Elmar Lang

Well packed in tissue paper and stored in a bank vault...

Hello, this medal bar appears as appropriate, with a nicely made cross of the Merit Order of the Republic, in the new type (more recent pieces are horribly made). The Long Service Cross looks ok, same as the mission medal/cross. The "Order of the Iron Crown" is a "self styled order" that fortunately is now forbidden for wear. It's difficult to say whether a mission medal is an original or not, because they are always privately purchased, since our state mint discontinued the production of medals, besides those for military, naval and civil valour. So, we can see medals of different manufacture, but legitimately purchased and mounted to the medal bar, from a very nice quality, to poor, cast and roughly finished pieces. Best, Enzo (E.L.)

Thank you Igor, I've always liked the Virtuti Militari, besides my interest in the Imperial Austrian awards...

"(...) disgusting herbal concoction (...)" I took note of this description, to enrich my otherwise limited, English "Wortschatz"...

Hello, many thanks for the comments. Since I'm more into the Imperial Austrian orders and decorations, I'd be glad to know which state/authority adopted the "cross" or "snowflake" mark, struck to the pin of my Tamara Order. The star looks like being made of silver and the centre medallion still shows an excellent gilding. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Thank you; very good photos and interesting details! Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, I would like to give my contribution to this interesting thread, posting a little group found some years ago, including the Order of Queen Tamara with its award document, the personal papers and a few correspondence from Georgia, of the man who received it, a German Gefreiter from the "Funkstation" in Tiflis (Tbilisi). The star is still in its "uncleaned" condition, as it was found; the pin, is struck with a tiny "x". All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

I've never smoked a single cigarette in my 62 years so I can't compare, but I can say that I like Lapsang Souchong tea, having tasted it the first time when I was 16, and a sea cadet. I'm not a Brit, though.

Hello, acutually, the Austrian Red Cross had no proper award, before 1914. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)

A nice collection, with very fine pieces, congratulations! Enzo

As a conclusion, I've been able to take a picture of the "Ersatz-Urkunde", released by the Federal Republic of Germany, framed and at the wall, in my late father's study-room. I think it could be considered as an interesting, rather uncommon document, especially for being given to a non-German. The original "Urkunde", for what I know, should be somewhere in the desert's sands between Tobruk and Alamein...

Hello, the world is strange... this morning a german colleague, collector of orders and decorations, called me informing that the Gunzenhausen show is taking place, although with less exhibitors: does anyone know more about this curious thing?

You're perfectly right, noting the typing mistake that I've just corrected in my post, thank you! Pierre Didio, was in Poland between 1919 and 1927, as stated in his detailed biography, available on the webpage I've quoted as a link. Best wishes, Enzo

Thank you, Gordon. I took that picture myself (I was nearly 17 years old, then), on dad's return back home in Verona, from the award ceremony, at the Miltary Region Higher Command in Padua.

To complete my contribution to this interesting thread, I would like to add a portrait of my father in full-dress, taken early in 1975 when, as a Major General, he received the Commander's Cross of the Merit Order of the Republic. He is wearing the above pictured medal bar and EK-I. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

...Colonel Classe also had the Kampforden in Bronze and Silver... and many, further awards...

To add something to the discussion, I would like to post a few pictures of the Medals of Honor I've talked about in this thread. I've been impressed by the rich detail of each piece. The reverse of the third piece bears no engraving. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, following to the discussion about the Polish war order awarded to Rumanian soldiers, I would like to add a further cross, present in my collection. This one, belonged to a French officer: Pierre Desire Robert Didio. A detailed biography of him, can be found here: https://wikimaginot.eu/V70_glossaire_detail.php?id=1000561 where we see that he participated to the battle of Verdun as a captain and distinguished himself in that fierce battle. From the summer of 1919, until 1927 he saw service in Poland, with the French Military Mission. On June 22nd, 1922, he received the V Class of the Virtuti Militari. In December 1937, he was promoted Brigadier General, Commander of the Bordeaux base; later of an Alpine Infantry brigade. In 1940, he distinguished himself in the unfortunate war against Germany, was taken prisoner and repatriated in France in 1942(!)... An interesting career indeed. The cross is made of silver, with separately-made obverse and reverse centre medallions, these, made of gold. The number is engraved and the ribbon is of the frail, "swiss" type. Best wishes, Enzo

I would like to add the picture of the presentation case with which the Military Attaché offered to my father the EK-I and EK-II, and a detail of the reverse of the 1st Class cross. I think that the case was prepared in Rome, on behalf of the German Embassy's administration. Further, a picture of my father's medal bar (the Silver "Al Valore Militare" medal, is a named duplicate). All the best, Enzo

Hello, as a matter of interest, I would like to post the images of the "Vaterländische Verdienstorden" in Silver and Bronze, with their award documents, from the group of orders and decorations of Colonel Eugen Classe, a former high ranking officer of the Ministry for State Security (MfS). The Bronze badge, shows the typical difference to the suspension bar's loop, from the later model. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, the medal shown above, is not an "Al Valore MIlitare" (For Military Valour) medal, but a "Al Valore di Marina" (For Naval Valour) one. The Al Valore Militare medals were awarded to military of any ranks, as a reward for acts of valour displayed in combat or in military operations. The Al Valore di Marina, actually was a medal to reward lifesaving at sea, at risk of one's life. The fact involving the vessel "Aquila" in the low-Adriatic sea, is well-known, probably awarded to a sailor who saved other men after the Aquila was hit by the direct fire of an austrian ship, being severely damaged and immobilized, with loss of lives. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, attached, the pictures of Lt. Iliescu's Virtuti Militari 5th Class. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.) A detail of the impressed numbering:

Hello, to find any detail about the Castelfidardo medal and its variations, I think the best should be reading the pages about this medal, in A. Brambilla's book (2nd edition) on the decorations and medals of Italy and the former Italian States. It's the most documented and updated source on this subject. Best wishes, E.L.

Hello, I have to give an update: sorry to say, I've just received news from the Gunzenhausen's show's organization, that the event was cancelled, due to the current, sanitary situation. Let's hope that things would improve soon... All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Dear Paul, thank you for the reply. Yes, the "specimen" engraving, surely indicates those purposes. All the best, Enzo