Bavaria

Here a silver one. The ribbon was a red one for all classes.

Now, let´s have a look at the Prinzregent Luitpold-Medaille. It was also established in 1905. It was an award especially for merit. Please notice the different backside. The classes were: - Bronze (breast decoration) - Silver (breast decoration) - Gold (neck decoration) There is a Bronze one.

The last type came in 1911 because of the 90th birthday of the Prinzregent. It looks like the 1909-type, just showing the years “1821 – 1911”. It was made from bronze. There are 2 types: - Bronze - Gilded Each had just around 30 awards to especially officers with tight connections to the 1. FAR or to the Prinzregent.

In 1909 the crown was established. The reason was the 70th aniversity of becoming Colonel in Chief. This “new class” was especially for officers and NCOs of 1. Feldartillerieregiment (the Prinzregent´s regiment), also for veterans of 1. FAR from 1866 and 1870/71. Owner of the Juliläumsmedaille (type of 1905) had to put the older one away and wear just the new crown-type. The same ribbon from 1905 was used. There were 2 variations: - Breast decoration: gilded; around 2000 awards - Neck decoration: golden; just around 5 or 6 awards (e.g. Bavarian war minister). The picture shows one of the gilded medals.

And a later inofficial piece that was also worn before WW1. Notice especially the different face of the Prinzregent and the “narrower body”.

Hello Dave I want to add some informations to your post. We have to differ between 3 types of the Jubiläumsmedaille and 2 types of the Prinzregent Luitpoldmedaille: The first type of the Jubiläumsmedaille was created on 12.03 1905. Dave´s information concerning the circumstances are correct. Here a picture of this type. There was just one class of this type.

Hello Christer Your No 1 is a Leser (3rd and last type, produced from ca. 1916 to the end). Kind regards

WOW! What an amazing group! Thank you for showing.

Hello Claudio Thank you for showing. Your MVK 3. Kl with crown and swords is very rare. It´s the last type of Deschler. This type has an one-piece cross (no separate fixed medaillons) and is made out of zinc (Kriegsmetall). Be aware, that there are a lot of falsified MVK3kr x (former copper/bronze cross with gray/zinc coating). Original pieces have a very specific fixing of the iron swords. Kind regards Rudi

Hello Eric Your first cross is a Leser (like already mentioned), but it´s form the last type. So it´s definitely no 2nd model (1905-1913). It was just silver-plated. The second one (with enameled centre) is the same late type, so I have to entitle avardski`s opinion. Your 2nd class with crown and without swords looks interesting. It´s the first type of Leser´s crosses (after 1913). Genuine pieces without swords are very rare, I´ve seen just a very little amount of them over the years (maker: Hemmerle), but there might be also original pieces in this 1st Leser´s type without swords. But: I´ve also seen a lot of these early pieces with removed swords (this first type is very, very rare, so shame on this fakers). Can you post a larger picture of (especially) the upper arm of the cross to have a closer examination? Kind regards Rudi

On this picture you can see the types of seals on MVK/MVO award documents: From the left: used until November 1918 Middle: used until August 1919 On the right: Used between autumn 1919 to at least 1921.

One of the last type is signed by Oberstleutnant von Bressensdorf, who was responisble for the Heeresabwicklungsamt Bayern (Office of Army transaction Bavaria). This type is followed by one last one. It has a seal of the Bavarian Ministry of Forreign Affairs. I´ve seen one of this type, but I haven`t (yet) one in my collection. Kind regards Rudi

After the bloody end of the Räterepublik in May 1919 minister-president Johannes Hoffmann came back to Munich with Ernst Schneppenhorst, who acted as minister until August 1919, when the Bavarian Ministry of Military Affairs was finally abolished.

During the reign of the "Räterepublik" (Bavarian Soviet Republic) Richard Scheid signed the documents. I just know two dates during March 1919 Scheid signed them.

On the 8. November 1918 the new republic continued awards. Now signed by minister for military affairs Albert Roßhaupter under Kurt Eisner. In 1945/46 Roßhaupter again became minister of labour and social care.

The size of the award documents changed at the middle of 1917 (the earliest one I`ve seen is from September 1917). This type was used until 3. November 1918. This was the last time the Kingdom of Bavaria awarded MVKs.

There are also documents signed by Freiherr von Podewils during time of absence of v. Kress and v. Hellingrath.

The second type is signed by General Philipp von Hellingrath. He became bavarian war minister in December 1916, when v. Kress`s successor v. Speidel left this position. Until now, I haven`t seen a document signed by v. Speidel. This document is for an "Beamter", so there is the addition "am Bande für Kriegsverdienst"

Hello There are several types concerning size and signature of MVK documents. The siganture is usually by the acting Bavarian war minister. The first type of war issues is signed by Colnonel General Otto Kreß von Kressenstein. The first award of MVKs in WW1 were on 11. september 1914.

Hello He lost his left eye in 1917, when he was wounded. Regards Rudi

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From a j?ger?s Soldbuch. He served in the prussian Reserve-J?gerbataillon Nr. 10 from 1915 to january 1918, then he was removed to the bavarian Reseve-J?gerbataillon Nr. 2. In May 1918 he get his first decoration after tree years of service!

back of nr. 2

an other one. Variation in the fixing of the blossom.