VtwinVince

Gentlemen, I recently picked up a decidedly ragged little bar with six clasps on the 1871 KDM. One is for Spichern. I've also seen this clasp spelled Spicheren. Which is the more common example? I do know that this battle was also called by a third name, Speichern, just to confuse things further. Any thoughts on this appreciated.

Gentlemen, I have the opportunity of acquiring a full set of the standard work "Die Ritterkreuztraeger der Wehrmacht 1939-45". If anyone can help with a fair market value for the set, I would appreciate it.

Nothing "plain" about that couple, I love these multi-Gefechtsspangen bars, and the mini is really excellent. The 1870 EK 2 was not given out like in the next war, and was a highly-regarded decoration, not given for "just being there", regardless of how many battles one was involved in.

That's a nice old bar with lots of character, and the Dueppel cross is not that common.

Very nice, fresh looking spange. Is the REO marked?

Hi Rick, Sorry, I wasn't very clear, it's the unofficial Prussian Veteran's Cross.

Gentlemen, I recently picked up a document for the Prussian War Cross, dated 1920, and awarded to a Leutnant d.R. B. Faber. His units are Feld-Art. Rgt. 43 and Res. F.A. Rgt. 21. Any info on this officer would be very welcome.

Really great, I'm a big fan of the orders of Koenigreich Sachsen.

I guess my guy was more Prussian than Saxon, he's put the EK first. Which reminds me of a funny story. My dad's best friend was a Kompanie-Chef in a Sturmgeschuetzabteilung, and was from Saxony. I suggested that he wasn't a real Prussian, which he took as a real insult, especially since his father had been a Hauptmann in 1. Garde-Rgt.-zu-Fuss and personal adjutant of Prinz Eitel-Friedrich von Preussen. After that I knew never to question his "Prussianness"!

Very nice bar, Claudius, I have it's twin, with the addition of the Hindenburg cross.

Very nice items, often underappreciated. I like the second one with the "Victory or Death" slogan.

Hideous and crude, but not without charm.

Thanks for this comparison, this is very useful information.

Finding an unnamed one of these is tough enough, so this really is an outstanding set, congratulations.

Kevin, the measurements of my silver example coincide exactly with yours.

Student, yours is interesting in that it is from the same maker as mine, but the wreath device on yours is bigger, or the ribbon is narrower.

This decoration takes the form of a metal cypher with the Bavarian crown and a wreath, overlaid on a blue and white ribbon, to be worn as a Schnalle, or bar. The award document dates to 1929. I'm assuming this would have been given out on the discretion of the prince to various lackeys, but that's my speculation.

Gentlemen, I recently acquired this decoration from another member, and have little information on it. If anyone can shed some light on award numbers, qualifications for award etc. it would be appreciated.

Our dollar has risen about 45% against the USD in the last couple of years, so I'm buying alot more from the States than usual. In fact, our currency is now higher for the first time since the 1970's. Might be time for the US government to begin exercising some fiscal responsibility, before the whole house of cards comes down.

Yup, you don't want to mess with those guys, we have plenty over here as well, Russki Mafia that is.

Interesting that Wilhelm's EK 2 is turned around, and is that a Stoffabzeichen next to his EK 1? Welcome to the club.

Thanks, Mike, for the correction, I mixed up the branch. And many thanks to Rick for looking into this guy, all info is very welcome.

All I had was a photo of his WW 2 shoulder board, with one pip on the braid, medical insignia and pink piping. Not alot to go on, I realize.

Hi Rick, Agreed, he has a ridiculously common name, which is unfortunate. I'm only in possession of his EK 1, as apparently his other awards are scattered to the winds. Looks like he was an Unteroffizier in the first war, possibly a Sanitaeter. All this information comes second hand from the seller, so pretty sketchy.

Gentlemen, Thanks to another member, Mike K, I have obtained a couple of EK 1's belonging to a medical officer named Wilhelm Beck. His shoulder board indicates a rank of Oberstleutnant (or medical equivalent) and these are the decorations he won: 1914 EK 2 1914 EK 1 Mecklenburg-Schwerin Friedrich Franz Cross 2nd Class Bremen Hansa Cross Turkish Iron Halfmoon Turkish Medjidie Medal (?) Honor Cross for Combatants 1939 War Merit Cross 2nd Class without Swords 1927 Stahlhelm Membership Badge Looks like he was also entitled to something Austrian, and as well probably the Austrian and Hungarian WW 1 medals. If anyone can assist with more details on the career of this officer, it would be very welcome.