Danish ribbon bar with many foreign awards

[Nicolas7507]

Hello,

 

I just bought this interesting danish ribbon bar with many foreign awards. Is my interpretation correct?

 

Dannebrog,
Dannebrog, Cross of Honour?
Danish Medal?
Norway, Order of St. Olav
Finland, Order of the Cross of Liberty or Denmark, Medal for Long Service as Reserve Officer?
France, Order of the Legion of Honour or Finland, Order of the Lion of Finland?
Danish Medal of the Red Cross?
Danish Reserveofficer Medal?
Sweden, Order of the Sword
Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus or a danish medal?
Turkey, Order of Osmanie or Belgium, Military-Cross?

 

I think an ID could be possible. What do you think?

 

Best regards,

Nicolas

[JohanH]

What is the width of the Swedish ribbon? It looks wider than some of the other. 
 

If it is a ribbon for a commander class order, I can check how many danish recipients there were when I get home. 
 

 

[Nicolas7507]

Thanks that would be great.

 

Width of the ribbons:

 

35mm: first, fourth, sixth, ninth and eleventh ribbon

 

30mm: fifth ribbon

 

25mm: the rest

[ostprussenmann_new]

This Is an interesting combination.  I am sure that it can be identified by someone who has knowledge of Danish Officers

Edited December 8, 2021 by ostprussenmann_new

[Great Dane]

I think I have a perfect match for you... let me do a little more research...

 

Here is a 100% match:

 

Thyge Karl Thygesen, Mj.Gen. (born 1895).

 

Here are his COMPLETE set of decorations (in the sequence they appear on his ribbon bar):

 

1. Denmark, Order of Dannebrog (Commander 1.class) (awarded 2/2 1958)
2. Denmark, Order of Dannebrog (Silver Merit Cross) (awarded 25/11 1942)
3. Denmark, The Army Long Service Medal
4. Norway, Order of St. Olav (Commander 1.class)
5. Finland, Order of Liberty (3rd class)
6. France, Legion of Honour (Commander)
7. Denmark, The Danish Red Cross Comm. Medal for Relief Work in the War 1939-45
8. Denmark, Badge of Honour of the Danish Reserve Officers' Organization
9. Sweden, Order of the Sword (Commander 1.class)
10. Denmark, Medal of Honour of the Danish Association of Rifle, Gymnastics and Athletics Clubs
11. Italy, Order of Merit (Commander) 

 

Notice how he use a wider ribbon for the Commander classes instead of using rosettes.

Edited December 8, 2021 by Great Dane

[Nicolas7507]

Fantastic work, thanks so much!

 

I found a photo of him, probably in the 1950s, as Commander of the Western Regional Commando. Can anyone ID the breast star?

[Great Dane]

Breast star is Swedish Order of the Sword (Commander 1.class).

Great photo, BTW.

Looks like it is taken pre-1958 as he is still wearing a Knight Cross of Dannebrog.

 

Promoted from Knight of Dannebrog to Commander on 11. March 1950.

 

At the time of promotion in 1950, he had

 

Denmark, Order of Dannebrog (Knight) (awarded 6/7 1938)
Denmark, Order of Dannebrog (Silver Merit Cross) (awarded 25/11 1942)
Denmark, The Army Long Service Medal
Finland, Order of Liberty (3rd class)
France, Legion of Honour (Commander)
Denmark, The Danish Red Cross Comm. Medal for Relief Work in the War 1939-45
Sweden, Order of the Sword (Commander 1.class)

 

which matches the photo.

Edited December 8, 2021 by Great Dane

[Great Dane]

He received the French Legion of Honour around 1948, so the photo can be dated 1948-1950.

 

Interesting sidenote:
Until WWII, he was listed with the Order of the German Eagle (2nd class), but that... um... disappeared from the list after the war.

[Nicolas7507]

Brilliant! Thanks for the extensive research. 

 

He retired in 1960 from his position of Commander of the WRC and died in 1985. Marriage with Edith Ingeborg von Mehren in 1934.

 

Do you have his promotion dates as well? 

[JohanH]

He received the Order of the Sword on May 29th 1947. 

 

He was one of totally 82 Danes that got the commander 1st class. 

[Nicolas7507]

Thanks Johan!

I found an "Accesionsnummer" which dates to 1949, so this is probably the date of the photo.

 

Regarding the promotion dates I found:

 

In 1934 he was a Captain

Very likely Major in the late 1930s

00.00.1945 Lieutenant-Colonel

00.00.1946 Colonel

 

 

Source: "The family von Mehren"

 

Edited December 8, 2021 by Nicolas7507

[JohanH]

In the Danish state calendar of 1943 and 1944 he is listed as captain. 

 

 

In the state calendar of 1946 he is listed as oberst. 

 

In 1948-49 he is listed as oberst and has some more awards. 

 

In 1953 he is generalmajor. 

Unfortunately I don't have all the years of the State calendar, but with this you might get an idea of his promotions.

At least it's a beginning...

[Great Dane]

I don't have exact dates, but:

 

2nd Lieutenant (1917)

1st Lieutenant (1919)

Captain (1932)

Lt. Colonel (1945)

Colonel (1946)

Maj.Gen. (1951)

 

He is not listed with any rank of Major...

[Nicolas7507]

Very interesting. It looks like he skipped the rank of Major.

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

There was no rank of major in the Danish army then.