Valter

Oh yes, that's from Max und Moritz, I know these!

Gentlemen, thank you for these very interesting explanations. Historical details like this keep me amazing all the time.

Very nice medal and other pictures too! Why was this regiment nicknamed "Maikäfer"?

Ian, Dave, thank you very much for these explanations. This certainly makes sense - approval of orders already recommended durign the war yet unsolved at the end of hostilities (and empire). I found this article in the official gazette of Austrian budesheer: http://www.bundesheer.at/truppendienst/ausgaben/artikel.php?id=917 However, the article states that comission only worked between 1919-22. On what basis were then made orders of MMThO in 1929, 1931 etc?

Recently I had a conversation with fellow collector about awarding of Austro-Hungarian awards years after the end of WW1. At first I though it's unlikely that imperial awards of dissolved empire could be awarded years later in Austrian republic, but I was directed to this page http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/mmto.htm where many awards of Maria Theresia orden are listed as awarded in 1920's and as late as 1931. Who, on what basis and by which criteria awarded these once-imperial awards in republic? Are these considered official awards, equal to WW1 period awards, or were these awardings unofficial, by some veteran organisation or... ? What kind of decorations were awarded in 1920's, imperial era left-owers or newly produced? Was there a ceremony or something?

My small contribution, three Hanseatic bars in kinda environment where they were earned... (sorry, double post - don't know how it happened... )

Thanks Pierce! :beer:

Very cool pic. Yes, these are two Austrian medic crosses. But why he's wearing EK ribbon in the buttonhole plus Ek on medal bar? Did he just put the medal bar on for that special occasion, and didn't remove the ribbon from buttonhole, where he usually wore it, or is the ribbon in buttonhole for something else?

Paja is probably right - retired before 1981. Most of JNA officers retired when they reached the requirements, in their 50's or 60's, I don't recall any general/admiral really old like Radetzky or Mackensen (except Tito, of course). Yes, he wears a cogwheel and propeller badge of technical branch on his sleeves. Another matter of interest, as clearly seen on picture, he wears orders and medals quite liberally and not in order with regulations. Yugoslavia in 45+ years of existance didn't have a full-size medal bars, only ribbon bars and semi-official miniature bars. Chances an officer will actually wear the entire array of his full-size decorations in uniform were very rare, except those involved in diplomatic events on highest level. So I believe this officer put on his uniform and decorations only to take picture, not for duty. He didn't even bother to set the memorial medals in order as recieved. But that was not incommon, I've seen several pics of officers with that kind of decoration wear. These statements are valid for period after 1950 or so. In early years after WW2, soldiers and officers wore their full size medals/orders, properly ordered in most cases, but in later years wear of full size decorations was almost forgotten. Even on such occasions as swearing an oath, graduating on military academy and the like, they wore ribbon bars only.

Yes, unfortunately Yugoslav archives are beyond any reasonable research. Maybe some years/decades later... The marine plaque has label of navy school center, Split; MT puk. is (most likely) machine technical pokovnik (colonel). He was probably a professor in that school center in 1978. Navy school center consisted naval academy, navy technical academy, navy high school and navy technical high school (both for NCOs) and some other schools/research institutes. And partisan's veteran organisation plaque is awarded on 4th july 1991, that's AFTER Croatia declared independence. The letter considering award of brotherhood and unity order from 1975 is adressed to Mornarički elektronski zavod (navy electrocnics institution), which was both school for navy electric/electronic specialists and repair/installation center for navy electronic equipment.

Thank you, dave. I'm impressed. If you ever publish a book on this topic, I'd gladly buy one.

Dave, thank you for your long and very informative explanation. I seen, except for officers, there were no general rule.

Rogi, you have some outstanding set here! :jumping: The deocrations are a common combination for officer of that rank (even a bit low, but that's probably because he was in technical branch), but in combination with documnets its rare and great! Grgo = first name, Croat abbreviated for Grgur = Gregory Juraj was his father (George) Peronja is family name. It's weird he didn't have the order of partisan star, although he was sub-lieutenant in 1945; maybe he was enlisted or NCO in war, but promoted in 1945? But probably all partisan officers didn't get the partisan star, for who knows what reason. About Balkan war I'd say he didn't fight actively, too old. If he'd be active, he'd have some crat decorations too, at least Memorial medal of fatherland war. Many native Croat officers sided with Croatia, but many simply retired and didn't take any active role. The native Croats and Slovenians who took the "other" side were mostly high-ends (generals, admirals) and those who lived in Serbia, or were married to Serbian women. This one lived and served on Croatian coast, I think.

I have a question I can't find the answer about long service awards: Smaller German states (Hessen, Mecklenburg, Baden, Hanseatic ...) were part of Prussian army (only kingdoms have their own armies), right? What a member of those smaller states got for his long service - prussian one or their own state one? Who/why/when/how got the long service decorations of those smaller states? It's obvious before 1871, but what after? There are ribbon/medal bars with these smaller states LS decorations that were surely earned after 1871, like the Mecklenburger bar shown in this post by Rick. Was the difference active vs. landwehr service?

To revive this old but interesting thread with a bar not shown yet - Hessen Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse 1871

After thorough examination of the last (blue) ribbon I found no traces/stenciles of any device, no impressions, difference in shades etc. The ribbon is most likely puncked, however, but there are no traces of something removed (no fraying of the ribbon tissue from the hole to the outside...) Can it be a device removed after short period, or there was no device at all? Can it indicate RAD long service (the RAD device was used only short period, then plain ribbon was used for RAD long service)? RAD service would match with KVKoX. Another question for Dave: are there any good sources for crosschecking the regiments and their composition? I searched the web (both in english and german) before posting this bar but found only some Baden/Hessen units, none of the two you mentioned. Or is it just yours erudite knowledge?

Dave, thank you very much for your voluminous explanation! It makes perfect sense - a student that went to 1y.FW and then reserve officer!

Auseklis, thank you for your observations. No, there are no traces of devices neither on long service nor EK ribbon. Ribbons are just a bit frayed at points where the hole is punched in the metal backing tabs. This kind of damage can be seen sometimes on bars with metal backings with pre-punched holes.

Recently I got this officer's bar and I'd like your opinions - first, is it good one? I don't see any bad signts, but it's always good to get another opinion... This is most likely not ID-able, but I'd like to learn more about the owner of this one; officer sure, but not on active service after ww1 (no 3R service awards), yet recalled for some rear duty during WW2 (KVKoX). I couldn't find a division where Baden and Hessen units would be mixed, so I'd assume he was a citizen of Baden/Hessen, serving in the regiment of the other country, right? But long service award is Prussian... I apologize if my questions are stupid and simple for more experienced guys, but I'm still learning... Thanks in advance for any help!

It's on sale on Baldes page too. Also 10€. http://www.militaria-baldes.de/en/catalog/215/0/353.html

Here's another thread about this subject, with several good reference pics: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/53053-yugoslav-partisan-hat-badge/

One more hint - whenever you see a cyrilic letters on any religious item, it is NOT Croat.

Very sad news. I didn't know him personally but I always deeply admired the extent of his knowledge as well as his endless will to share a generous help. Deepest condolences to his family. Valter (Matjaz)

A kingdom for a horse! I'd gladly give 50 meters of Hindy ribbon for one piece of Tamara's...

Beautiful piece, I love the full-size ribbon too. Rare bird to see.