Spanish ribbon bar

[Noor]

Hello,

Just got this nice bar and would like to find out more information from Spain experts . Is it possible to "read out" more about the owner who had it - rank, service period, etc, etc?

1. Individual Merit Medal (???)

2. Order of Military Merit

3. ?

4. ?

5. Medal of Alfonso (?)

6. ?

7. ?

8. Military Cross of Merit

9. Military Cross of Merit

10. Military Cross of Merit

11. ?

12. Medal for 25 Years of Piece

13. Campaign medal for Spanish Division Volunteers in Russia 1943

interesting device

[Dolfek]

Hi Noor,

I hope this helps you a bit.

1. - War cross.

2. Order of Military Merit

3. ? - 1936-1939 Campaign medal

4. ? - Medal for the wounded. It doesn?t have the red cross on the ribbon, so it may not be a wound for enemy fire.

5. Medal of Alfonso (?)

6. ? - The royal and military order of San Hermenegildo. It?s mainly a long service award.

7. ? - As above, but probably for more years of service. I?m not sure after how many years would you receive the order, 10,25 & 40 years, or something like this.

8. Military Cross of Merit

9. Military Cross of Merit

10. Military Cross of Merit

11. ? - Medal for Peace in Morocco 1927. As a reward to all those who took part on the process.

12. Medal for 25 Years of Piece

13. Campaign medal for Spanish Division Volunteers in Russia 1943

Regards,

Dolfek.

[Noor]

Thank you so much Dolfek! :jumping:

[Guest Rick Research]

But what about the American style clutchback pins? This shows service going back to the 1920s, but surely must date from late in the Franco period?

[Noor]

Why late Franco period? States had not bad connection with the Spain when the Cold War started because Spain was very anti communist country. Also became member of United Nations already 1955. Also US military bases (such as Naval Station Rota, opened in 1955).

Francisco Franco and US President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Madrid in 1959:

Edited July 7, 2009 by Noor

[Dolfek]

Rick is right. The ribbon bar is a late type, don?t know exactly when did spanish servicemen began to use this style in question, but for sure not right after the civil war.

I haven?t seen many types of bars, but this one if not, at less looks like the current bars in use.

Just think about medal "12" Medal for 25 Years of Peace (1939-1964).

Can?t help much more, as this is not my field.

Regards,

Dolfek.

[Noor]

Yes, Rick is right. I was thinking more about him as a "living fake detector" .... because he still have good (one) eye for a details. Uhh, maybe its my bad english, etc but I tought that Rick pointed out that this combination can't make sence.

What I was thinking is that the Spain army, because the connections with the Western countries started so early (50s), they probably adobted some details from them as well over the period. Not waiting when the Franco regime was finished. So, if this bar can put around end of 60s then it would be still possible that some vet has it.

Thanks Rick and Dolfek!

[Panzerpionier]

Yes, Rick is right. I was thinking more about him as a "living fake detector" <img src="http://gmic.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheeky.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="cheeky.gif" /> .... because he still have good (one) eye for a details. Uhh, maybe its my bad english, etc but I tought that Rick pointed out that this combination can't make sence.

What I was thinking is that the Spain army, because the connections with the Western countries started so early (50s), they probably adobted some details from them as well over the period. Not waiting when the Franco regime was finished. So, if this bar can put around end of 60s then it would be still possible that some vet has it.

Thanks Rick and Dolfek!

My grandfather joined the Spanish Marine Corps when the 1936-1939 Spanish civil war broke, and in his late years he used a "American Style" ribbon bar much like the one posted by Noor. That style is now standard-issue in the Spanish Armed Forces... it seems to me that some Spanish top brass officers tend to think that adopting US-style uniforms and related stuff shall make our servicemen better soldiers...

The Medal for Peace in Morocco dated back to 1927 but it was an hereditary award. Therefore it could be worn by a soldier that served well after the 1920's Spanish campaign in northern Africa. The red ribbon can not definitely be that of the Medal of Alfonso XIII - that medal was created for those who attended to the act when Alfonso XIII sworn in as king in 1902, and the medal of the 25 Years of Peace was created in 1964 for the veterans that served in the 1936-1939 war... 62 years of service are definitely too many years...

On the other hand, I dislike the fact that the Spanish Blue Division campaign medal is "alone"... I would expect also a EK or KVK ribbon and the German medal for the Spanish volunteers... of course that guy could have served in non-frontline units of the Blue Division, but the lack of at least one German award is a bit strange to me. And bear in mind that I can go right now to a Spanish military dealer and purchase a brand new, made-to-order ribbon bar much like that one for about 30EUR.

Edited September 12, 2009 by Panzerpionier