j-sk

A very nice Bavarian group, and still very "fresh". Something to be proud of.

Grazie mille Gentlemen for your valuable comments and informations. Since I posted this topic, I discovered on the Internet a very interesting site created by Adriano Brambilla and Alessandro Paolini : "Studio Feleristico SAS". In their "Catalogo online", under "Medaglie a croce", I found several WW1 crosses among which is a Quarta Armata (N° 380, listed at EUR 130.--) similar to mine. After a close examination (magnifying the pictures up to 150%), I got to the conclusion that both crosses (theirs and mine) were produced by the same manufacturer because they show the same specific flaws: i.e. a small curve in relief under the pearls on the right of the crown (top arm of the cross), and the same problem in the spelling of "ARMATA" (lower part of "R" touching "M"). Thank you again Gentlemen for sharing your knowledge on this highly interesting collector's area. All the best, Jean-Samuel Karlen.

Hi Claudio2574, Thank you for getting back to me and for the reference of the book. I look forward to hearing from you soon. All the best, Jean-Samuel Karlen.

Good evening Gentlemen, I have recently seen the following WW1 Italian crosses on the Internet. Does anyone of you know if they are original, although they have no maker's marks (i.e. Fassino's mark) on the back? Thank you in advance for your comments. All the best. Jean-Samuel Karlen

Good evening Gentlemen, Does anyone know what the "Westfrontkämpferkreuz" produced by Paul küst after WW1 and before 1934 looks like? Any idea of the ribbon? Was it issued with ribbon clasps or crossed swords, etc.? Thank you in advance for letting me know. Cheers, J-S Karlen.

As regards the green-striped red rosette, it is the button-hole badge of the Ottoman-Turkish order of Medjidie, 4th class (officer). Cheers, J-S Karlen

Hello Paul, Skull aside, this "Schirmmütze" was most certainly worn by a "Feuerwehr-Mann" (fireman): black, red piping and single national cockade on the band. I had a similar one about 10 years ago. Silver letterings on its violet lining clearly indicated its destination: Feuerwehr Frankfurt a. Main. Unfortunately I have no more photos or scans of this cap to back up my sayings. Anyway, I hope this helps. All the best, Jean-Samuel Karlen .

ABSOLUTELY GREAT INFO... !!! Thank you ever so much Uwe. All the best, Jean-Sam. Karlen

Good evening Gentlemen, Does anyone of you have informations (more detailed than those published on the Internet) regarding the Imperial German medal approved in May 1917 by the Kaiser and called the "Helvetia Benigna Medaille" (see pictures in attachment) ? More specifically, I would like to know (if ever possible) the number of medals attributed, on what occasion, whether it was presented in a box or a mere envelope, was it accompanied by a diploma or a letter, what is the current price on the market, etc.? Thank you in advance for your help. Best regards, Jean-Sam. Karlen.

While talking about the Order of Leopold, does anyone of you know a medal dealer who sells an "Officier de l'Ordre de Léopold" (in gilding metal and rosette on the ribbon) with the special "A" palm on the ribbon? Thanks for letting me know. Cheers, J-S Karlen.

Thank you Peter for bringing light into the darkness I was in. Cheers, Jean-Sam.

Good evening Gentlemen, I have recently bought a pair of brass R.C.D (Royal Canadian Dragoons) shoulder titles. Could anyone of you let me know when they were introduced/worn on the khaki uniform (during the Boer War 1899-1902 already or in WW1)? Were they worn by other ranks only or did the officers wore them too? Thank you in advance. Cheers, Jean-Sam.

Splendid "Besitz-Urkunden" of the Campagne - Verdun - Somme - etc. crosses! Should you have any doubles or decide to "get rid" of them, do not hesitate to contact me. I am quite ready to give them a new "home". Cheers, Jean-Sam.

Thank you Nick ! Cheers, Jean-Sam

Good evening Gentlemen, Has anybody already seen the medal in attachment? Does anyone know what it is? Cheers, Jean-Sam.

Thank you all, Gentlemen, for your valuable and highly-regarded help. All the best, Jean-Sam.

By the way, since we are dealing here with a member of an "Abteilung" (I guess it's the equivalent in strength of a bataillon), wouldn't it be more realistic to find a "Treu dem Bataillon" cross in this group instead of this "Treu dem Regiment" cross? See also the following thread posted in GMIC by Claudio regarding a "Kraftfahr-Abteilung": Posted 09 December 2007 - 14:50 A cute Frackspange (for civil attire / tuxedo): ? Weimarer Republik, Batallion-Erinnerungskreuz mit Spange ?Kraftfahr Abt.?, Niemann 2.02.22 b) + e) ? Weimarer Republik, Deutscher Reichkriegsbund ?Kyffh?user?, Kriegsdenkm?nze 1914/18, Niemann 2.02.34 a) Attached Thumbnails Cheers, Jen-Sam.

Thanks a lot for this explanation, Rick! Cheers, Jean-Sam.

Good evening Gentlemen, Recently, I have bought a typical Weimar-era group of medals including a regimental commemorative cross sporting what it seems to me a very uncommon unit bar: "DIFERNA 449". Usually, most of the "Regiments-Erinnerungskreuze" have an "Einheitsspange" indicating the regiment / bataillon / ship / and so forth the owner was serving in. In this case, I have absolutely no idea what this unit bar refers to. Does anyone of you have a clue? Thanks for letting me know. Cheers, Jean-Sam.

Here is the document of the regimental commemorative cross attributed to the same soldier of the Inf Rgt 396. Generally speaking, it does seem very similar - in appearance - to the "Kriegs-Gefangenschaft" document. Cheers, Jean-Sam.

"Post tenebras lux". Thank you so much for this info. Cheers, Jean-Sam.

Once you get the information, please let us know. Cheers, Jean-sam.

Hello, I do not know much about the cross. I am almost 100% sure that it is Belgian. I think you should contact the following Belgian phaleristic association for more accurate informations: "SKF-Studiekring Faleristiek VZW" (info@skf-vzw.org). Whereas for the ribbon, the one shown here is definitely the one worn with the Bayerisches Kriegs-Erinnerungskreuz 1914-1918 of the Bayerischer Kriegerbund (Bavarian war veterans association)... See attachments. Cheers, Jean-Sam.

... and close-ups of the observe and reverse of the medal:

Here is the medal and diploma attributed to a soldier of the Infantry Regiment 396 who was taken prisoner of war in Valenciennes (France) at the very end of WW1 ("Kriegsgefangenschaft"). The diploma is quite similar to the type attributed with regimental commemorative crosses ("regiments-ErinnerungsKreuz") although the medal is by far utterly different. Cheers, Jean-Sam.