webr55

The Adressbuch Schwerin 1935 lists a Polizei-Hauptwachtmeister Hermann Prange, Obotritenring 77c.

If that's him, he would have had this bar in 1935/36, just before the Polizei-LS decorations came out.

Here:

Thank you! I think this is a perfect match!

I have seen pictures of the Verdienstmedaille on the standard Mecklenburg ribbon, I'll try to find them. Not sure when and why it was awarded on different ribbons.

Great work!

It seems the Charpentier family was from Alsace, Strassburg. A Baron Charpentier is listed in the DOA 1908 as director of the "Landesgestüt Elsass-Lothringen". Not Ferdinand, I think, must have been older as he had the RAO3mSchl.

Could Baron Ferdinand have been the father of future Knights' Cross recipient Hans Georg von Charpentier? He was born in Strassburg in 1902, served briefly in his father's regiment (HusR 9) in 1919, later went into SS Cavalry. Killed in action as Sturmbannführer 1945.

Oh - and more: it seems they supply complete lists of their officers' decorations:

By the way, the FAR 46 regimental history has a complete list of all its members who received

EK 1

BrKVK 1

BrKVK 2

EK 2

and others, like Meck-Strelitz 1, Old FAR 1, Meck-Schwerin 1, Bulgarische VM, Baden VM ...

Has this one been posted yet?

From the regimental history of FAR 46 ("Gedenkblatt des Nieders. Feldartillerie-Regiments Nr. 46 vom 2. August 1914 bis 5. Dezember 1918"):

I thought I'd bump this one up after six years -- with the Mecklenburg awards... any new thoughts?

Just found the old thread from 2007:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/24258-this-bar-has-been-driving-me-crazy-for-years/

One suspect we still have was GM Erich von Falkenhayn (1881-1950). Had the HHOX and SA3aX.

Hmmm... second to last: Greek Redeemer? last one: Russian St Anne?

If ok -- it seems he chose to wear German allies first, then former enemies.

Another unresolved case -- difficult, as it is probably a civilian.

Just a thought: some railway guy? Eisenbahn Beamter? I remember they had some railway unit in Finland.

Ok, bad question: You don't remember by any chance the type of LW long service...? I mean, maybe the second eagle WAS gold originally and he HAD 25+ years...

What we know is he had either 12-17 OR 25+ years.

No EK Spange..... arrrgh. The thing that has been driving me crazy is that I can visualize having seen Third Reich award documents to him SOMEWHERE--for sale, or even as book illustrations. But where or when, can't remember. Still, if no EK Spange.....

Do you remember what kind of TR documents? EK or something?

Christer: that is an excellent project! Looking forward to that!

Paul: sorry my wording was unclear. I don't have his file, but that guy on the Swedish forum has it. If you follow the link above, you see it.

However, I also have my experiences with the Militärarchiv Freiburg. I can say that they have been very friendly - and they seem to have LOTS of information (personal files etc.) that is not yet "out in the open". Kriegsmarine however I don't know, I doubt they cover navy as well.

Christer: it seems nothing spectacular happened, he returned home probably after a short time as POW.

Rick: this doesn't help, but I have a picture of very similar, but not identical bar, auctioned sometime (haven't researched it however):

Schumburg? That would be interesting! His story is quite fascinating, many details can be found on the net.

Full name Jean Robert Henry Schumburg. He was Swedish, born 20.12.1886 in Stockholm. Died 15.3.1976 and is buried in Stockholm (http://hittagraven.stockholm.se/sv/Norra-Begravningsplatsen/2/21A/71/1/).

Lots of info on a Swedish forum:

http://forum.skalman.nu/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=29545

I have been trying to track him down for many years, and was hoping the new version of the HHOX awards would shed new light on it.

I do not have any good suspects for this bar, just some vague ones which cannot immediately be excluded. It must have been a Luftwaffe General or Oberst.

EK 2 with Spange 1939, HHOX, Saxon AlbertX (1st or 2nd), Hamburg Hanseatic Cross, War Honor/Hindenburg Cross, 2 Long Service eagles, Sudeten Anschluss Medal, Austrian Military Merit Cross 3rd cl with war decoration.

On the back, you see that the second eagle obviously has been replaced. It might not have been gold, but silver. In that case, not improbable, this officer would have had only 12-17 years of service.

It's been almost ten years since I first posted this bar (on WAF). It remains the main unresolved mystery in my collection:

... could be!

WOW! Many thanks -- Matt: for saving the picture, Rick: for the research!

Yes, that all makes sense! I overlooked him because of ranklist problems.

Thanks - so he might have been commisioned before the war... that widens the possibilities. Both candidates sound interesting!