Jump to content
News Ticker
  • I am now accepting the following payment methods: Card Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
  • Latest News

    The Oberleutnant From ... Everywhere


    Recommended Posts

    Guest Rick Research

    Somehow Santa :cheers: was able to get through the anecdotal global warming for Christmas and bring this puzzler to live at my house:

    First off-- note the BMV4X ribbon is a 25mm width meticulously folded down TIGHT to "match" all the other 15mm wide ribbons. :Cat-Scratch:

    How could that common a ribbon have been out of stock? Was this guy SO desperate for a "while-you-wait" ribbon bar at the corner Ma & Pa Cigars, Watches, & Ribbon Bar Emporium that it HAD to be made this way? :speechless1:

    But this now begs the question---

    Was he a PRUSSIAN? :banger:

    Was he a BAVARIAN? :banger:

    Prussian EK2 1914

    Bavarian MMO4X

    W?rttemberg Friedrich Order Knight (2nd? 1st?) X

    Hamburg Hanseatic CRoss

    Saxon Albert Order Knight (1st? 2nd?) X

    Hindenburg Cross X

    Bulgarian Military Merit Order 5th Class with Crown and Swords

    and that's our only rank clue, since it was usually given to German Oberleutnants

    If he was a young junior Lieutenant from Bavarian Inf Rgt 4 that could account for 3 of the 6 awards (BMV4X, EK2, WF3bX). He'd have to have joined or been commissioned after the last 1911 type Luitpold army jubilee medal was handed out.

    Then again, whether REGULAR or RESERVE :banger: he could well have been promoted to Captain during the war, so one of his Orders could be a "bX" and the other an "aX"-- WF3aX and SA3bX? WF3bX and SA3aX? :banger:

    Needless to say, although I am not looking forward to anything else in the coming Year Of Horror, I am most assuredly looking forward to Bernd's Bavarian Rolls and Daniel's W?rttemberg.

    Until then... sleepless nights... pacing the floors... wearing holes in the carpets... :cheers:

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Guest Rick Research

    Yup-- that was their generic "all bravery awards" ribbon, so only having the crown above the Xs identifies which one it was.

    Very rarely, some German outfitters had devices with the actual Bulgarian crown, but most just used that ordinary German version as "on hand."

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Guest Rick Research

    Yeah-- that was my initial impression too. It's a strangely "broad" combination which doesn't suggest any composite divisional affiliation, and the guy was for at least part of the war only an Oberleutnant, so not a General Staff officer throughout.

    An ace-- or a flicker of cigarette lighters? :cheeky:

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now
    ×
    ×
    • Create New...

    Important Information

    We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.