uniforms and especially his decorations' room was incredible! There were two Knight crosses of the Iron Cross; one with Eichenlaub and one without... I think one it was a Juncker. Not to mention all other rare orders and a spectacular set of a special class of the German Eagle Order and the Luftwaffe Doppelabzeichen mit Brillanten... He had a really eventful and long life... he could also speak several languages; very interesting personality! Surely it was a "must-see"! For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannerheim_Museum http://www.mannerheim-museo.fi/mm.php?page=mannerheimmuseo&lang=eng Ciao, Claudio

Details of Dietl's breast decorations...