VtwinVince

I recently acquired a spange with the following orders: EK2 1914, Wuerttemberg Military Merit Medal in Silver, Wuerttemberg Friedrich Order Knight 2nd Class, Wuerttemberg Landwehr Long Service Medal, Hohenzollern House Order Knight with Swords, Bavaria Military Merit Order 4th Class with Swords, Saxony Albert Order Knight 2nd Class with Swords, Austria War Merit Cross with War Decoration. This is a period bar, obviously to a Wuerttemberg junior officer. Sorry, I can't post pictures, unless someone would be willing, and I can send scans.

Yup, the paranoia surrounding the swastika in Germany has reached epic proportions. I guess they don't want to admit that this was the national symbol for 12 years. And Rick is right about re-attaching medals to a spange. I've done it a few times, and the results are never great.

That's a fair price for that bar.

Rene, I saw this group and was thinking of bidding on the St. Henry as well, but a little short of cash for that one. I believe the officer was a Jaeger, yes?

I saw this one as well, and concur with the above opinions, a very interesting piece. I only have one of these, on a spange, and it is the more common type.

Dan, I love these PRAO's, and have several. The variation in the painting of the eagle as well as the numerous different manufacturers make these very interesting. Too bad that higher grades of the order have become so pricey in recent years. I'm still looking for a reasonably priced second class for my collection.

Rats, too bad about that one. Funnily enough, I thought there was something odd about the portrait as well, and the lack of apparent age to the piece.

Wow, what are the odds of that? I'm surprised that he's wearing two PRAO's, couldn't they combine the schleife with the crown into one?

Great history lesson, and a great spange as well.

Very nice pickup, I was very tempted, but unfortunately have other irons in the fire. This is apparently from a Jaeger group, did it come with any details on the recipient?

Agreed, more details please. This wouldn't be the same cross I was giving the hairy eyeball on evilbay, would it?

I have a group of medals to a certain Edmund Schwarz of I.R. 13, including non-combat EK2, Prussia War Aid Cross, Centenary Medal and XV Years LSC. It sounds to me like he might have been a Zahlmeister, given his decorations. If anyone has more on this individual, I'd appreciate hearing it.

That's a great document, pity about the historical integrity of the group being destroyed. You don't see documents to the MVK every day.

I've narrowed down my list of Imperial Medals i want to collect. I already have a decent Austrian collection so I want to set a different area to collect. I've narrowed the list to: Schaumburg-Lippe, Baden, Bavaria & Prussia ( I really like the Red Eagle). Any help would be appreciated.

Doc

My vote goes to Prussia, but that's just me and my personal obsession.

Very nice piece, I especially like the case. You've got to hand it to those thrifty Saxons for their recycling.

Agreed about props departments. I even spotted a couple of errors on the uniforms in "Der Untergang".

That's a great spange, with an unusual combination.

That bird is a beauty.

Thanks for the details, Les, that's very interesting. My father was East Prussian, and he was very annoyed about this "abolition" of his homeland. He always claimed that the UN Charter was inherently racist, because it provided no provisions for displaced Germans such as himself. I'm referring to the resolution of the right of return of war-displaced refugees. He did not see his homeland again until 1992, shortly before he died.

Good point, Rick, the House of Anhalt has become a standing joke in Germany, and I believe Zsa Zsa Gabor is married currently to a pretender to this house with absolutely no credentials. On the subject of the 1947 dissolution of Prussia, I was under the assumption that this was done unilaterally by the Russians.

Thanks for the information, very useful. I guess I'm stuck with a forgery, although I find it surprising that someone would go to the trouble of making a good copy, but then putting it on the wrong ribbon. I would post scans of this thing, but I can't get photos to post on this site.

Thanks for the information. I have one on the Crown Order ribbon, which is the same as the one on the white ribbon. I also have one on the Lifesaving Medal ribbon, and on it the badge is one piece, and the pin on the back is different. I wonder if it might be a replacement piece, as it certainly looks period, just not as good quality.

Could people please post images of this badge. I have two, which are of markedly different quality.

Hi Andy,

Thanks, that's a great start. Do you have any information on awards? I have a document to him for the Silver Wedding Badge, on the ribbon of the Lifesaving Medal.

I recently acquired some documents to Walter Freiherr von Esebeck, Oberst a la Suite, Ober-stallmeister und wirklich-Geheimenrat. I can't seem to find any information on this officer. If anyone could provide details on his career, it would be greatly appreciated.