JohanH

Hello! Is there any way to find any information about Feldwebel Martin Herrnbrodt, born April 6th 1913? A google search turns up a person with the same name who received the Iron cross 1st class and was apparently a member of the Luftwaffe. But I don´t know if it is the same person. The one I am looking for got the Finnish Medal of Liberty 2nd class on July 7th 1942.

I believe it is a religious badge related to The Salesians of Don Bosco. Search on google for the motto praeit ac tuetur and you can find similar badges.

The Norwegian order in 1873. Unfortunately I can only find the year, not the date.

Yes. That is the correct date, April 15th 1944. BTW, there will be published a book about Finnish awards to Germans in 1941-1944. But it will probably not be finished until next year.

Yes. that is correct. And the 2nd class is October 30th.

2nd class on 1936-10-30 1st class on 1940-04-09 I'm sorry but I have no information about that order, Order of Orange-Nassau, Grand Cross (NN1). I'm mostly interested in Swedish and Finnish medals and orders.

It certainly looks like one of the German made crosses. Yes, it is a 3rd class cross.

I have double-checked the award roll and there was noone with the name von Forstner or anything close to that name who got the Knight grand cross. So I guess it's a typo or something. Perhaps he decided to "upgrade it himself" if he thought a regular knights cross was to low class for him? I have seen that a few times when people wear a higher class than they were awarded. Since so very few of these crosses was awarded I doubt there are any awards not listed in the award rolls. I have also checked my lists of commander crosses and he wasn't upgraded to that either.

Great! I have updated my list with the correct name. Before 1889 there was only one grade of Knight in the Order of the Sword. Everyone who held the knight rank in 1889 was automatically "upgraded" to knight 1st class. And as you mention there was also a special grade, Knight with the Grand Cross in two classes. It was very rarely awarded, last time was in 1942 to Mannerheim. Before him it was Napoleon III in 1861. So it is an extremely rare award. von Forstner only got the normal knights cross, not the knight of the grand cross.

The closest match I can find in my list is a Captain from Mecklenburg-Schwerin with the name Forster who got the Knight cross of the Order of the Sword on February 2nd 1814. Could that be your von Forstner with the name misspelled in the roll? What was his rank in 1814?

He got the oakleaves as can be seen below.

Thanks for your reply! I am quite certain that my piece is real but I believe it is a much later version than the one Weitze is selling. His piece is probably much older and therefore of better quality (as almost everything is). Here is a piece from 2012.

Honestly, I have no idea. There is very little information to be found online about it. I got in a deal among some other medals. That's why I am looking to sell it. The only other one I have seen is the one Weitze has for sale for an extremely high price. But he does have a pic of the statues (I guess, my school german isn't very good). Perhaps someone more fluent than me can read it and give me (us) a summary? Sächsische St.Heinrichs-Nadel mit Krone - Sachsen Königreich - Auszeichnungen deutscher Staaten bis 1933 - Militaria / Helmut Weitze

A little off topic perhaps.... But here is the "modern" (post 1918) version of the St Henry order. Instituted in 1963 and as I understand it only 33 members of the order is allowed. The needle is to be returned upon the death of the recipient. So it should be very very rare. If anyone is interested in it, send me a PM. I consider all offers.

I have looked in "När och hur böra ordnar bäras" from 1929 and also in the 1943 version and they both describe the classes are commander 1st class / 2nd class and knight 1st class / 2nd class.