Schießplatzmeister

Hello Andreas: Yes it must be IR Graf Werder No. 30 as the photo was taken in Saarlouis. I do not see a recipient with the Adolph of Nassau RK with Swords listed in the 1902 Rangliste, nor the 1911 Rangeliste. The photo is obviously after 1897, so he might be listed in any of the 1903-1910 Preußischen Armee Ranglisten, I don't have these in my library however. Best regards,

Hello Chris: Congratulations regarding this nice group of documents. I especially like the Kriegs-Chronik. I do not often see these for MVM/TKM recipients. Best regards,

Hello: The group looks to have a Marinekorps Flandern Cross ribbon with a battle clasp and a Prussian War Aid Cross ribbon. Best regards,

Hello John: Here is some of the information requested: Baden, Wilhelm Prinz und Markgraf von. Großherzogliche Hoheit, GK awarded on 8. Januar 1871. Lefevre, Francois-Joseph, Herzog bon Danzig, GK awarded on 15. Juni 1808. Nicolaus, Zar von Rußland, GK awarded on 15. Februar 1827. Regarding the other Grand Duchy of Baden recipients, I probably have the information, but the names/titles provided are not specific enough (everyone was named "Carl", "Max", "Wilhelm", or a combination thereof). I do not have a reference to dates of birth/death in my listing. If you have more specific names/titles, I can search further. Best regards,

An interesting question! The original ribbon provided with the award was much longer. The long piece provided originally was usually cut to provide either a ribbon for the uniform buttonhole for daily wear, or sometimes was used to add the award to a large medal bar for formal wear. Thus leaving the short piece that you see. Also, sadly, dealers will sometimes cut up a long piece (if it survived and make ribbons for awards missing ribbons). If a recipient had the financial means, he could purchase all of the extra ribbon that he wanted.

Hello Tony: Thank you for sharing the photo of this interesting ribbon. It does not appear to be a PLM ribbon. It appears to have white (and not silver) stripes. It therefore has the correct colors for an EK ribbon, however the proportions are incorrect. It does look to be made of silk possibly and to be old. What is the width of the ribbon? Best regards,

Hello ccj: You bring up a good point. I was wondering the same thing myself! I know very little about uniforms, but it did not look like a Generalmajor uniform to me either. I also couldn't find the MVO award in my 1914-1918 listing of awards to any Graf von Roedern. There were a few other von Roedern Officers listed in my 1912 Ranglist: Infanterie=Regiment Keith, (1. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 22, Hptm. Gr. v. Roedern Ulanen=Regiment Prinz August von Württemberg (Posensches) Nr. 10, Rittm. Gr. v. Roedern Garde=Kürassier=Regiment, Berlin, Oblt. Gr. v. Roedern 1. Garde=Feldartillerie=Regiment, Berlin, Oblt. Gr. v. Roedern (Konstantin) 1. Garde=Feldartiller=Regiment, Berlin, Oblt. Gr. v. Roedern (Max=Erdmann) Uhlanen=Regiment Kaiser Alexander III. von Rußland, (Westpreußiches) Nr. 1., Oblt. Gr. v. Roedern (Brieg) So, perhaps, he is one of these Officers? The mystery continues! Best regards,

Hello Andreas: Eureka! It took a little bit of digging to find this Officer. He is NOT Bavarian, but is Prussian! He is Garde=Kavallerie=Division., 1. Garde=Kavallerie=Brigade., Kom.: Gen. Maj. Gr. v. Roedern. I found him in my 1912 Rangliste der K.P. Armee. He was the recipient of many high awards, but here is only wearing his minimalist front for everyday duty. MfG,

Hello: I do not think that this is Felix Graf von Bothmer. Best regards,

Congratulations Chris! A very nice paper grouping!

Hallo Claudio: Prima!!!! Vielen Dank!

Hello Mike: A good question. For a "civilian button ribbon bar", if I understand the question correctly, the highest award ribbon is on top (furthest from the button), with all other awards following is order of precedence, until the lowest-ranked award is at the bottom (closest to the button). The award precedence is the same as the full-sized (large) medal bar and the field ribbon bar for military uniforms. I hope that this answers your question. Best regards,

Hello: Congratulations regarding this nice photo. These are Bavarian Officers and the photo was taken between approximately between 1932 and 1934 in my estimation. The Officer on the left is wearing the 1929 award for the commemoration of the 60th birthday of Kronprinzen Rupprecht. The Officer on the right is wearing what appears to be the 1932 Jubilee medal of the 2nd Chevaulegers-Regiment "Taxis". Neither Officer is wearing the "Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges". Best regards,

Hello Rick: EXTREMELY rare indeed! But the St. Heinrich is SO BEAUTIFUL! Not an easy choice. Not many collectors care about rarity. The St. Heinrich will always be in demand. So you really can't let it (the St. Heinrich) go if you have to choose one. Best regards,

Hello Pat: I know of NO dealers, sellers, or auction houses that always offer genuine pieces. As you have realized, only a very small percentage of the items for sale in this category are genuine, but most of the pieces offered are accepted as genuine (but most are forgeries!). I would highly recommend collecting anything other than Imperial German flight badges until you have years of collecting experience under your belt. In over 25 years of collecting, I have seen only a handful of genuine pieces. The Carsten Baldes book as mentioned is recommended reading as he is a collector of these items and is very much in the know. You used the phrase "the real deal"! This brings a smile to my face as one of the biggest crooks in the US militaria business uses this line on his website and in his dealings with customers. Stay away from that dealer for sure! I don't mean to totally discourage you, but you need to be very careful with these items. Good luck!

Hello again Matt: Thank you for the close-up of the epaulette. It definitely shows a propeller with wings, so he was in the air-service when the photo was taken. An interesting photo. Congratulations!

Hello Matt: The Officer in the photo is actually wearing an Order of the Zahringen Lion knight's Cross 1st or 2nd Class with swords. He may have also been awarded a Commander's Cross, but that is not what he is wearing in this photo. I can't tell from the photo, but are the epaulette insignia propellers with wings? Best regards,

Hello everyone: This is a very unusual item. It is rare to see three (3) MVK ribbons together on a field ribbon bar (MVKII m. Schw. u. Kr., MVKII m. Schw., and MVKIII m. Schw.). This was to a Gold or Silver MVM/TKM recipient and was his pre-1934 field ribbon bar, to which he added the War Honor Cross with Swords. This is without a doubt an NCO/enlisted man's field ribbon due to the MVKIII m. Schw. ribbon. An interesting item. Best regards,

Hello Chris: This piece is patterned after an earlier type of this Order. The center pieces are pressed into the frame (same type of manufacture as early RAO 4th pieces). The shield on the obverse is of the early type (the shield has two "lobes" at the bottom). The centers do not appear to be gold however, which is a bit unusual (if I recall correctly). I will vote with Vince on this one, that the piece is possibly period-made by a non-official manufacturer. Best regards,

Good job Chris!!!

Hello once more Chris: Some more thoughts regarding the listing of Leiberring enlisted recipients that appears on-line. When the list was transcribed from old-style printed German (from the original book), mistakes may have been made in reading the capital letters (some of them are rather difficult to read for even native Germans who are not used to reading them!). Is there anyone out there in with the original book "Die Leiber im Weltkrieg"? Spolei, do you know of anyone?

Hello again Chris: T

Hello Chris: Unfortunately, no, I deleted the link a long time ago. I also can't remember the name of the seller. This has to be one of the most difficult to find awards ever!

Hello Lambert: This looks like it could possibly be a Hungarian Order of Merit with Swords. It should be behind the "Hindenburg Cross" because it is a foreign award, but sometimes groups were not mounted properly. Best regards,

Hello Chris: I saw this listed for sale on Ebay.de within the last six (6) months if I recall correctly. It is only the second example that I have ever seen a photo of! I only have seen the document for the ring for an Officer. Was a document given for enlisted soldiers? Best regards,