Claudio

Merci Christoph! ... to tell the truth I don't know how it looks on the back, because I haven't got it, yet, and on the catalogue there isn't a picture of the back of the bar nor a description of it. From the way the ribbons have been folded, especially the threads on the base of the rings and its overlapping of the ribbon to cover them, I can tell almost for sure that is not Godet, although it's really well, professionally put together medal bar. It would be great if you could look it up on the Reichsheer Rangliste. @ Dave: what can I say? Wow... what a research and in a such short time! Maybe the clue was the only Braunschweig decoration with the 96th IR officers? Amazing... Do you think that the combination of the 3 Braunschweig, Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt decorations could be unique? Strangely the 25 years WH-LS awards should show quite a long career as professional/active officer after 1920... Thanks a lot for your corrections (Jubilee medal was wrongly described on the auction's catalogue) and for look it up in the WH-Personalakte, when you will have time... Thanks again to the both of you!

Dear forumites, I was pretty lucky to adquire the following huge medal bar (14 place!!!) medal bar: Preußen: Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse am Kämpferband, 1914-1924 (OEK 1909); 3. Reich: Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (OEK 3835); Mecklenburg-Schwerin: Militärverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse am Band für Kämpfer, 1914 (OEK 1352); Reuß: Fürstlich Reussisches Ehrenkreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwertern (OEK 2005/1) S/G; Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt: Fürstlich schwarzburgisches Ehrenkreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwertern, 1870-1918 (OEK 2785) S/sv ; Hamburg: Hanseatenkreuz (OEK 688); Österreich: Militärverdienstkreuz 3. Klasse mit KD; 3. Reich: Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer mit Schwertern (OEK 3803/1) St br; Reuß ältere Linie: Erinnerungszeichen zum silbernen Ehejubiläum, 1909 (OEK 2057) S; Braunschweig: Orden Heinrich des Löwen, Ehrenzeichen 2. Klasse, 1908-1918 (OEK 634) Br; 3. Reich: DA 1. Klasse für 25 Dienstjahre, Kreuz (OEK 3852) E vg; 3. Reich: DA 3. Klasse für 12 Dienstjahre, Medaille (OEK 3854) E vg; 3. Reich: Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 "Sudetenanschluss", 1938-1941 (OEK 3517); Ungarn: Erinnerungsmedaille 1914 – 1918 für Kämpfer I am pretty sure that the officer would have to have been a Reussischer citizen, since he has 2 decorations from that minute state in Central East Germany on his bar (nos. 4 and 9) and to get no. 9 I believe that he had to be resident there. I certainly saw uninterruptible service in the Army from the beginning of WWI until WW2, since he had both LS awards for 25 years of service. Nevertheless I am afraid that the original medal bar's wearer cannot identified, because of the Reuss ordenlisten's loss/destruction during WW2. Thank you in advance for looking into the matter... I surely appreciate all kind of educated comments on the bar and its combination. ciao, Claudio

Very nice Christoph... The pictures are great! Could he be because of his name of Jewish ancestry?

Ok... I see... but I guess "my" MKFO can be dated around 1870, since there are no timely data on the different maker variants of this order... Thanks anyway! C

@ Dave: the group was sold with the name, but without any research documents. Very likely the previous material owner came up with it. It's always a shame that during the process of auctioning an item, most information get lost. Thanks for looking into this matter! :-) C

Here are the other pieces of the group... notice the really interesting commemorative medal in its box and the delicate beautiful miniature of the EK2 1870 on a trapezoidal miniature ribbon.

Dear forumites, Here's another quite complete group of the late Oberstleutnant Hopfe of the 3. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 71. Description of the decorations on the medal bar: Preußen, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1870 am Kämpferband (OEK 1904), E gs/S Preußen, Roter Adler Orden 4. Klasse 1879-1918 (OEK 1704) S Preußen, Kriegsdenkmünze 1870/71 für Kämpfer (OEK1941/1) GBr und 3 Gefechtsspangen zur KDM „Paris“, „Sedan“ und „Beaumont“ (OEK 1941/24/10/8) Me vg Preußen, Erinnerungskreuz „Königgrätz“ 1866-1867 (OEK 1938) GBr Preußen, Zentenarmedaille 1897 (OEK 1965/1) GBr Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen, Fürstlich Schwarzburgisches Ehrenkreuz, Kreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwertern 1870-1918 (OEK 2785) S/Sv This amazing group come with its original and specifically made authentic dark bordeaux colour case and it consists of the medal bar to be worn on the civilian tuxedo (Frackspange), the miniature chain (Miniaturkette), the ribbon lapel bow (Knopflochschnalle), a miniature of the (1/2 sized/Prinzengrösse) EK 2 Kl. 1870 and a nicely stuck commemorative medal of the regiment (50th jubilee of the regiments' foundation) in its small round box. I can deduce from RAO4 (last type) that this order was bestow on him quite late, maybe around the time he got this tuxedo bar assembled with the addition of the 25 years jubilee of the Franco-Prussian war, therefore my guess it was awarded after 1895, around the turn of the century. No dates or documents available with this group. All in all a very nice and complete group. Now I am looking for details of Hopfe's military career (someone has the book on this very regiment? Christophe? ;-) ) and personal data (date of birth and death) in order to archive and save it for the future generations. Thank you all in advance for taking the time to look at this lovely group and for any additional information you can provide. Best regards, Claudio

Merci Christophe... No, no hallmarks on the BV3, but someone has identified this piece to be "Der Ritter aus der Französische Fertigung ist nicht von 1900. / Ich würde so um 1820 - 1830 tippen. / Der Bandring ist typisch für die Zeit", therefore a quite early piece... ciao, Claudio

Danke Rudi!

That's great Glenn... Thanks a lot!!!! :-) now we have a face and even a visual confirmation that Sommer really wore that very medal bar!!! ;-) Thank you again!!!!

Oberst Werner Mölder RK des EK mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten (*18.03.1913 - †22.11.1941) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Mölders It was really weird... we were at his tombstone on Sunday 17.03. just one day before his day of death... what a coincidence!!! Somebody had already placed a flower wreath on his tomb... very moving! He's still very much remembered by his family...

Some details...

Dear forumites, I'd like to introduce to you my new entry: a fantastic 9 place medal bar of the late Generalleutnant Sommer, Kdt. of the 39th Division in Colmar. Here's a detailed description of the bar: Preußen, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1870 am Kämpferband (OEK 1904) mit Eichenblattspange 1895 „25“ (OEK 1905), E/S Preußen, Medaille für Rettung aus Lebensgefahr (OEK 1863) Baden, Militärischer Karl-Friedrich-Verdienstorden, RK Gold (OEK 113) Preußen, Kriegsdenkmünze 1870/71 mit 2 Gefechtsspangen „Strassburg“ und „An der Lisaine“ (OEK 1941/1 + OEK 1941/23 und 20) Preußen, Centenarmedaille 1897 (OEK 1965/1), Gbr Baden, Felddienst-Auszeichnung (OEK 278 + 294 + 296) Baden, Goldene Regierungsjubiliäumsmedaille 1902 (OEK 220), Br Sächsische Herzogtümer, Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden 1. Modell (1833-1864) Buchstabe E für Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha Inländer mit Eichenkranz, Ritterkreuz (OEK 2450), Gold Unfortunately I don't have any details of Genltn Sommer's of his career or the dates of bestowal of his awards with the exception that his RK zum MKFVO was awarded to him on January 8, 1871 and that he was Adjudant in Generalstab during the Franco-Prussian war. To be able to find a picture of this General, it would be just great!!! I would be more than grateful if somebody could share more information on this high officer. Thanks for looking into this matter and please feel free to post your comments or questions about this medal bar. ciao, Claudio

Hi Chris! I am glad that you like this thread... according to wikipedia http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_von_Eichhorn is Generalfeldmarschall Emil Gottfried Hermann von Eichhorn also buried in the Invalidenfriedhof in Berlin, but I have to confess I haven't seen it... not even the tombstone of the Red Baron Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen... (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manfred_von_Richthofen). I focused myself on the most decorative tombstones, I am afraid! :-(

von Witzleben, F.A. Generalleutnant und Divisionkommandeur von Witzleben, Ernst Job Wilhelm *20.07.1783 - †09.07.1837 Königlich preußischer Generalleutnant und Generaladjutant, Staats- und Kriegsminister. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_von_Witzleben_(Generalleutnant)

Tombstone of Hans Karl von Winterfeldt (*04.04.1707 - †08.09.1757), Prussian Lieutenant General and close friend of Frederik II "The Great" http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Karl_von_Winterfeldt

Tombstone of Johannes Friedrich "Hans" von Seeckt, born 22.04.1866, died 27.12.1936, commanding General of the newly build Reichsheer and the forefather of the German Wehrmacht. To me he was the epitome of the perfect Prussian officer, discipline and sense of duty and fidelity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_von_Seeckt

Monumental tombstone of Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst, born 12.11.1755, died 28.06.1813 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerhard_von_Scharnhorst Königlich preußischer Generalleutnant und Generalquartiermeister der Armee

This one is not dedicated to a military personality or hero, but nonetheless a beautiful tombstone with a delicate and at the same time massive sculpture of Eduard Julius Ludwig Nolte (1859 –1908) Generaldirektor der „Neuen Gas AG“

Werner Freiherr von Fritsch, Generaloberst, Oberbefehlaber des Heeres (1935-38) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_von_Fritsch Main website of the family von Fritsch (heraldry): http://main.vonfritsch.de/index.php/geschichte-mainmenu-55?start=2

Dear Forumites, I'd like to post some nice images of my visit of the Invaliden Cemetery in Berlin, a kind of "Arlington" cemetery, where some of the most important military personalities, noble families and highly decorated officers are buried (see also http://www.foerderverein-invalidenfriedhof.de/ ). Let's begin with Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, PLM-Träger. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothar_von_Arnauld_de_la_Perière Enjoy! ciao, Claudio

no. 12 looks very much like the "Silberne Hochzeitsmedaille 1911" from Württemberg... see here http://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/silberne-hochzeitsmedaille-1911.html Also the ribbon looks similar the the one worn by Neurath. Ciao, Claudio PS just saw now that Sascha already got it before me... :-)

Thanks for posting Tom! Although it looks 100% authentically mounted by Godet, I am bit worried of the weird combination of awards... half non-front officer (Pr Kriegshilfkreuz, Bavarian Ludwig cross and Br KVK 2 Kl. am Nichtkämpferband) and the other half combatant (AO2X, SEHO RK 2 Kl X)... I don't also understand the non-official swords on the Bavarian Ludwig Cross, which was a completely civilian award. Nonetheless an impressive bar of a long serving functionary.... (EZ für treue Dienste 1. Stufe 40 Jahre + 2 Anschluss medals) :-) ciao, Claudio

Correct... this is a two-parts medal bar... made by Godet (see reverse)

Good point Komtur... ;-) I don't see an RK of the St.Heinrich Order on his awards list... so I just wore the St.Heinrich Order (commander) on his bar... strange! ciao, Claudio