Odulf

The Order was indeed founded (inclusive the gold, silver and bronze medals) by King William II of the Netherlands in his capacity as Grand Duke of Luxembourg. He used the Order very much as a personal distinction, mainly to Dutch persons (some 2,600 Orders in 5 classes were awarded). When King William III, who succeeded William II, died in 1890 the personal union was ended, and Luxumbourg had another Grand-Duke (Adolph of Nassau). Thus the Orde became a fully national order to Luxembourg.

I would date this officer's tunic between 1855 and 1880(in 1880 the badges of rank moved from the collar to the shoulder). A single crown and silver braid along the top pre 1880 = Lieutenant. Is the colour of the facings black or dark blue? Artillery, to my knowledge, wore dark blue tunics.

In the OMRS several severe studies about the Stars have been executed and the results were published in the past Journals. On the internet there are mainly opinions kicked about. Can any one scan and put these OMRS articles on the forum (my Journals were lost in a home fire) that would add more to the discussion than every one posting opinions about every Star put on show here ... Does any one ever use past information, or do we only rely on the quick reply service via forums?

My wooden plates, overview 4

My wooden plates, overview 3

My wooden plates, overview 2

My wooden plates, overview 1

My wooden plates, #12 "GLAUBE - KAMPF - SIEG // KRIEGSJAHR 1942"

My wooden plates, #11 "EHRET DIE SCHOLLE DIE UNS ERNAHRT"

My wooden plates, #10 "Pion . Ers . u . Ausb . Batl . 35 . Weihnachten . 1943"

My wooden plates, #09

My wooden plates, #08 "1944"

My wooden plates, #07

My wooden plates, #06 "UNSER TÄGLICH BROT GIB UNS HEUTE"

My wooden plates, #05 "IM OSTEN - 1944"

My wooden plates, #04 "BAUERNKRAFT BROT UNS SCHAFFT"

My wooden plates, #03 "HEIL DEM GAST DER ZU UNS KOMMT"

My wooden plates, #02 "WEIHNACHTEN 1942"

My wooden plates, #01 "HEIL DEM GAST DER ZU UNS KOMMT"

To my knowledge these ribbons with the ying/yang symbol were originally not intended to be used in combination with the medal, but for the ribbon bar only. The intended ribbon for wear with the medal (without the ying/yang) is very hard to find and thus, when the original ribbon was worn out, the other ribbon with the ying/yang is used as a replacement.

Wilhelm Saris informed me that his new book "Ringkragen und Brustschilder im Dritten Reich", containing about 1,500 pictures, is about to be published. It was due to appear in November last through James Bender but now delayed.

Can you please show the whole photo?

Well, it looks like this topic is ending in the shallows of breaking up medal groups, as it has been done for long, long times and still happens. A relation or collector keeps a group together for sentimental/historical reasons, but as it is in real life, once sold greed or the market takes the upper hand. Welcome in the world where most people know the price of everyting but value little. What would you do, boycot these dealers for life, or in the long run buy their stuff because you are a greedy collector? What's the price of principles?

Well, perhaps the answer comes up in the long run. Thanks for trying Pete! Regards

Today I added this portrait to my collection, dated on the reverse 4.III.1934, but the tinny he wears is for the Gautag Halle-Merseburg 25-2-1935, or is there a similar tinny of earlier date?