Uncategorised Bavarian Military Merit Order question

[Mattyboy]

Hello,

I am having difficulty deciphering the awards being shown on my Bavarian rank-list of 1914. On page 11 there are two symbols for the 4th class of the Military Merit Order - but what does the difference between the symbols signify?

An example on page 113 is a Hptm Rudolf Erhard, who has been awarded both decorations.

I believe the second symbol is the Military Merit Order 4th Class - but what is the first one?

Thanks, and please excuse my ignorance.

Matt.

[P.F.]

Dear Matt,

Regarding Hauptmann Erhard, I believe one is awarded with swords, and the other without.

Kind regards

Pierce

Edited June 11, 2014 by P.F.

[Mattyboy]

Hi Pierce,

Ok, so they are the same medal, just one has swords.....

Thanks a lot

Matt.

[Dave Danner]

Matt

Bavarian regulations allowed one to wear both a Military Merit Order with Swords and one without, even if of the same class. So the rank list has to reflect that. Some other states only allowed the wear of the highest award of a particular class.

Prussian regulations allowed wear of only the higher award in a particular class, but if you got a higher class without swords, you could still wear a lower class with swords. So if you had a peacetime Crown Order 4th Class or Red Eagle Order 4th Class and then received swords to it, for example in a colonial conflict, you only wore the swords version. But if you then received a peacetime 3rd Class or higher, you still could wear the 4th Class with Swords. Hindenburg, for example, had the Grand Cross of the Red Eagle Order but still wore his 4th Class with Swords.

[P.F.]

That's a very good explanation Dave. I did not know this about the RAO, etc. Thank you.

Kind regards

Pierce

[Mattyboy]

Hi Dave,

Got it, thanks!

[Mattyboy]

I have another question about the Bavarian ranklist: what does the symbol of the key represent?

Hoping that someone can unlock the mystery for me...(bad pun intended)

Thanks,

Matt.

[Glenn J]

Matt,

It is the symbol of a Kammerherr or Chamberlain, an honorary position at court.

Regards

Glenn

[Paul C]

Matt, ranklists are a littler difficult to work with, but they do reveal a great deal of information. Keep at it.

[Mattyboy]

Hi Glenn and Paul,

Thanks a lot. I think I'm starting to get my head around it.

[spolei]

Hi Pierce,

Ok, so they are the same medal, just one has swords.....

Thanks a lot

Matt.

Hi,

another difference was the ribbon.

The 4th class without has a white ribbon with blue stripes (Friedensband /pre war) and the 4.th class with swords was a white ribbon with blue stripes and small black stripes outside (Kriegsband).

Cheers Andreas

Edited August 21, 2014 by spolei