Claudio

@ Paul: this is my only named Austrian medal bar I know of... @ Matt: I think Brunner just joined the Wehrmacht after the Anschluss, therefore he very likely didn't apply to get one of it, since the Hindenburg crosses were awarded in 1934-35. Ciao, Claudio

Here a typical bar of a high officer who served in Austrian-Hungarian KuK Army and later in the German Wehrmacht. You can notice the repetition of the same ribbons; no way to tell is which is which on a ribbon bar... Ordensspange des Generalleutnant der Luftwaffe Josef Brunner (*30.10.1889 - †15.01.1967) • Preußen, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, 1914 (OEK 1909), E/S • Kaiserreich Österreich-Ungarn, Militärverdienstkreuz 3. Kl. mit Kriegsdekoration • Kaiserreich Österreich-Ungarn, Signum Laudis in Gold mit Kriegsdekoration • Kaiserreich Österreich-Ungarn, Karl-Truppenkreuz • Kaiserreich Österreich-Ungarn, Verwundetenmedaille Laeso Militi, 1-malige Verwundung • Deutsches Reich 1933-45, LW-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Kl., 25 Jahre (OEK 3857) • Deutsches Reich 1933-45, LW-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Kl., 18 Jahre (OEK 3858) • Österreich 1. Republik, 1. Weltkriegs-Erinnerungsmedaille • Ungarn, 1. Weltkriegs-Erinnerungsmedaille Ciao, Claudio

The metal clasp device on the ribbon indicates a second awards of the same Tapferkeitsmedaille; this could have been awarded several times. See also this website of an Austrian dealer: http://www.sammlerecke.at/orden/ordenmona.html Ciao, Claudio

Hi Timo, I begin with your Austrian ribbon bar: the first two ribbons were used for several different orders and medals: - bronzene, silberne und goldene Tapferkeitsmedaille: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehren-Denkmünze_für_Tapferkeit_(Österreich) - Signus Laudis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Merit_Medal_(Austria–Hungary) - Militärverdienstkreuz - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Merit_Cross_(Austria-Hungary) It was a sort of war/bravery ribbon and could have been used also on the Franz-Josef Order ( http://www.medals.org.uk/austria/austria-empire/austria-empire-008.htm ). See also this interesting table of Austrian ribbons: http://www.medals.pl/at/at1.htm The third one is the ribbon belongs to the Karl-Truppenkreuz which is depicted here below (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-Truppenkreuz). The cross has been awarded to all those soldiers that have been at least 1 one at the front and participated at least to one major battle. Ciao, Claudio

A great and very well known soldier indeed, Paul! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Mauss http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/MaussK.htm

The cross looks like this... (from the website: http://www.herzovision.de/sachsens-orden/24a6bc96790dcbe01/24a6bc96790dd1a07/24a6bc98e90e09503/index.html ). There are several classes and variants, with enamel or gilted metal cross. Ciao, Claudio

With exception of the 4 place ribbon bar's first decoration (Iron Cross), all other ribbons are for inofficial Veterans' commemorative medals/crosses of the Weimar period (1919-1933). The third one is very likely a faded Saxon WWI Veteran cross ribbon (green colour ribbons tend to fade a lot during time). Ciao, Claudio

reverse...

Hi Tom, I don't like it; the lack of details of the pictures and the fact that it looks like a "silver" (well, it must still be proved) gilt type wouldn't really encourage me to spend so much money. Besides I have seen on the market such gran crosses being described as produced after 1918 copies. Furthermore for that price I would expect better and sharp photos. If I was collecting these babies, I rather go for the real Gold types... like the on a current German auction (courtesy of Mr. Thies). ciao, Claudio

There are many things I don't like of these medal bar... the way the ribbons are folded, the odd combination without any other orders or medals, the fact that the Württemberg is a cheap silver gilt piece... but above all I don't like the Reussisches Ehrenkreuz' crown; it looks a bit too small and if you notice, although the picture is very bad and small, there's some traces of welding on the bottom outer part of the crown... It looks just like a piece I won on a German auction; when I got it delivered and I saw the flaw, I immediately sent it back. I am wondering: maybe "they" used the very same cross to put together this bar! Ciao, Claudio

Hi Timo, I already told you with a PM what I think about it and your very detailled pictures confirmed my thoughts; I don't like the eagle devices... moreover you would also expect that such devices are of the same quality and maker on the same bar. Glowing ribbons under UV light is not good news... The medal bar construction (see pin on the back) looks also very peculiar to say the least... Here's my medal bar for comparison... as you can see, although the pictures are not so big and detailled as yours, the ribbons are all similarly aged/faded and the whole construction of the bar make completely sense... Ciao, Claudio

Wow! Thanks a lot for your very interesting additions to the writer of this letter... :beer:

Many thanks Naxos! :beer:

2nd part

Dear forumites, I really need to train more my eye in order to read Sütterlin script... but it's a pain in the butt! I can only read parts of it... Can anyone help me with the text, please? I don't need the translation into English, since I am fluent in German, just the transcription of the text as it is. Thanks in advance!!! Ciao, Claudio 1st part

I was thinking the same... plus that guy must have been quite old, if he was a father of the fallen son in WWI... just a RAO4 and no other pre-1918 decoration... mmmhhh.... I don't know about that! Ciao, Claudio

Copy of the telegram....

Kreuz der Ritter des Königl. HHO mit Schwertern for the Oberleutnants Felmy and Falke of the Feldflieger-Abteilung 300 "Pascha", dated "Grosses Hauptquartier", 29th May 1917.

Hi Timo! Your württemberg'sche Ribbon bar with the 40 years LS award is exactly matching my medal bar... also the dealer's label "Sedlatzek"... I am ready to purchase it from to re-unite it with my bigger brother.... ;-) Let me know if you are willing to let it go... Ciao, Claudio

Hi Timo, Your württemberg'sche Ribbon bar with the 40 years LS award is exactly matching my medal bar... also the dealer's label "Sedlatzek"... I am ready to purchase it from to re-unite it with my bigger brother.... ;-) Let me know if you are willing to let it go... Ciao, Claudio

Nothing to worry about... it came with a lot of documents... so I am pretty sure it's a good one! Here are the miniatures... Ciao, Claudio

Nice and rare Colonial photograph... Congrats for your addition! Ciao, Claudio

enjoy... :whistle:

Dear forumites, I'd like to start a thread where everybody can show pictures depicting German soldiers in their early Wehrmacht's uniform (1934-36), with their Reichswehr's cut/style waffenrock with eight buttons. Feel free to post your interesting pictures! Here my bro's picture of a Hauptfeldwebel with function as Spiess (Company's Seargent Major). Ciao, Claudio

... and the document to the Schlesischer-Bewährungsabz. 2. Kl.; as you can see R. Krug von Nidda has the title "Attaché", that means that he was in some not confirmed capacity working at a German Diplomatic or Consular representation in 1921...