P.F.

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Just got this ribbon bar in the post today. I have identified the following ribbons but the last 2 stump me. Could they be the Tyrol Commemorative Medal for 1848? Is this possible on a post-1934 ribbon bar? Or what other medals could these last 2 ribbons represent? 1. Austrian Bravery Medal 2. Austrian Military Decoration for Long Service OR Wurttemburg Bravery Medal? 3. Tyrol Commemorative Medal 1914-1918 4. Honor Cross 1914-1918 5. Hungarian Commemorative Medal 1914-1918 6. Tyrol Commemorative Medal 1848? 7. Tyrol Commemorative Medal 1848? Combination seems strange with the Austrian ribbon first, therefore i would assume the 2nd ribbon is infact the Austrian Military Decoration for Long Service...and therefore the ribbon bar of an Austrian? I appreciate any light that can be shed on this one. Thank you Pierce

Welcome to the forum John. I too think the cross is an original, very nice. Kind regards Pierce

Contact the seller before posting it back, stating you require a refund as the bar was sold to you as an original (i assume) and is in fact a fake. Also post it back via recorded post or get a proof of posting. Best of luck Pierce

The SS Device is a bit like this one that Matt posted a while back. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=41669

If it is anything like the other one posted on the site at the moment (and it does look to be the same construction ) then your bar is 100% FAKE!! Here is a picture of the one for sale at the moment...going for £150!!! Unrealistic combination (1914 EK1+1939 Spange on a 1939 EK2 Ribbon... ) fake devices and brass catch on reverse!!! Looks a lot like yours, though sharper pictures would clarify this. I just hope you can get your money back for it. Kind regards Pierce

I for one found this informative. Thank you Tom. Pierce

Thank you for this extra piece of useful information Saschaw. Kind regards Pierce

And another i have in the collection...with guilded swords! Pierce

Ahhh...now i understand. Please pardon my ignorance gentlemen. Best regards Pierce

Ah yes, now i know about the higher grades but not the lower grades beyond 2nd class...Ok...confused....so what are Saschaw and Wild Card talking about 3rd and 4th? Kind regards Pierce

Thanks Beau! These are beautiful medal bars!! Anyone got pictures of the 3rd and 4th class? Thanks Pierce

Firstly my thanks to Wildcard and Saschaw for replying. Here is another bar i have with Friedrich Order with Silver Swords...making it a 2nd class? From what you both say i am going to assume there are lower grades of the Friedrich Order? Does anyone have pictures? Many thanks Pierce

Another view.

Gentlemen, I have just purchased this 2-place ribbon bar. Do the gilded swords represent a 1st Class Friedrich Order? If so would there not be more awards on this bar? The bar itself seems 100% construction-wise so not doubting its originality....just curious about the swords! My thanks Pierce

Or possibly a Life Saving Ribbon of the Weimar years? http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430635 Pierce

Thanks Daniel! Yeh i am really glad i won it. I bought because the 5th ribbon intrigued me and i also the faded colour of the Anschluss ribbon....weird but true!! Pierce

Hi Kevin, This was my first thought also but upon closer inspection both ribbons are identical. The Firebrigade ribbon has quite a number of blue and white stripes....my ribbons definately have a "thick" stripe in the middle though this is hard to see due to the ribbon folds. Best regards Pierce

Close-up of ribbons in question: I had first thought the 5th ribbon was the Mecklenburg Cross of Merit, but it has blue lines which this ribbon does not.

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Recently won this from eBay. I cannot figure out 2 things: -What is the 5th Ribbon? (Mecklenburg?) -Why are there 2 Long service ribbons? Any help is much appreicated. Kind regards Pierce

The 10th ribbon on the ribbon bar does not look like a Sudetenland ribbon to me ...it looks like a plain ribbon, with no stripes etc. Maybe it denotes one of his foreign awards? It would be in a suitable place if so! Kind regards Pierce

Maybe not rare but certainly uncommon i think...i know i have not seen many of these mounted! "For War Merit"

One of my favourite medal bars in my collection....not "rare" i hear you say? Look closer...the Austrian Anschluss Medal is a rare varient. It is slightly bigger than the standard Annexation medals and is also magnetic! Pierce

Ah so that's what that is..Austrian Iron Crown... Thanks SPM! Pierce