Claudio

Hi Ralph, That is a beautiful mint piece... very rare in its case. I would like to present my 2 placed Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha medal bar with the above-mentioned medal... that is quite nice, too, isn't it? Ciao, Claudio

Dear all: I found this IC 1st class engraved with "Frh.v. Brandenstein 1.August 1914 VII. AK". According to the German dealer http://www.philipp-militaria.de/Bilderseiten/25969.htm the holder of this IC is a Generalleutnant and Pour le Merite Tr?ger. To me it seems quite a brand new engraving without any patina. That's strange. What do you think about it? Thanks in advance for your input. Ciao, Claudio

@ Stogieman: Go?rau could have easely been awarded of Italian order if he was working for the RLM before the war and had something to do with Italian Embassy or Italian counterpart in his administrative level. Ciao, Claudio

I found the thread of that admiral I was mentioning before: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...hlight=litzmann http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...light=lietzmann http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...light=lietzmann In this case the owner just blackened his Italian ribbons, but I do remember that Detlev who split and sold Lietzmann's huge set of military insignia, medals and bars, the admiral had several sets of ribbon bars. On some of them the Italian ribbons were just taken away. Fortunately I could purchase "only" Lietzmann's EK 1. Klasse Wiederholungsspange 1939... Ciao, Claudio

Hi Bob: the two last ribbons could have been Italian, since all the Italian decorations were outlawed by Hitler when Italy betrayed the Axis-alliance with Germany in 1943. That would make sense. I have already seen such ribbon bars with ribbons removed at the end (foreign ribbons) in another case, a German admiral who had Italian ribbons on the second row of his bars. Ciao, Claudio

Maybe Waldi? Kinda like Wilhelm = Willy or Willi... eheheh! Ciao, Claudio

Rick, Gerd! I know that I shouldn't use this kind of vocabulary and I should be more politically correct but this is the fugliest copy of a Imperial German Medal I have ever seen... shame on the Expensive-Meister! Ciao, Claudio

Hi Brian, It appears that he's wearing only a battle clasp... and this looks like "Paris". I am afraid that is not quite enough to narrow down the research of his unit. Ciao, Claudio

A nice single mounted BMVK 2. Kl. mit X am Beamtenband.

Beautiful medal bars, Bob, thanks for sharing. I especially like your medal bar with the BMVO with Beamtenband! That's quite rare... Ciao, Claudio

This is a group belonging to a WWII Bavarian Oberst: Joseph N?sslein. Too bad that the BMVO 4. mit Kr. u. X is missing. Ciao, Claudio

This is my only Bavarian Frackspange (for civil attire)...

This was my first Bavarian medal bar, bought it from me on a German Auction in the far 1988! Ciao, Claudio

Hi Stogie! I hope for the purchaser of this bar that is not a fake... it was sold for EUR 1.263,87!!!! The more I see it the less I am convinced that it could be original. Personal inspection would help a lot, like your good twin Rick said! Ciao, Claudio

Here's another one of a particularly proud Bavarian WWI veteran with his last 20ies early 30ies style medal bar, a after 34 medal bar, some ribbon bars and lapel bows. Quite a complete set! Ciao, Claudio

Dear forumites: I would like to start off a new topic: a thread about tipical Bavarian medal bars. Do not hesitate to show off yours, please. This particular one comes from my brother Marco medal bars' collection. It's not so common to find medal bars together with its ribbon bars. Ciao, Claudio

Dear forumites, I tried several times to post it... it's on German Ebay right now. The price seems to skyrocket... To me the combination could be possible. I would like to hear your interesting comments on this one. I thank you in advance. Ciao, Claudio

Hi Bob, What a magnificent bar... It's not so easy to come by medal bars with Reussiche Medals, especially the Ehrenkreuz of the House Order... I am still looking for one to add to my collection... til now without success! Ciao, Claudio

@ Stogieman: Thank you for welcoming on this forum. I am glad to "see" you here, too! @ Bob: Thanks for your good words... you have got a truly beautiful collection! I am looking forward to seeing your pieces. Ciao, Claudio

And finally the complete medal and ribbon bar set!

Reverse of the bars in its private purchased red case...

Thanks Rick for correcting my spelling and the words... man! That is complicated, even though I can speak and read German! Another close up shot of the bars on the China-Denkm?nze!

Another detail of the FAM's document... Perhaps here there some interesting things for our Ricky...

F?hrungszeugnis...

Rick, Maybe you can find out who was his "Einheitskommandeur" (Major Riese?) Here a detail of his signature with the issuing date of the medal. Ciao, Claudio