Bavarian NCO

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here is a nice shot of a simple front fighter....

Would he be arty?

[dond]

What is the date on it? I'd bet it is late war. Look how young he is.

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Gents

very nice picture Chris, but the style of ribbon wear, typical for a Bavarian ??

Kevin in Deva

[Paul C]

That is my first question as well, a Bayern with Austrian fold medals?

[Guest Rick Research]

He is a 1919 Red sympathizer.

The Imperial cockade has been removed and the peak of the cap squished in to make the form used by left-wing street types. It's a political fashion statement for immediate recognition without fancy insignia.

The fact that he is still wearing his medals with improvized ribbons means his heart was not really with the Revolution!

I don't see ANYTHING on his straps-- as if he has stripped off the cyphers, or turned the straps upside down rather than the more normal practice of just removing them:

Rather odd since he is still wearing his Bavarian collar edging and Unteroffizier rank lace.

Unsettled times....

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Rick,

thanks for the interesting info I believe he still shows the typical Bavarian dislike of the Prussians by wearing the EK.2 in the last postion, often to be encountered on medal bars worn by the "Frei-Stadt" Bayerns

Kevin in Deva

[Stogieman]

All of the German States subordinated their own awards to Prussia, with the exception of Bavaria and Saxony. This practice continued until about 1934-35 when the National-Socialists established specific regulations regarding the order-precedence. However, the typical Austrian tri-folded ribbons was copied in other states as a matter of personal taste/expression. This was much more predominant amongst Saxons than Bavarians. Interesting photo Chris!

[Chris Boonzaier]

It was in a pile I got this week.... I liked the ribbons as well... pretty unusual..

Had no idea about the Red connection though!

[Chip]

What intrigues me is the fact that this guy is wearing a M10/15 tunic with the full Bavarian Kennzeichenborte, which was only worn this way (supposedly, by regulation) from March 1916 to December 1917. This would lead one to guess that this was his walking-out-dress tunic, which had the braid added to it some time before the 1917 date. It appears to be in too good a condition for a field tunic that by the time this photo was taken was over three years old.

The shoulder straps have been replaced by a pair having what looks like a rounded upper edge and without the normal unit number or device. If he were infantry, the post-1916 strap's piping would have been white and any other unit would most likely not been field gray (pioneers-black, foot artillery-yellow, field artillery-red, etc.), so I'm going with replacement straps.

Chip

Edited April 16, 2007 by Chip