Elmar Lang

It wasn't a "late award". Actually, the regular award took place, as said, on May 31st, 1942, as a reward for the action that took place on the previous day. My late father, was an italian artillery officer, who fought in Northern Africa as a commander of an AA/AT battery. He was taken prisoner on July 3rd, 1942 at Alam Nayil, close to the Qattara Depression. After the war, he remained in the army until his retirement in 1976. When in 1957 the German military awards have been legalized, he immediately asked for the confirmation of his EK1, but his superiors stopped the advancement of his request, because "no nazi award could be authorized for wear!". Years passed and while being with the rank of full colonel, his commander found correct to forward the request that my father tried once more to advance through the hierarchy. In 1970, the German Government, having found archival evidence of the award, sent the "Ersatzurkunde" and, a while later, the German Military Attaché, during a little ceremony, consigned a case, containing the 1957-type 1st and 2nd Class crosses.

Hello, I will have my table in Gunzenhausen as well, and I'll be glad to shake hands (is that still authorized?) or just say hello to fellow collectors. Let's hope that everything would go smoothly with this epidemic... All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, I think I'm in the right mood to get into troubles (in the US, at least). After the two early MOHs, one non-engraved and one to a 27th Maine soldier; I've added a third one, also of the early type, but its reverse is nicely engraved with "Specimen", done in a fine, cursive font. What where such specimens intended for? Any further info, would be most appreciated. Many thanks in advance, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, this 1st class cross is identical in any detail, to the piece presented along with the 2nd class, by the German Military Attaché to my father in 1970, when the Federal Republic confirmed the award of the First Class for the act of bravery done on May 30th 1942, Northern Africa, Bir el-Aslagh. The original conferment happened on May 31st, 1942. Best, E.L.

Curiously to say, in the "Virtuti Militari" dept. of my collection, I have the 5th Class Cross no. 9732, awarded to 2nd Lt. Ignat Iliescu (Romanian Army), on February 27th, 1922.

I do agree with Sascha's statement. Enzo (E.L.)

I agree it's written "Großpapa". I'm 62 and Italian, but I thank my parents, both fluent in German, for having taught me the Kurrentschrift (aka "Sütterlin" in a later form), when I was a young boy...

You're welcome. I'm glad if I've been of any help. Since the 1st class is very hard to find, a nice 2nd class cross would be a nice addition to any collection. The price for a Geistliches Verdienstkreuz 2. Klasse, although not cheap, is usually lower than its actual rarity. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, I've also read the reports about that... "Nothing new under the sun", though. Let's never forget what happened in Germany...

Hello, I've better examined the picture of this "Geistliches Verdienstkreuz I Klasse" and, after having enlarged the image enough, I can say, without doubt, that this piece comes from a batch of copies appeared in the early 2000s. At first, they've been sold as "pre-1918 private purchase pieces" or, with the hilarious descriprion as pre-1918 "Spangenstück". Soon, it became clear that they came from the workshop of a now late, german faker. Best wishes, E.L.

Hello, I need to thank Sandro for having told me about this discussion. Lately, I'm often away and without the necessary time to talk about Austro-Hungarian awards. The piece shown is a 2nd type, 2nd Class "Geistliches Verdienstkreuz" or "Piis Meritis" cross, made by Messrs. Mayer's Söhne of Vienna, that at a certain moment was gilt and fitted with white enameled centre medallions, to look like a 1st Class cross. The 1st Class cross, that is an extremely rare (if not scarce) decoration, was awarded in gold only and never in any gilt version, unless privately acquired. So, the piece shown in the provided pictures has to be considered as an unofficial, or privately-made/purchased piece, where it's impossible to say where and when it was made. In my opinion, it would be much better to look for a silver (hallmarked or not) 2nd Class cross, that would certainly be an original, award piece, whose price is usually much cheaper than its real rarity. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, The French state mint, didn't produce the Sardinian/Italian "Al Valore Militare" medal. It is known, that French, private firms, produced this medal to provide those eligible to wear it, in more or less fine quality and different diameter. The French-made medals, usually have the "Guerre d'Italie" inscription, struck instead being engraved. Best wishes, E. L.

Hello, an interesting contrubution indeed. Perhaps, Messrs. Cravanzola used something "off the shelf" to satisfy the request of Burkina Faso's government. Has the item displayed on ebay been sold already? All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello Igor, here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlaraffia you can have a general idea of the "Schlaraffen" movement. In the german-speaking world there was an active collecting of insignia and badges of this association. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, I am glad if in this case I could have been of help in the identification of this medal. Many years ago, I've had the opportunity to meet Dr. Pizzi: he was a fan of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and a faithful client of Messrs. Rothe & Neffe shop in Vienna. His collection, counted a tasteful choice of interesting, original pieces. All the best, Enzo

Hello, in my opinion, the eagle holding hammer and sickle in its talons, is the coat-of-arms of 1919 Deutschösterreich, or the post-WW2 2nd Republic. Not being visible the "broken chain" to the eagle's talons, it's most probable that the badge dates back to the "Republik Deutschösterreich" Best wishes, E.L.

Hello, this finely made medal is italian, "instituted" at the end of the 70s and "awarded" at least until 1998. The man, whose bust is visible on the obverse, with the inscription "GIO. CARLO II", is Dr.Ing. Giancarlo Pizzi from Milan, whose ancestry goes back to the Counts of Porcia in the Friuli region of North-East Italy. For unknown reasons, but surely with some sense of humour, he created this "Merit Medal", he used to award on the occasion of his birthday (or other occasions), to friends and other persons, whose fidelity and conspicuous merits towards him, deserved a visible sign of benevolence and gratitude. The motto on the reverse, "AI NOSTRI FEDELI E MERITEVOLI SUDDITI", means "To our faithful and meritorious subjects". The medal, struck in silver at the Johnson firm of Milan, was work of one of its own artists-medallists and it's really well executed; the ribbon, was provided by Messrs. Rothe & Neffe, Vienna. It exists with two types of case: the early one, is of typical "austrian" form, with rounded, forward side; the later one, is rectangular; all with various versions of the Austrian, or Lombardo-Venetian coat-of-arms, embossed in gold to the lid. It came with an award document, in a dark blue cardboard folder; the earliest, printed on simili-parchment paper, the later ones, in a laser-copy version, all with the recipient's name made with "Letraset" transfer letters. The documents, bear the signature "Gio. Carlo", autographed in red ink. It was not awarded in a great number, since one of the last documents known, from 1998, bears the number "N° 58". I think that Dr. Pizzi passed away (if not, I apologize!), because some years ago a certain number of such medals appeared on the italian market, all within a short period of time. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, the badge refers to the foundation of one of the many "Shooters' Companies" (Schützenkompanien"), active in the Alto Adige autonomous province (also known as "Südtirol" from the german-speaking population). Here, https://schuetzen.com/veranstaltung/40-jahre-wiedergruendungsfest-der-schuetzenkompanie-sepp-innerkofler-sexten/ you can find a few data about the celebrations for the 40 years of that company, to be held in the next July. As you can see from the link above, they mean to celebrate the "re-foundation" of their company, named to Sepp Innerkofler… that actually never existed prior to 1918; a curious story. The Tyrolean "Schützenkompanien" are now paramilitary organizations recalling the traditions of the Tyrolean Standschützenkompanien existing until some years after 1918 in the territories then passed to Italy after its victory over Austria-Hungary in WW1. In the territories now part of the Italian Republic, they keep a strongly nationalist, anti-italian position, assuming that no single Italian-speaking citizen, lived in South Tyrol, pr ior the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Personally, I can accept that local associations could keep alive, the old traditions of their own region/territory. I less understand the expansion, in an anti-Italian action, of such "Schutzenkompanien", all over the Trentino province, that is the Italian-speaking province, forming the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol; such companies, also proclaiming themselves as "re-founded", never ever existed in the Trentino area, also during the austrian monarchy, except some "Compagnie di Tiratori del Casino di Tiro di…(name of the town-city)". I apologize for this long introduction... Your badge was made by Granero, a very active and qualified maker of badges, orders and decorations: the firm, closed in 2013 and all their materials have been destroyed or lost; the machinery, sold or demolished. Mrs. Granero, the last owner of the firm, was a kind lady with a deep knowledge of phaleristic and technical jewellery, now enjoying her retirement after a life in a firm, she inherited from at least three generations, after its in Turin, back in the late 19th Century. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, This piece is a modern reproduction, made "in the style" of the copies made by Rothe & Neffe until the late 70s of 20th Century. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)

the mark is "HUW", for Heinrich Ulbrichs Witwe; a mark actually not often encountered. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

You're welcome!

Hello Igor, the maker could well be a Romanian jeweller, unless there would also be present austrian silver marks. All the best, Enzo

What decoration was struck with this mark? Thank you, Enzo (E.L.)

You're welcome, Paul. I regret for not being able to give more info... All the best, Enzo

Dear Paul, I've had this decoration in the past, from a vast number of pre-revolutionary China's awards, collected in the Shenzhen region, bought by me, back in 1992. Pity, no one was with any description. I can only add that the piece once in my property, had a ring suspension and ribbon with the colours of China's republic… and a different number, struck to the reverse. In the picture provided, the decoration's reverse allows to presume that a suspension has been removed. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)