cartoonman

Gee Rick, do your kids ever say, "Gee, Dad, you know EVERYTHING!"? No? Mine, neither! Thanks for the correction... but then the 1912 cross is what, and from what state? And in that posting you said "The last medal is the 1908 Austro-Hungarian Jubilee Medal for foreign regiments in a number of countries whose honorary Colonel-in-Chief was the Emperor Franz Joseph." Which would be the only right medal for that bar that I have? Which, in the end means, too bad, Cartoonman, you are S-O-L.... (So-Outta-Likelihood[of ever finding one])! ---Confused But Gaining Traction

Thanks Rick for setting me straight--- is it too early in the day to start crying in my beer? Well, then, on what sorta ribbon does that little 1912-1913 cross belong? ---Perplexed

...(Sorry about finishing this way, but I haven't managed to get the site to parse out more space! Anyway, this would be the proper awards for this bar? ---Always Slightly Iconoclastic

Hi gang, In the long-ago, I picked up this "trapezoidal" bar, sans medals. Believing in "completion," even back then , I added the medals I thought were appropriate. In a recent, unexpected moment of illumination, it occurred to me that it was probably wrong! The trapezoidal mounting ended in 1914, yes? In which case, this bar should have 1870 EK2 and Service Medal, yes? ---Rank Beginner

Great to hear, or, I'm sorry we encouraged you, depending on how it turns out! Every time I go to the French Consulate in DC, for passport renewal, changes to the Carte d'Identit?, etc., I never know who/what I will encounter... Hey, that's a thought! Are you close to DC, or a city with a French Consulate? You might get help or suggestions if you call. Remember: say very nice things about the French if you call... never hurts, might help! Cartoonman

My French grandfather was awarded several decorations in The Great War (L?gion d'Honneur, Croix du Geuerre, Croix du Guerre de Belge). Some years ago, my French-Engish uncle and I secured copies of the two Croix de Guerre, which had gone missing. As I recall, we contacted the Interior Ministry, which, with the proper paperwork, sent us the missing medals, without charge if I remember correctly... You might be able to follow that route--- if you are willing to face and deal with the French bureaucracy. Btw: it is not for nothing, that the French do NOT have a word for FUN! lol ---Cartoonman

For anyone who doesn't know, in 1389 the Serbian Army was soundly beaten on the plains of Kosovo, which resulted in Turkish domination of the Serbs for the next 500+ years. The Serbs have long memories: until recent times, Serb fathers and mothers greeted their male babies with, "Welcome, Avenger of Kosovo!" Now that's taking your nationalism seriously! Kosovo is seen by Serbs as holy ground, which is why they fought hard to keep the Kosovars within the boundaries of "The-Rump-State-Formerly-Known-As-Serbia," in the recent Balkan War... ---Gene

Thanks Rick! They look more like bronze than gold... and have been that way for the 40+ years I've had 'em. They may have been cleaned prior, by someone "looking for gold! Do you know when the cross was first awarded? Any other info about it, or about it's "older brother," the 40-year cross? Gene

Saschaw? Is that like Sasquaw (aka, "Big Foot")? So, I guess this little guy doesn't get out much...? What about his "little brother," that I just posted? 'Seen him around before? Gene ("Hassler" )

And related to my previous post, here is the 24-year Long-Service Cross... Gene ("Hassler") Mater

Hi folks, This little cross does not show up on any of the sites I've found. It's the Bavarian Long-Service Cross, for 40 years. Paul Chepurko was able to offer a value for the cross ($465, I think), which is a handsome little piece, with the cloison?e intact. I'm wondering whether anyone can offer information about when this were issued (what years) and any other information, including the value of the 24-year cross, of which I also have an example... I do not have ribbons, but I understand they took the (fairly common) light blue/white ribbon later used in the round Bavarian service medal, which also bears an imprint of this cross. Thanks for any help you can offer! Gene ("Hassler") Mater PS If someone can explain the secret handshake that allows one to contribute to "the cause," I would do so... I'd like to offer additional photos. Last time I tried, the page froze! Sigh...

Thanks, Mike... interesting info! It's all in the details, isn't it?! I checked the stitching of the epaulets and they are in fact stitched, very neatly, from the outside (Were uniform epaulets typically sewn from within, before the uniform was finished?)... so perhaps the soldier was assigned first to the 14., then to the 6. during the pre-war/early war shuffles? The visor cap has the silver ("white")/blue cockade of Bavaria, for the lower one... the blue appears to be a tiny piece of material, not painted metal... so yes, it seems to fit the uniform... Gene

Thanks, Mike! Yes, that's a 9 on the buttons... Your reply sent me scurrying down to the basement workshop where all the stuff is laid out... Inside the tunic, it's stamped: 14.Inf. Reg. 9.Komp. R.W. tragbar Thanks to your lead I found this info: Bavarian Infantry Regiment Nr 14 Hartmann. It was raised in 1814 in N?rnberg. (source: der Rittmeister.com) and this from Wikipedia: (At the outbreak of WWI) The 5th Bavarian Division was renamed the 5th Bavarian Infantry Division. The division's initial wartime organization (major units) was as follows:[6] 9. bayerische Infanterie-Brigade Kgl. Bayerisches 14. Infanterie-Regiment Hartman... And this begs the question from my third item: would that visor cap be appropriate for the tunic? Any guesses? Gene (off to the sack)

The epaulets have a crown (Prussian?) with a "W," which I don't think is related to the outgoing US Administration... :-) See attached photo... Gene

The epaulets have a crown (Prussian?) with a "W," which I don't think is related to the outgoing US Administration... :-) See attached photo... Gene

Related to my previous posting, I add this, my final for the evening... Tis cap I acquired around the same time I picked up the afore-listed tunic... I may have gotten it, and the box, from the same source, but don't recall. I believe it is an Imperial NCO cap... but have not been able to establish a sure i.d., or a value for the piece. Like the Pickelhaube of my first post of the evening, it has spent most of the last 100 years in a hat box... as a result, it's in pretty good condition... If anyone knows for sure what it is, I would appreciate help on this one! thanks, Gene

As I sort through the pieces in my small collection of German militaria, preparing it for sale, I run into assumptions based on who-knows-what. For forty years I have believed this tunic to be a turn-of-the-century Imperial Army NCO tunic... but not based on anything I can remember! It's in good shape, with minor mothing. Otherwise a pretty solid piece. Can anyone confirm or correct this i.d.? I also have a blue/red visor cap with raised cockades that may or may not go with the uniform. I'm looking to i.d. it, and set a reasonable price for the piece. It appears to me to be military-issue, not private, with reg/co stamp inside... I'll follow this posting with one of the cap... Gene

This is my first posting on GMIC about the stuff you people like to discuss... I'm in the process of cataloguing a small collection of militaria I put together while living in Germany 1959-65. While I have prices for most of the items, a mixture of German items 1864-1945, I have a couple of items that I've not been able to establish a value for... most notably a (ca. 1900) Bavarian Reserve Officer's Pickelhaube in excellent condition, better than anything I've seen in the past couple of months on line... all ornamental metal in excellent shape, leather with very few blemishes to the original shine... I don't want to wind up a "museum-keeper" (heck, I've had this stuff for 40 years already! :-) ) but I do want to get a fair price for this piece...Suggestions? If I did the attaching correctly, 2 photos are available with this posting... Additional matter: I tried to sign on for a paid account, and the site froze up... anybody have suggestions as to how to give money to the site... or has it become "independently wealthy"...? :-) thanks! Gene