Josef Rietveld

Hi eduardo, your pic shows an Austrian-Hungarian Bravery-medal in Silver 2nd Class depicting Emperor Charles I. The medal dates from 1917/18, should weight 16 gramms and has a diameter of 30mm. when it is made in real silver there should be a small A-Hallmark on the rim next to the suspension. (direction 1 o'clock) this medal was given to soldiers and NCO's during WW1. there existed a bronze medal a silver medal 2nd class (diameter 30mm) a silver medal 1st class (40mm) a golden medal (diameter 40mm) regards haynau

@Hunyadi, what a wellknown nick name nice bars, i wanted to add only one comment. There were NO battlefiled-promotions in AH to officers rank. Even war heroes like fighterpilot Julius Arigi (4 times Golden Bravery medal) could only become offiziersstellvertreter. You bar must belong to an officer who started the war as f?hnrich who got the Silver Bravery Medal 2nd Class and later was promoted to Leutnant and Oberleutnant. regards Haynau

There are different opinions. Some say that the official issue were the 'ugly' laquered ones. others say that there existed two versions laquered ones for soldiers, a better enamelled gilt pieces for officers. i think all silver pieces are private purchased. till now nobody has found out something about BB&Co as far as i know. most think ist was an german manufacturer. There is also the opinion that BB&Co produced only the pin-system and supplied different manufactureres. that is, so say the followers of this theory, the reason why there are different BB&Co-variants. i say: Pick the theory you like best regards Haynau

Same question again, Paul, can we get better pictures from the clasps on war medal and on ribbon bar? regards Haynau

@coastie, I'am no expert with caps but i asked a friend. Your cap is an standard Police-Cap (Sicherheitswache) from Austria dating from the 1970ies to the early 1990ies for policeman uo to the rank of an Bezirksinspektor. (a low rank) regards Haynau

There is a book by Edmund Finke about this Regiment (founded 1696). The last 16 pages handle the history of the 44. ID and later Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister. Mos tof the 44. ID was anihilated in Stalingrad. Shortly before the end on Jannuary 29th 1943 GFM Paulus made the proposal to the OKH to bestow the title Hoch- und Deutschmeister to the IR 134, part of the 44. ID, as recognition for their eceptionell service. Short after the End in Stalingrad (February 1943) it was decided to rebuilt the 13 razed Infantry-Divisions. The rebuilt started in March in Belgium (AOK 15) Three divisions belonged to the Wehrkreis XVII (Vienna). The new 44. ID waqr raised on base of the Grenadier-Regiments 887 and 888, that were built up from the Unterf?hrerlerhrg?nge from Wehrkreis XIII (N?rnberg) and XVII (Vienna). Replacement came not onlx from austria but from all over the reich. on 1st of June 1943 the new Division was presented in Antwerpen the name Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister. As divisional sign the got the Deutschmeister-Cross instead the red-white-red crest the had before. The new name was also given to the IR 134 which was the Traditionsnachfolger of the old austrian IR 4. Parts of the Division fought in Nothern Italy against Partisans. The large Mass of the Division fought at the river sangro (28.11.43 - 4.1.44), at the river Carigliano and Fiume rapido (5.1.44 - 25.1.44) and in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defence-battle at Cassino and the liri-river (1-18.2.44, 15.3 - 24.3.44, 12.5 - 31.5.44) Later the 44 ID fought in the abruzzes and went to Udine to be refreshed for service on the estern front. regards Haynau

He is wearing the medal of independence so this pic is post-1922. As i have been told all ottoman empire decorations were abandoned after 1922. Active officers were only allowed to wear the Indenpendence medal, so it is funy that he wears the War Medal and the lyakat aswell. regards haynau

@Blitz please add an vaulted (convex) with hallmark 800 haynau

Hi Theodor, unfortunately i am unable to read high-arabic aswell. But from shape and design it looks like the old Cal Zeiss Jena Label. regards haynau

Mark M sent PM haynau

I thought i did explain it, but lets try in other words. This ebay-seller is a woman. In fact she is a female relative of a former wellknown austrian collector and dealer. She is only a nominee due to the fact, that he isn't contractually capable at the moment (financial problems) Haynau

To be exactly, this ebay seller is only officially a female. behind her stands a former very wellknown austria collector and dealer with best connections to an able bar-tailor (maker). regards Haynau

Tony, Paul THANKS Haynau

reverse haynau

Dear Club members, i have a little problem. i own a Medal from the Red Cross Society for home nursing during WWI for 1917/18. Unforunately the ribbon is very very worn. can somebody tell me, where i can get one in better shape? Dealers, suppliers something like this? regards Haynau

Dear Clubmembers I took some time to think about my expression. I have to admit it was offensive. So i honestly want to excuse for this words if somebody felt insulted i am sorry. After all, a grownup man should be able to confess his faults. As i work for the newspaper i have a strong intention to phrase handy. regards Haynau

Well I don't hope that Ed felt insulted by my posting, neither felt I. Just an exchange of Opinions. My main point stays the same: Original or Fake, I don't care WHO faked it. Josef (haynau)

Sorry Ed i don't agree. I have been to Bejing and Chengde in China and even our Local guide warned us to buy antiquites because the are all faked. On the market you could buy everything, and in good handicraft quality: carved Ivory, old cloisonne, silver ingots and coins (tael, sycee-money), red mao-bibles, japanese and chinese swords and sabers, pottery, jewellery etc.etc. And on the whole market the only EUROPEANS where tourists looking for bargains. Maybe the EUROPEANS create the market by their demands but it is done by CHINESE, THAIS or whatever. regards Haynau

reverse and details Haynau

Dear Club-Members. I bought this medal today at a small antiques shop in vienna only because i remembered i have seen it before. at home i browsed my auction catalogues and found it at K?nkers 2005 auction described as Dushdi Mala medal for Arts and Science from Thailand. The medal pictured their looks exactly as mine. On the rim it is stamped monnaie des paris, then an unknown hallmark and the word argent (for silver). Nevertheless it looks a little bit like a cast. i 'am always very scecptical with medals from asia because they woukld fake even their grandmas if they would sell. Can somebody please have a look at the medal and tell me his opinions. regards Haynau Measures: 4,8 cm and 7 cm including suspension, very heavey and very thick

For me the hallmarks or company marks look good: Imperial doubleagle, 56 means 56 solotniky=585/1000 Gold, AK=keibel (jeweller) regards Haynau

The Order of the Iron Crown changed design arround 1860. The order on this bar ist the new type made in Gold but the pearled suspension ring belongs to the old type. In 1867 a new hallmark-system was published. The orders before 1867 have NO gold hallmarks. I date this Iron Crown between 1860 and 1865. I think in 1866 no Prussian received an Iron Crown. 1864 would be possible but the bar lacks the Danmark War Medal. haynau

I think I know this bar. It was on ebay one or two years ago by a belgian seller and wasn't sold because the start price was to high. later on it was sold to emedals as far as i remember and the price rose again. Very impressive bar. The mounting is german but there are three turkish decorations on it. Just a guess or speculation: Maybe a turkish diplomat or higher beaurocrat stationed in germany? or on a official mission in germany and therefore he ordered to made a bar in german mounting. on the other hand turkish officials normaly wore there embroidered swallowtails. Maybe it was done for half-official ocassions where to wear normal swallow-tail. haynau

@Seeheld, finally i see the bar in full length what a beauty regards Haynau

Sorry I don't agree with you. The silver content mark 935 is IMHO not a clear indicator for a non-german manufacture. I know german decorations marked 800, 825, 850, 900, 925, 938, 950 etc. etc. I myself own an IC1 with 950 regards haynau