Making sense of a Prussian bar with a Bavarian MVO with crown and no swords?

[landsknechte]

Apart from having the darkest blue that I've ever seen on a BMVK / BMVO ribbon, it's also got a crown device by itself.  I don't really know how to interpret this one.  What are the normal circumstances associated with the crown only version of the MVO?

 

I assume that the dark blue was a 25 year Prussian DA, but who would have been in a position to have that without an 1897 Centenary?  I suppose it's possible that this was a Prussian who signed up immediately after March 1897, and netted just enough time in service to earn the DA a few months before the Armistice.  Is there some other scenario  that this makes sense for?

 

 

 

[Daniel Krause]

Nice one!

 

Most likely the Bavarian at the end should have swords, which are not shown here.

The Bav. MVO was never awarded on the war ribbon without swords.

 

2 scenarions, which I see here;

Reserve / Landwehr / Seewehr Officer at Major-level, with an Landwehr Long Service who did NOT serve active in 1897 to get the Centenary

Or active Officer, MAjor-level as well, entered service just after 1897 and accumulated enough "time in" to get a DA XXV in 1919/1920 at the De-Mobilisation.

 

I would bet on the 1st scenario.

 

Best,

Daniel

[landsknechte]

Ah, ok.  I was under the impression that the 1897 was handed out a lot more liberally, and that pretty much anyone in state service at the right time had one - regardless of whether they were regular army, a reservist, or a postman.  

[Daniel Krause]

Nope. Not at all.

 

Vets of the wars of unification, active soldiers, does not matter on which kind of service.

Reserve guys who were not actively serving at that time did not get it.

 

Best,

Daniel 

[CRBeery]

Is the back dark blue? I thought overseas service and war time service both counted double.

[landsknechte]

Yep.  It's a pretty standard "navy blue".