Eric Stahlhut

wow, uwe! thank you so much for sharing these images. the first one is of a second class, and it sure looks like the second one is that of a first class that has been converted for wearing at the neck. it looks like someone took a long length of ribbon (these are on the narrow side at 25mm) and added a larger ring . who knows if they actually made an official komturkreuz? for perspective on the size of cross vs. size of ribbon, here's a shot of one of mine that has also been removed from a medal bar

uwe, i would like very much to see an image of this komturkreuz. i've got two of the lower grade and like you, i've never in all my time collecting never come across such a neck order

wow chris, i think you could be correct. horses instead of locomotives, and much closer to the front lines

nothing fancy or extravagant, but it has a waldeck ribbon and i like it! a large 1914 cast bronze medal by medallist anita lehzen depicting the upcoming great thrashing that germany is about to unload on the multi-headed hydra with animal heads representing the members of the entente; the russian bear is already down, while the gallic rooster and english bulldog are both about to get sliced and diced... ...while on the reverse a lyric from 'die wacht am rhein"----everybody's favorite patriotic german anthem. those pesky frenchies!

hi uwe, please don't take my comment seriously--it was merely a small jest made in reference to a different thread wherein a fellow forum member stated that this term was used by certain types of veterans to describe these types of self-purchased post-war "awards". please accept my apologies and understand that my comment was not intended to offend or belittle anyone/anything. the term was not meant to be used in a pejorative way. i agree, it's rare and i'm delighted to have found it. it hasn't been posted on the gmic before and that's why i posted it. thanks to you we have information on it and as time passes perhaps more information about it will be added... best! e~

aha, it's a karnevalsorden! how excellent--many thanks for the assistance, uwe k.!

yes, i agree--the date of the cross also caused me to raise doubts about the freikorps connection-- i'm i very interested in reading the article by herr schlag and also hopefully uwe b. (red eagle) will see this thread and add some insight

i found a reference to this award on uwe bruckner's site (ordensmuseum.de). he has a ribbon maker's sample card collection and this award was included with the freikorps items ...it's at the bottom of his 'historische o&e' section.

here's something rare and seldom encountered--and especially when found with the original ribbon intact! the deutsche trainkreuz of the Trainbund--an veteran's organization for former train troops...not a lot of information is readily available to the public...there's an article by Roland Schlag in the 78th edition of BDOS/DGfO phaleristic magazine Orden und Ehrenzeichen (page 83), but unfortunately the online version of this edition only goes to page 77.... perhaps someone here has pages 83-85 handy? this particular example appears to have been detached from a medal bar at some point--not sure if it was done recently or back in the mid 30's when these types of veteran 'vanity awards' were no longer allowed to be worn in public on medal bars. interestingly this award seems to have also been classified by some as a freikorps-type award

here is a link to a pinback version that seems to have the same core... interesting! i can dig it out along with a clamshell example if needed

could his be a 1957 version? deumer was one of two companies authorized to make replacement ww1/ww2 medals and they did so until the late 60s. just to make sure, what's the measurement of the frame? it's possible it's a nice rare earlyish post-war variant made using old stock. that being said, i don't particularly like this part of the frame: p.s also, is the core magnetic?

you are correct, it's a broach with a compartment in the center for a picture of a soldier--- patriotic lockets were also popular

according to the article he was the accountant for the aerial expedition team

so, no evidence of casting? that's good news

yes, it's all very sordid., but that's how certain aspects of militaria collecting have and always will be. take it all with a grain of salt. hope it gave you a bit more info (different view) concerning ernst blass

mr. rex---here's something to read. please take into consideration the source, though. he does quite a disservice to several members of this forum and disparages individuals whom i have the utmost respect for https://wcstumpmilitaria.blogspot.com/2013/09/ingo-blass-omsa-connection.html

i don't think the reverse setups on these three are too different, just photographed at slightly different angles. as the pin assemblies were most likely hand-assembled there should be minute variations...also, lauer pin assemblies generally did not look like this. and gustav brehmer had a different style as well, particularly the ww2-era pinbacks. i hope i'm wrong, as it certainly is an attractive cross, but as i stated initially, caution is needed. edit: as per konstantin nikolaev: It is not known which company was the official manufacturer of the Cross of the 1st class in the period 1914/18. Later, during the period of the Weimar Republic and the 3rd Reich, KVK was manufactured by a number of companies for retail sale. At a minimum, the number of KVK manufacturers is more than a dozen. In the catalogs of five firms there is an image of a cross of the 1st class. These are: 1. Boerger & Co, Berlin 2. W.Deumer, Ludenscheid 3. Godet, Berlin 4. Steinhauer & Luck, Ludenscheid 5. O.Schickle, Pforzheim 1st class crosses by P. Meybauer, Berlin are marked. With a specific hinge, hook and pin, it is highly likely that the first-class cross was produced by Petz & Lorenz, Reichenbach. There are original crosses of the 1st class of another five unknown manufacturers.

i would be very cautious with this one, as this type of needle system (godet style) is popping up on reproductions

i wonder if our major jordan had a dueling scar to complement his schlager sword memento... ....also, i wish i knew more about that 25-year veterans cross. i have several examples for different service levels (25/50), in different sizes, and in silver or gold finish, with red or green on the central disc. all made by "r. conrad, weimar"

i agree, primarily a reseller. wow, quite a rare variant. congratulations, you are building quite a collection of these!

excellent group with interesting pieces. any markings on the sword pin?

excellent! best variant i've seen so far

looks good, any idea what the substance was? was it rust or was it oxidized old protective lacquer for silver finish?

i don't think i've seen this variant before. what's that weird reddish/brown substance is on the front? i wonder if the central enameled disc is magnetic

here is the other ribbon (on a sales sample card)