German bits and bobs...

[saschaw]

I may be wrong but hope I'm not, isn't the clasp one of those with computer generated font? Others are more expert than me - hope anyone chimes in.

[azyeoman]

Haven't added anything to the collection in ages, but thought a nicely mounted Social Welfare Medal 3rd Class would be a nice addition; especially since they're scarcely seen mounted on medals bars. The enamel work on the Austrian WWI Red Cross Medal is in excellent condition too. All in all, an interesting two war Austrian group.

The Karl Troop Cross (Karl Truppenkreuz) was instituted on 13 December 1916 by Emperor Karl 1 of Austria-Hungary. The cross was awarded until the end of the First World War to soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Army , regardless of rank, who had been with a combatant unit for at least twelve months and who had actually served at the front. The medal is of zinc and consists of a cross pattee resting on a laurel wreath. The obverse bears the Latin inscription "GRATI PRINCEPS ET PATRIA, CAROLVS IMP.ET REX", (A grateful prince and country, Karl, Emperor and King). The reverse shows the Austrian and Hungarian Imperial crowns above the letter "C" (for Carolus) with the inscription "VITEM ET SANGVINEM", (With life and blood) and the date MDCCCCXVI, (1916). The design is based on the design of the Army Cross of 1813-1814 (usually known as the ‘Canon Cross’ – ‘Kanonenkreuz’). The cross was worn on the left chest from a red ribbon with alternate red-white side strips towards each edge. A total of 651,000 were awarded.

According to Robin Lumsden's book, Medals and Decorations of Hitler's Germany, "The Social Welfare Decoration was used to recognise meritorious schievement in all manner of services tending to the general and spedific needs of the German population, including the fields of medicine, nursing, social work, charity, housing, education and recreation. Recipients included individuals from every walk of civil, political and military life. Many award recommendations were submitted through the Nationalsozalistische Volkswohlfahrt (NSV), the National Socialist People's Welfare Organisation, which ulitmately included over 20% of the entire German population in its membership." In 1942, swords were added the the ribbon denoting military-related service, primairly doctors and nurses engaged in careing for wa wounded on the Eastern Front. Decorations with swords were accorded a far highter status than those without swords.

Edited May 13, 2013 by azyeoman

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here is a silly question... did one not get the social welfare medal, then the cross?

best

Chris

[azyeoman]

Here is a silly question... did one not get the social welfare medal, then the cross?

best

Chris

No question is silly. If so, then I ask them all the time. : )

The Social Welfare Decoration was a German Civil Service Award, which was issued in the 1930s and the 1940s under the authority of Nazi Germany. The decoration was issued in three classes and was awarded for a wide variety of services to the German state. The "Medal of Social Welfare" was also issued for lesser degrees of civil service, not warranting the higher presentation of a class award.

The main requirement for the award was that the service rendered should be to the benefit of the civil population. Reinhard Heydrich was awarded the decoration for his running of the Gestapo in the 1930s and for providing "security" to the German people. The infamous Doctor Joseph Mengele was also awarded the decoration in 1941, for providing medical services to wounded soldiers and civilians alike on the battlefields of the Eastern Front.

Edited May 13, 2013 by azyeoman

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hmm, was just wondering as my Wifes Grandfather had a medal and this 3rd class decoration on his bar.

Best

Chris

[azyeoman]

Hmm, was just wondering as my Wifes Grandfather had a medal and this 3rd class decoration on his bar.

Best

Chris

I've seen quite a few medals mounted and have some in the collection above, but I've not ever seen a 3rd class mounted with a medal. I suspect that is exceptionally unusual.

[azyeoman]

My latest and a nice frackenspange.

The second medal (from the right) is the the Prussian War Merit Cross, which was awarded to men and women who had done more than two years of faithful war work at home. The award was founded on 5 December 1916 by Emperor Wilhelm II. There were no differences in rank and status. The Cross was also awarded to residents of the allied states. The War Merit Cross could be worn after the Iron Cross. There was no obligation to return the award. Most crosses were made of zinc, but a few crosses were made of aluminum and even fewer of silver.

The third medal (from the right) is the Hesse Honor for War Welfare Medal, which was instituted on 17 September 1915 by Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig. It was awarded to people were who had rendered outstanding services in the field of war welfare. Initially, officers, NCOs and soldiers and medical personnel were awarded for military merit which was not in the face of the enemy. From 26 June 1916, the medal was also awarded to women. It is made of bronze and is 25mm in diameter and weighs 6.8 gms.

Edited September 15, 2013 by azyeoman

[redeagleorder]

Nice bar! Is the inscription on the back of the Hesse Medal 'Fur Kriegsehrenzeichen' or 'Fur Kriegsfursorge'? Thanks

[azyeoman]

Nice bar! Is the inscription on the back of the Hesse Medal 'Fur Kriegsehrenzeichen' or 'Fur Kriegsfursorge'? Thanks

It's the former, "Fur Kreigsehrenzeichen".

[Guest Rick Research]

OK, if these are your "bits and bobs" now show us the GOOD stuff!

Hadn't paid attention to this from the thread title. You've got a fantastic range of medal bars--how long have you been collecting these?

[azyeoman]

OK, if these are your "bits and bobs" now show us the GOOD stuff!

Hadn't paid attention to this from the thread title. You've got a fantastic range of medal bars--how long have you been collecting these?

HI Rick,

Thanks. I've collected medals since '77/'78 but have only become interested in German items for the last five to six, seven years. Even then, you could get Franco-Prussian bars quite inexpensively compared to WWI and TR bars; now they're creeping up and WWI seem to have tapered off their skyrocketing; TR bars have always been cheaper than the sum of the individual medals; something I've never understood in comparison to British/Commonwealth and US groups. I'm not just into German though and have a smattering of other items as you can see from this site too. It's the history that's interesting and that's what makes me want to do the research. What good is a gong without the research, eh? I'm glad you like the thread and I hope it helps some to see what's available and what good bars look like as opposed to all the fakes out there now. All the best Rick! Cheers,

[azyeoman]

Despite the center medal being a bit rough, I thought this was a nice little WWI German bar for the collection; nice in that it has the Austrian Bravery Medal. It's not a rare medal but it's nice on a parade mounted medal bar.

Tapferkeits Medaille (Bravery Medal) Awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks for a deed of bravery in war. This medal was instituted on 19 July 1789 in 3 classes : the Gold Medal, the Large Silver Medal (also called 1st Class Silver Medal) and the Small Silver Medal (2nd Class Silver Medal). On 14 February 1915 a Bronze Medal (50% bronze, 50% gunmetal) was added. During the 1st World War two types of the Tapferkeits-Medaille were issued : a first type bearing, on the obverse, the bust of Emperor Franz Joseph I with the text FRANZ JOSEPH I V.G.G. KAISER V. OESTERREICH (Franz Joseph I, by the grace of God, Emperor of Austria) and on the reverse within a laurel wreath with crossed flags at the bottom, the words DER / TAPFERKEIT (For Bravery, in German) and a second type, issued after Franz Joseph's death in November 1916, bearing, on the obverse, the bust of Emperor Karl with the text CAROLVaS D.G. IMP. AVST. REX BOH. ETC. ET REX APOST. HVNG. (Karl, by the grace of God, Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia etc. and Apostolic King of Hungary). The reverse is similar to the first type but for the word FORTITVDINI (For Bravery, in Latin). On 29 November 1915 bars, trapeze form and in rustless iron, were attached for subsequent awards of the same class. An order of 15 September 1917 made officers also eligible, under special conditions, for the gold or silver classes and in those cases a gilt or silver "K" was affixed to the ribbon. By mid-March 1918 the Vienna Mint had struck, during the war, some 950,000 bronze, 384,000 small silver 2nd Class, 143,000 large silver and 3,700 gold medals.

Edited January 14, 2014 by azyeoman

[Ulsterman]

I bet that this was awarded to a German NCO seconded to the A- H army to stiffen their units in Russia and Italy. Ive never seen one awarded to anyone on thevWestern Front or in the navy.

[azyeoman]

I bet that this was awarded to a German NCO seconded to the A-H army to stiffen their units in Russia and Italy. Ive never seen one awarded to anyone on thevWestern Front or in the navy.

That's what I was thinking. Both interesting campaigns with some tough fighting and weather. Thanks for the input!

[azyeoman]

Not an unusual trio, but a scarce when mounted with a tailor label and especially this one by A. Bux of Stuttgart, which is uncommon. It appears as though it may have had a 2nd award clasp for the EK2 at one point.

Edited January 12, 2014 by azyeoman

[Rogi]

Really amazing collection I love love love the colonial groups do you have any more to share with us? I've recently become really interested in Togo and Cameroon :)

[azyeoman]

Really amazing collection I love love love the colonial groups do you have any more to share with us? I've recently become really interested in Togo and Cameroon

I wish I did, but that's all I've got. I was just trying to get one of each of the medals including the non-combatants on a medal bar.

[azyeoman]

Haven't added anything to this collection in a very long time, but have just acquired an interesting very long service group with all the paperwork to a man who went up quite high in the postal service later on in life. It's the accompanying paper work that make it nice and interesting.

Edited October 19, 2014 by azyeoman

[azyeoman]

The latest is such a common group, but how often do you find them with a tailor label. Quite scarce as such...

[Ulsterman]

Nice groups! I ESP. Like the documented one.

[azyeoman]

As I've not acquired anything to the collection for a very long time, I thought this would be a good addition.  I especially like the way it's court mounted.

Ordensspange eines Weltkrieg 1914/18 Kämpfers:

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914,

Königreich Bulgarien - Militärverdienstkreuz mit Schwertern in Silber,

Königreich Bulgarien - Militärverdienstkreuz mit Schwertern in Gold.

[ixhs]

Some cool stuff you have.

If you will sell something of it in future please let me know

Some bars could get a very nice and warm new home.

 

[azyeoman]

Another new Franco-Prussian War with a new bar for me.  Nicely mounted and in good condition aside from ribbon aging.

 

Edited August 14, 2015 by azyeoman

[azyeoman]

A more unusual DRL badge for a wounded man, which can be seen from the silver center within the gold wreath.

Edited August 14, 2015 by azyeoman

[azyeoman]

Haven't added anything for a long time to this collection, but came across a PoW medal without its ribbon and a nice little pair with a couple of clasps, BUTwith a very nice tailor's label.

 

Edited November 3, 2015 by azyeoman