Elmar Lang

Hello, I think it could be useful for us all, a brief description of this very rare piece, then compared to the most encountered copy of it. This is a rather unique type of decoration -for Austria- because most commemorative signs were in the form of medals and/or crosses. On May 21st 1899, the Emperor Franz Joseph addressed a handwriting to General Piret de Bihain, expressing the idea to create a commemorative badge "to be worn on the right side of the breast" (...auf der rechten Brustseite zu tragen...). The very well known Jewellers Rothe prepared the prototypes and the one approved consisted of an oval laurel wreath superimposed with two crossed marshal's batons, and the crowned monogram "A" (for "Albrecht"); the fastening pin is diagonal. The original badge measures 59 x 41 mm; the material is silver. At the Austrian State Archive - Kriegsarchiv, it is preserved the transcription of the Emperor's decree and the list of the Officer's of the late Archduke's military entourage, comprising 33 names. The list was lately added with 4 further names. The german text of the institution's decree (from the copy at the Kriegsarchiv): Abschrift eines Allerh?chsten Handschreibens vom 21. Mai 1899 an den General der Cavallerie Eugen Freiherr Piret de Bihain. _____________________ Lieber General der Cavallerie Freiherr von Piret.Sie haben an der Spitze jener wenigen noch lebenden Officiere, welche sich des Vorzuges r?hmen d?rfen dem verewigten Feldmarschall Erzherzog Albrecht in pers?nlicher Dienstleistung nahe gewesen zu sein. Angesichts das Standbildes des Erzherzog-Feldmarschalls, will Ich dieser Auserlesenen anerkennend gedenken, indem Ich denselben ein ?Erinnerungszeichen? verleihe, welches auf der rechten Brustseite zu tragen ist. Wien, am 21. Mai 1899 Franz Joseph m./p. ...and this is the recipient's list (also from the data at the Kriegsarchiv): Verzeichnis Zu N.? 1171 v. 1899 M.K.S.M. General der Kavallerie Eugen Freiherr Piret de Bihain Feldzeugmeister Philipp Graf Gr?nne Feldzeugmeister Zeno Graf Welsersheimb General der Cavallerie Andreas Graf P?lffy ab Erd?d General der Cavallerie Hilbert Freiherr von L?hneisen Feldmarschall-Lieutnant Victor Graf Dubsky von Trzebomislitz Feldmarschall-Lieutnant Alois Graf Paar Feldmarschall-Lieutnant Franz Sch?naich Feldmarschall-Lieutnant Anton Freiherr von Malowetz Feldmarschall-Lieutnant Johann Groller von Mildensee Feldmarschall-Lieutnant Ferdinand Freiherr von Franz Feldmarschall-Lieutnant Wladimir Freiherr von Spinette Generalmajor Guido Graf Dubsky von Trzebomislitz Generalmajor Ludwig Fischer-Colbric Generalmajor Stephan Szmrecs?nyi de Szmrecs?ny Generalmajor Wilhelm Graf Palffy-Daun ab Erd?d F?rst von Teano Oberst Ludwig Graf Breda Oberst a.D. Ernst Graf Chotek Oberst Viktor von Koller Oberst d.R. Lothar Freiherr von Hennet Oberst Josef Fajta Oberstlieutnant Theodor Hanke Oberstlieutnant d.R. Johann Freiherr von Bavier Major a.D. Emerich Kohl Major a.D. Franz Graf Lamberg Major in der Res. Ferdinand Prinz Lobkowitz Major a.D. Franz Graf Thun-Hohenstein Major a.D. Johann F?rst Khevenh?ller Hauptmann Anton Wahl Rittmeister a.D. Gabriel Graf Festetics Rittmeister d. Ung. Ldw. Nikolaus F?rst P?lffy ab Erd?d Oberlieutnant i.d.Res. Johann Prinz zu Schwarzenberg Stabsarzt Doctor Eduard Ritter von H?bl-Stollenbach (names added later to the list, with a different calligraphy): FZM Heinrich Freih. von Beck Oberlieut. a.D. Max Freiherr von Redwitz Oberstlieut. d.R. Rudolf M?riany de Markus et Datisfalva Major der Ung. Ldw. Zoltan Szabo. Now, the pictures of the original badge: Obverse:

Hi Veteran, the Leopold you've posted is an extremely fine, early piece. Yes, the ribbon is a combination of the colours of two orders (most probably, a ribbon for a miniature bar was used). The hallmark I see on the reverse of one of the crown's pendilia looks like Schmidt's one. I'd have your same questions, since few data about Schmidt as "Ordens-Juwelier" do exist. I'll try to search more accurately. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, quite far from the top-quality of other complete sets of Full Cavalier, here it is my Slava 1st Class, bought very long time ago. I find this order in all its 3 classes as highly interesting, strictly bound to the historical St. George Cross for Soldiers. Best wishes, Enzo

...and the list of Orders and decorations:

The booklet, with the recipient's picture:

Hello, here, my screwback Order "Sign of Honour" awarded to an NKVD official, complete with its booklet started in the days of Stalin's cleanups. Pity that the other order is missing. The "Sign of Honour", Obverse and Reverse:

... I regret to say though, that making and selling of fakes, is not a new trend in the Phaleristical market... Enzo

Hi Marc, Thank you for your further and completing information. Did it also exist a Bronze medal of the "ВДНК"? Bet wishes, Enzo

Hello, the medal was given as an award or prize from the Committee of the "ВДНК" or "Выставка Достижений Народного Хозяйства СССР", the Exhibition of the Achievements of the Popular Economy of the USSR. The russian term "Лауреат" means "winner". Best wishes, Enzo

...yes, you're right, the DneproGES was the most advanced electrical plant in the USSR, so this is one reason for depicting it in the Red Banner of Labour as a symbol of Soviet Progress. Technical aid of US engineers... and masses of forced workers (besides what's shown in official documentary films), but that's another story. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, the presence of a hydroelectrical plant in the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, besides its significance of progress and modernity, is like a "symbolic translation" of a famous sentence of Lenin: "Коммунизм это есть Советская власть плюс электрификация всей страны!", in other words, "Communism means Soviet Power plus the electrification of the whole country!" Best wishes, Enzo

Hello James, thank you for your information, that gives further details to Dr. Mac Donald's "mosaic". Best wishes, Enzo

Hi Owain, I don't think that this could be a digression: it's a starting point from where to begin a comparative study of "socialist-inspired" awards from the Middle East. Of course, the attractive design of the Soviet "hero" star was the model for the highest decorations of almost all the Socialist Countries (with the exception of Poland, the only state of the Warsaw Pact still retaining cross-shaped orders and decorations). I am sure that the man who received my simple and poorly-made star was very proud of it. If a decoration could speak... Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, thank you very much for your contribution to solve the "mistery" about my piece: now I know a lot more about it. It would be great to discover, one day,which type of decoration was this one. It is in the "line" -aesthetically- with the stars for heroism of the former socialist countries; but I understand that most of these awards were instituted even by little organizations and they had few chances to publish books like "Orders and Decorations of the..." for us collectors and enthusiasts! Sincerely, Enzo

Hi Ed, actually, italian ribbon bars should be sewn above the pocket flap and not onto it. After regulations, each row should be of maximum 4 ribbons. "Variations" do exist!... Enzo

Hello, the ribbon (yes, it's mounted upside-down), is that for the never issued medal "Valore sul Campo" (Valour on the Field). The ribbon alone, can be found quite easily so, it's possible that the ribbon bars on the uniform have been made (or completed) after the war. Best wishes, Enzo

and the reverse. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, I would like to post what I consider a fine example of a foreign-made Austrian order. This breast star has silver faceted/pierced rays (the waved, intermediate ones, are gilt); the centre medallion is in gold and enamels; the pin on the reverse is also gold and the reverse centre medallion bears the engraved jeweller's mark "W.m Gray Jeweller 13. New Bond S.t."; the diameter is 7 cm.:

Oh... I've forgot the obverse side!

You're welcome, Eric! I am sure too, that a picture of a wearer is much rarer than the medal itself... If the picture of the reverse would be useful for your "3rd edition", feel free to use it, of course. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, thank so much for the news! Any idea about the award period of this decoration? Or the meaning of the inscription? Sincerely, Enzo

and the reverse side:

Hello, Many years ago, I've bought this star; it is the same size of a Soviet Hero of the Socialist Labour. The centre medallion has the enamelled profile of a state within laurel branches and the lower rays show an inscription in arabic writing. The reverse is plain (with a strong trace of proof to see if the piece was made of gold...). Material: bronze with thin gilding and synthetic/varnish enamel. Ribbon: white and light grey/green. Could anyone identify this piece? Best wishes, Enzo

...and the reverse:

Hello, I would like to post the example of this medal, part of my little Albanian collection. I think it's a medal rather uncommon to see. It is a carefully struck piece (if compared to other Albanian medals of later manufacture). Due to its quality and finish, I agree with the opinion of Eric, that these pieces were made in the USSR. Best wishes, Enzo