Hauptmann

Hi Dan,

This is one of the many strong points about this Forum.

There are so many aspects that are unclear and after many years of collecting and researching medals and militaria, I realise every day that I am still scratching on the surface!

Regards,

Will

Hi Will,

Amen to that! We learn something knew all the time... especially be being members here. I've often said this is probably the equivalent of a University education in militaria and military history all rolled into one. I only wish there had been such a thing as GMIC back when I started out... long before home computers or the internet. But I'm sure glad it's here now.

Dan :beer:

Hi Dan,

with the silver medal it is easy, always two stripes, with or without the rim.

But the medals in bronze and gold you can find with one or three stripes, based on the award period.

Here is one example with a bronze and a gold medal, both with three stripes, both medals without the rim:

Uwe

Hi Uwe,

Many thanks for sharing this and that wonderful bar!

One thing... wouldn't that have caused some confusion re: ribbon bars? As here they skipped award of the silver and I've seen such before where you didn't necessarily receive them in grade order but might skip as here... or get two of one grade, then another, etc. Very confusing... or at least potentially so and especially when they wore only the ribbon bars. And in this situation having all the ribbons for that series of medals eventually being the same even more so.

Any idea why they did that with this particular award... making the ribbons all the same? If it was cost cutting I can't see where doing it for just one award would make that much of a difference when all the others used difference ribbons for different grades of the award.

Dan :cheers:

This is what you saw... And keep seeing on evilbay advertised as the real thing.

It is in fact a worthless piece of garbage. It's a merit award from the VOOV Combat Brotherhood veterans' organization.

This is the ONLY (Russian Armed Forces / Defense Mininistry) award specifically for participation in combat operations. It's a breast badge worn on the right breast.

NOTE: this would've been a really good post in the Russian section.

Many thanks! That is indeed the one I remembered seeing. If I ever found one for cheap I wouldn't mind having one as an example of this. Will have to keep my eye out. Would love the Bravery/Valor but will have to keep my eye out for one at a good price as well... if one ever turns up.

Dan :cheers:

Finding them is easy on Russian auction sites... Outside of Russia, good luck! And they're VERY DIFFICULT to get out of Russia proper. And they are getting VERY EXPENSIVE for only one reason, the law against exportation of such things... They're not really worth it, they really dished these out like hotcakes during 10 years in the Caucasus.

The MMM?

Many thanks for the info on the Bravery medal. The MMM is the Military Merit medal aka: Combat medal:

I "think" I've seen it without the CCCP but couldn't remember for sure.

Dan :cheers:

A fascinating topic! I only learned of these last night when reading through one of my old general militaria reference books. Why I'd never spotted it before I've no idea but just goes to show that by re-reading references endlessly over the years you always tend to find something new.

Great pieces everyone! Hope to see and learn more.

Thanks!

Dan :cheers:

How hard are the Bravery medals to come by? Would love to have at least one of those at some point. Also do they still have the MMM's?

Dan :cheers:

Nice pieces!!!! They sure are colorful... especially that first one! Almost needed sunglasses to look at that one.

Many thanks for sharing!

Dan :cheers:

Many thanks Kevin. I remember seeing them before... they have that distinct color difference and really do look great IMHOP.

Many thanks!!!!

Dan :cheers:

Rick... you are indeed a miracle worker!!!!

Many, many thanks!!!!

Dan :cheers:

Hi Timo,

Looks like crossed cannons to me... Artillery I'd think.

Dan :cheers:

I don't know... I rather like them. And if Paul's right it might be one of the few things I'd like to get an example of from that conflict depending on the price. Are they available and what do they go for, if you don't mind me asking?

Please PM if more comfortable doing it that way.

Thanks!

Dan :cheers:

Thanks, a good collection, is many signs and medals.

I think, to you there will be interestingly this rare DDR аward:

http://www.frontmedal.com/catalog/t341.html

Ostin, that's a beautiful set!!!! Thanks so much for sharing that! I'm sure Grant is drooling nearly as much as I am!

Dan :cheers:

Hi Grant,

Again you really have a green thumb when it comes to getting terrific DDR goodies at good prices!!!!

If you keep going on the uniforms you'll have to get some maniquins to display them.

Keep up the good work my friend!

Dan :cheers:

Hi Herbert,

I'm not as knowledgeable about Imperial German uniforms as I'd like to be but I think you may be correct that he could have been an officer candidate. The buckle is the type that I believe was worn by NCO's... brass with the nickel/silver center emblem. Hope this is correct but have to wait for more expert voices to be heard.

Good luck! And welcome aboard!

Dan :cheers:

Dan - Nice medal. Note that there is also an older version of the Waffenbruderschaft Medals without the rim.

I know... so many goodies and so little time and money. Of course I guess I spread myself way too thin but I love a variety from many different countries and time periods. Another thing is having to have three (at least) of everything. Been looking for these at a decent price for quite some time and suddenly both turned up on German Ebay the same day and time as buy it nows. I jumped! Be so nice when the gold arrives and I can basically put this baby to bed. Any variations and such will be icing on the cake!

Dan :cheers:

Keep on going, Dan.

Oh definitely! I'm now on the lookout for an Order of Labor 1st class at a good price. Also for a case for my 2nd plus ribbon bar and mini for it and a mini for my 3rd. And of course a case, ribbon bar and mini for my Labor medal. Always something to go after. Also would love a few more of the orders but the Labors are one of my two favorites.

It may take a long while but I won't give up looking.

Dan :cheers:

Is there by chance a full list of his awards by the end of WWII? On the pic of him in the Luftwaffe I can clearly see the PLM, that he was awarded the IC 1st and 2nd class again in WWII, he has the Luftwaffe Pilots badge but there's what appears to be another badge to the left of that and another to the right. The one on the left seems black and the one on the right I can't see well enough... could be a Luftwaffe badge or even his WWI Observers or Pilots badge perhaps.

Would love to know for sure.

Dan :cheers:

Hope this is okay... this is his short bio from: German Knights Of The Air 1914-1918 The Holders Of The Orden Pour Le Merite by Terry C. Treadwell & Alan C. Wood:

Oberleutnant Hermann Fricke

(1890-?)

Hermann Fricke was born on 16 June 1890 at Munster, Westphalia. During the hot German summer of 1912, Hermann Fricke first took to the air as an aircraft passenger from a small airfield near Munster. The 22-year-old immediately realized that this was the element for him and applied to join the German Army Air Service. He was accepted and was assigned to Feldflieger Abteilung II. Two years later, on 1 July 1914, he realized his wish to fly as a pilot, and entered the German Flying School at Johannisthal for pilot training. In August 1914 he was awarded his pilot's certificate and rejoined his Feldflieger Abteilung unit in September as a reconnaissance pilot.

With the First World War now in progress he was posted, with his unit, to the Western Front and immediately began flying reconnaissance and artillery spotting sorties. Having an interest in photography he began to apply this knowledge to taking aerial photographs of Allied positions. His efforts met with considerable success, which was recognised by the German High Command with the award of the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Knight's Cross of the Hohenzollern House Order. Wishing to experience what the German infantry was going through on the ground, he asked to be allowed to command an infantry company for a short time. His unusual request was granted and he had a front-line ground command for several weeks. Rejoining his unit he was better able to understand the problems of the German infantry soldier - the principal ones being to get to know the positions of the Allies and the strength of the opposition.

During the battles at the Somme, Arras and Flanders, Fricke flew sortie after sortie taking aerial photographs of the ground struggle beneath his reconnaissance aircraft. Throughout the harsh, muddy winter of 1916-17 the German High Command instructed the now Oberleutnant Fricke to establish a War Photography Office at their Headquarters. Fricke was appointed to the command of a new unit - Group 2 Series Photography Unit. He equipped his unit's aircraft with "Reihenbilder" built-in cameras. These cameras were capable of photographing amile long strip of the ground below, and these were joined together to form an invaluable photographic aerial view of Allied positions. Fricke's aerial photographic maps provided the German High Command with the means to deploy and direct their forces on the ground to good effect.

Oberleutnant Fricke had by now flown well over 160 combat sorties, and his unit had photographed some 3,700 square miles of Allied positions with their aerial cameras. On 23 December 1917 Fricke's innovative aerial photographs gained him the award of the Pour le Merite - for outstanding combat service as both pilot and observer with Fliegerabteilung Nr. 2.

Oberleutnant Hermann Fricke continued to fly to the end of the First World War and he flew again in the Second World War in the Luftwaffe.

Dan :cheers:

Nearly forgot... my 20th OGPW:

Serial number: 3246929

Dan :cheers:

And a silver Waffenbruderschaft medal:

I have a gold on the way so will have the full set soon!

Dan :cheers:

Hi all,

Nothing special in this first one... and missing the upper bar but got it for a song.

A Labor Glory 3rd I've not had a chance to post till now:

Serial number: 356782

Dan :cheers:

Hi all,

My latest... and seventh Order of the Red Star:

Serial number: 3183371

They're finally taking a hint from my OGPW's and starting to breed.

Dan :cheers:

It was a long time in coming but well worth the wait!

Dan :cheers:

Hi all,

Been wanting one of these for ages and finally got a good one... an S&L. Oaks and frame are silver and marked, three piece construction on the RK but non magnetic.