VtwinVince

Colin, this is an incredible collection, you have my congratulations. I have collected autographs since 1984, and have never seen such a detailed collection pertaining to the plotters. I have a particular interest in the plot, as my great-grandfather was an intimate associate of Roland Freisler for many years. He was the district court judge for Kassel and was actually replaced by Freisler after the Nazi takeover due to his less-than-zealous stance towards the new regime. On a side note, my grandmother used to like to tell the story of how Freisler helped her hang her drapes in her apartment about 1930. Of course he was later notorious for other types of hanging. My uncle was a fighter pilot, but in civilian life he was a lawyer, and in the late 1930's was a judge at the Volksgericht, before assuming front-line commands when the war broke out. So I come by it honestly on both sides of my family.

I saw that document come up and thought, 'That is one rare item'. Congrats on snagging it.

Pure fantasy item.

Wow, beautiful pre-war bars there, especially with the gilded 'vanity' 1897 medal.

I watched this one closely, but was too short of funds to make a bid on it. Very interesting bar indeed.

Nice 'character' bar, I like it. Don't forget that the Treudienst Kreuz was also given for time served in the DLV, NSFK, NSKK and other para-military units.

Nice photos, I like the last one, where he is a 'real' Saxon and wears the PLM way down the line.

I have a document for the Zaehringen Loewen dated 1871 to this gentleman. If anyone has more information on him, I would appreciate it.

Great photo, would love to hear details on their exploits.

Looks like your man, BMVO4mS, Austrian Merit Order with War Decoration, Mecklenburg-Schwerin MVK and black Wound Badge.

Nice bar. I have the exact same one, from my grandfather. It doesn't look like much, but he was the first EM in his regiment to win the EK2, so it has special significance.

Thanks gentlemen, your knowledge once again has proved invaluable. I thought it was from some obscure German duchy, but now of course the cypher makes perfect sense.

Uwe, that is interesting. I had a group to an Austrian officer, and his cases had the following: 'Offizierskorps des k.u.k. Infanterieregiments No. 3'.

These clasps are a real minefield. Could you post closeups?

Hi Vic, I agree that the engraving looks period, and I have owned several examples of indisputable engraved EK1's. Grammar mistakes are not unheard of, but unlikely and immediately raise a red flag for me. I was recently offered an engraved 'Abschiedsgeschenk', or end of service gift, ostensibly from the officer corps of a famous Prussian regiment. It all looked kosher until I noticed that 'Offizierskorps' was spelled 'Offizierkorps', which is wrong. I immediately took a pass on the item. Of course individual collectors have to feel comfortable with items which don't necessarily conform to all regulations. I have a bar which makes no sense, to a Prussian officer. Everyone who's seen it, thinks it's a fake, but I think it's period for several reasons. Having the piece in hand does make a big difference.

My uncle was a Vizefeldwebel in the first war, and nobody would have referred to him as a feldwebel. The Germans were very rank-conscious, so this makes no sense grammatically. And I still don't like the style of the engraving.

Congratulations, very rare spange indeed.

Unusual bar, Scott, I like it.

No, but Holy Saxons is that a great spange.

I have a spange with the EK2 1914, Hindenburg Cross with Swords, Prussian 15 Year Long Service Cross and a cross which I can't identify. It is on a blue ribbon, is a gold maltese cross with XXV on the obverse and a cypher with 'EV' surmounted by a crown on the reverse. I can't post images on this site, but hopefully someone will have an idea on this one.

Some really nice things in that group. Is the St. Henry a converted Ritterkreuz from the interwar period?

I don't like the style of the script, it looks forced and amateurish compared to genuine period engravings I have handled. Also, the fact that the unit is rare is suspicious.

Very nice and unusual spange. I would imagine that the second award should be for a non-combatant.

Nice piece, Scott. I also only have one on a spange, but it's from an aviator. I particularly like the manner of suspension on these.

Thanks for the portrait, Daniel, that's excellent. I have an EK1 1870 attributed to him.