GdC26

If you hacve (access to) that Rangliste you'll find a legenda at the outset that will allow you to ID these orders yourself. And this could help to get you started: Once you've narrowed it down to a few you are unable to ID I'm sure I or others will chime in - but that is a long list, and "help to identify" implies you make the effort first.

Swords were reserved for A-H subjects, and denoted award in the face of the enemy, and Austrian WWI era ribbon bars do sport swords if the ÖOEK3 had been awarded for service in hte face of the enemy. But the bar at hand is that of a German (probably: Prussian) officer, as evidenced in particular by the long service ribbon. Whilst a WWI era bestowal of the OEK3 to a foreigner would sport the war decoration, it would not have been awarded without swords. So the absence of swords and the presence of a KD device do make sense. Again, I'm not saying the bar itself is original, just that the presence of a ÖOEK3KD without swords on the bar does not disqualify it. Kind regards, Sandro

Not sure why that would be puzzling. Precedents exist (see below) and even if Herr Oberst(leutnant) or Herr Major did receive other Austrian-Hungarian Awards (which may not necessarily be the case) he might have chosen not to wear them on his ribbon bar. https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/57413 Große sächsische Feldschnalle des Oberstleutnants Ludwig Freiherrn von Müller, Kommandeur des sächsischen 1. Königs Husaren-Regiments Nr. 18, mit Bändern für 9 Auszeichnungen. 1) Sachsen: Verdienstorden; 2) Sachsen: Albrechtsorden; 3) Sachsen: Dienstauszeichnung; 4) Preußen: Roter Adler-Orden; 5) Preußen: Kronen-Orden; 6) Sachsen-Weimar: Hausorden vom Weißen Falken; 7) Sachsen-Weimar: Erinnerungsmedaille an die Goldene Hochzeit 1892; 😎 Österreich: Orden der Eisernen Krone; 9) Toskana: Militär-Verdienstorden. Auf der Rückseite Abdecktuch, an Nadel. I have no views on the originality of the bar shown by you, Stogie, but the the fact that it displays the OEK3 as the only Austrian Hungarian award doesn't bother me. Kind regards, Sandro

Hi Glenn, You are of course correct, what I had in mind (and in fact scanned for David) is Paul Pietsch’ Formationsgeschichte. That reminds me that I should check before I type, even if it was early ….. Kind regards, Sandro

Knötel/Pietsch/Collas describes the evolution of the Prussian general’s uniform from (from memory) the mid 1800’s to around 1914 on the basis of the pertinent AKO’s, so that could be useful. Kind regards, Sandro

Not imperial. Probably repro, perhaps East German (although I couldn't find this branch color on a quick search). Broadly speaking, imperial general officer's tabs varied by state (Bavaria, Prussia, Saxony etc.) and by the charge (general, Generaladjutant etc.) held by the general officer concerned, not by branch. Regards, Sandro

This seems to be true for 1914 crosses https://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/militar-verdienstkreuz-2-klasse-1914.html but may not not necessarily be true for earlier versions like the one shown by Don (cross without date for the 1905/06 African campaigns). Kind regards, Sandro

I think you're probably correct. Given its condition, this could well be a "keep at home" tunic. Looks like it doesn't sport loops for n EK I and it certainly does not have button hole ribbon for the EKII or BMVK4 - is that consistent with the young Grafs listings in the Militär Handbuch and/or the pics you have seen? And is the size of the tunic roughly consistent with that of the Graf in these pics? Kind regards, Sandro

My great pleasure. the book(let) is well worth having. Kind regards, Sandro

For those interested in Forman's Wilhelm II decorations, this may be of interest: https://www.adrianforman.com/shop.php?id=115 Kind regards, Sandro

Excellent news indeed! Kind regards, Sandro

No, it's Bavarian allright, but the St. Hubertus Kleinood is the one shown two posts up (in the version with Brillianten, and correctly ID-ed by member 91-old-inf-reg. ). This is a Verdienstorden der bayerische Krone. Fantastic pieces, many thanks for sharing. Kind regards, Sandro

Best I know, in private collections. The book describes their journey in private hands up to the 1970’/‘80’s and Thies auctioned the medal bar several years ago. Kind regards, Sandro

T'is indeed .... Kind regards, Sandro

Hi Andreas, Here are the entries from the 1916 Rangliste (as you can see from the front page, actually the 1914 Rangliste with updates to 1916) you requested, as well as the entry from the 1918 Rangliste (which indeed has Weiß down as GM). Kind regards, Sandro And the Rangliste 1918