Turkey Super-Size That? Wartime Medjidie 5th Class With Sabers

[Guest Rick Research]

I know I've show this before in various German related threads, but here may be a nice place to see other Turkish examples of a VERY strange phenomenon-- grotesquely oversized 5th Class Medjidie Orders With Sabers from the Great War.

This particular 1936+ medal bar belonged to Konteradmiral (V) August Böning (1891-1964):

It is made out of some strange non-tarnishing dull gray alloy. The "silver" Liakat Medal obscured underneath its immense size is an issue "recycled tuna fish can" type, with a post-1918 German-made Sabers bar. The crescent and star suspension has been detached from the Medjidie star, which is slightly tilted, trying to SQUASH this piece into the usual German medal bar mounting. It is-- simply-- TOO BIG !!!

[Guest Rick Research]

Oddly enough, most of the very few GERMAN recipients of this Order in that grade all seem to show the same oversized decoration.

Here is then- Marine Oberzahlmeister Böning in 1924 (back row left) wearing this Order in 3rd place on his medal bar, his Liakat in 2nd place still with the original Ottoman issue Sabers bar, and that stupid affectation of the EMPTY War Medal ribbon on a medal bar so popular with Germans between the wars in last place:

He and later Luftwaffe Oberst Friedrich Schily are wearing the uniform of Reichsmarine land forces-- Küstenwehr Abteilung IV (Cuxhaven). The seated officer between them is their Reichsheer liaison officer, Oberstleutnant Schleicher--NOT the later-General of same name murdered during the Röhm Purge in 1934.

[Brian Wolfe]

Hi Rick,

Over sized? True.

Striking? Absolutely!

Very nice group, thanks for posting it.

Cheers

Brian

Edited August 9, 2008 by Brian Wolfe

[Guest Rick Research]

Böning served aboard SMS Goeben briefly in 1916, then was an assistant to the Fleet Paymaster of the Ottoman navy until June 1917.

His astonishing Ottoman decorations-- he was the most highly decorated paymaster in the Imperial German navy, as well as the only paymaster Admiral of the Kriegsmarine-- were earned in the "canoe navy" of the Tigris-Euphrates Flotilla, July 1917 to June 1918.

Unfortunately, he was so busy during that period of his service there are no photos of that service in his album.

He then returned to Constantinople, finishing the war as paymaster of the Uboat Half Flotilla there.

Böning served as Chief Administrative Officer of the revived Unterseebootswaffe 1935-39 under his old Constantinople acquaintance, an obscure former prisoner of war, Captain/Commodore Karl Dönitz. Böning had 4 days seniority over him, having to have the "paperwork man" FIRST to get things going!

Promoted Konteradmiral (V) on 1 January 1945, the only known photographs of him in that rank were taken during his internment after the war. One appears in his biography in Hans Hildebrand's "Deutschlands Admirale" and the other from his album:

His breast eagle has been removed per the Allied occupation authorities, but swastika'd long service eagles are still on his dimly seen ribbon bar with the Turkish X devices following.

Any other photos of the Giant Medjidies being worn, or any thoughts on this very strange "fashion statement" would be most appreciated.

[Great Dane]

Okay, not Turkish but I couldn't resist showing this photo of Danish Captain Kinch wearing the Chinese Order of the Double Dragon (3. class, 3. grade):

/Mike

[Guest Rick Research]

Big closeup of Too Big Medjidie

The hand filing on the tips of the sabers really looks enlarged this much.

[Guest Rick Research]

This is all I can get of the reverse since all the awards are sewn down tight to prevent banging around:

[avsaribar]

Dear Rick ,

Very , Very Nice bar , that oversize order of Medjidie style is one of my favorite style in all Medjidie Orders...

Regards,

Avsar Ibar

[Guest Rick Research]

Were they actually issued pieces, or bought from shops?

I actually like the "petite" circa 1900 ones.