Christian L

Got this medal, but somehow i'm unable to id it. I would be very happy if someone here can help me. Christian

I think it can't be said that easily as this decoration belongs to a quiet comlex system. This decoration (Regimental Commemorative Cross of the former German Army) was in this style the second model as a General Commemorative Cross. Before there where the Regimental-, Bataillons- and the Navy-Commemorative Cross. But i personally think that it happened another way - as why should be such a triple-system invented and than reduced to only one (which is not even wearable on the medalbar?). Also the production of the unit clasps are easier on the "medalbar-triple-type" as these are stamped in and not raised from the ground which would make a special die for each unit neccesary. Most of the decorations of the "triple-style" are found with swords (nearly all i've seen) and only a few are found without - these shows, that there was also a difference between comtattants and noncombattants. Also is a huge variety on ribbons in use, which to my knowledge, is not completly interpretable up to know - but i think that there is a logic behind as otherwise they would have used all the same ribbon. So in total its still a veterans organisation award, but a very interesting one which has not told us everything we want to know up to now. Christian

here we go:

Thanks a lot - as i wasn't totally sure myself if the 3rd number is a 9 or a 0. Christian

as i can not make out the number myself for sure, i hope you can help me with it. thanks a lot in advance christian

And now, a small postcard i was very happy in getting it! Hope you like it as well. Christian

the dark bronce ones are the originally issued examples of the medal - as they used a rather dark bronce, many gilded their original examples privately and some bought spangen-st?cke (those haven't the markermark on the bust of germania). so your medal is good and the price even more! (added a scan from the armee-verordnungsblatt 1908 nr. 95) - only bronce, nothing about gilding in any way as official issue. christian

Thanks a lot!!! I think its possible, at least i try it (it can take a little, but in the end i'm sure i'll have a unit). Yes, they look different, but all together look a little "worn" on the hights (and as some high positions, which are lower than others, have no worn off gilding i'd say its because the usual wearing caused it that only the highest parts got worn off). The metal is different as the worn off parts on the inofficial and the official ones doesn't match to 100% - so like Wild Card said its a different alloy used for them. The prongs are flat - similar to official ones. And as the ribbon and the sewing covers some prongs totally or partitially (and the ribbon is very taut) i'm sure they where not added later. Another reason is, at least i think, that if he had only the official ones first, he would have them put into the middle and not on the top - as this would be more estheticaly. On the clasps (official and inofficial ones) there is no dirt nor rust - just different alloy (which reacted different during the time due to its content materials). Christian

As the colonial sector was more or less calm the last time for me and i had a little spare time i went today to a dealer in my area with the hope to spend some money And this is what i purchased from Uwe Bretzendorfer With the 3 inofficial ones its a real TREASURE! Never seen a bar with 3 inofficial clasps and in such a well made quality - increadible! And i guess a very good start into the various official and better inoffical clasps of the 1870/71 medal. I guess you can imagine who good i feel at the moment Hope you like it as well. Christian

thanks ed for your help! (and i'm lucky - so he was able to pass the star most probably with "warm-hands") changed the ribbon to the one you've shown - so no it looks better. christian

no, i got it from an ebay contact (and the guy lives in germany - but if he got it from laos, i really don't know) christian

thanks a lot tony! this was what i was looking for christian

out of interest - as i wasn't able to find anywhere an answer - the death plaques have a number between the leg and tail of the lion and on the reverse a letter - what do they indicate? and why they are not always the same? christian

Thanks very much to all for the comments and the suggestions! I really enjoyed it, as it was possible to give the glory an individual history - and a very interesting one, at least for me. And yes, i guess it wasn't the last time i've done it Christian

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and here we go now (hope you like it)

when did he get his austrian military merit cross 3rd class with war decoration which is shown on the bar? as a kannengiesser got it at the 15 of march 1916 as kaiserlich ottomanischer Oberst (preussischer Oberstleutnant). christian

thanks very much for all the info ed! thats more info that i would have thought to get! i sadly have only the star without the sangram medal, but changed the ribbon to a proper one (like shown on your website). is there a possibility to trace them down similar to british medals? thanks again christian ps: put me to the list of those who want to get a copy of the book

Got this Pashchimi Star today and its marked 110 05096 ?NR ANKUSH PARATHI ARTY (if i was correct in getting the markings). Is anyone able to tell me something about this particular decoration? Best regards Christian

with a certain way of "understatement" the guys would never have said anything. a short story - not imperial, but i guess it explains it good - a guy got more than 20 days of close combat figthing (all documented in his wehrpass) - but was never awarded a close combat clasp. while talking with his comrades and my friend who visited him, he was a little "pissed-off" but does accept it, that he will never get one. as he would have never worn one, as he wasn't awarded one. christian

what kind of awardee do you think we can "see" behind these awards?

... and i think they will do so in the future as well. on them there are prussian red cross medal 3rd class, saxonian war aid cross for the worldway and a albrechts order? and the one added at the 2 4-place ones is a volkspflege decoration? hope that some kind help me bringing light into the dark. christian

your 2nd thought is correct rick! and here a pic of the inside of the case (best i was able to do with my scanner) christian