Baltenkreuz / Where are all the Baltic Crosses?

[bolewts58]

another Alexander Chichikalov copy.

[Mathomhaus]

Two very generic observations:

First, I have seen so many fakes since the 90s with screwplates marked Kortman that I won't consider buying an award or regimental badge so marked. Second, while there's not a good close-up of the Russian silver hallmark anywhere in the four photos, there's enough of it showing here and there for me to think that it's completely bogus. Fakers have been struggling with faking Russian hallmarks for years but if you have some basic familiarity with the originals, the "tells" are always there to see.

Regards.

Edited October 24, 2015 by Mathomhaus

[Uffz. Rohleder]

Here is my one - the pictures are a little older. But i dont want to make new one now

 

I hope its ok to bring back this old Topic

[Uffz. Rohleder]

Here a small contribution.

[Stormrider59]

Crispy ribbon bar there Uffz, I have a lone Baltic Cross 1st Class that is likely a Meybauer.

This thread has a cornucopia of variants! 

Edited December 6, 2017 by Stormrider59

[Ruslan]

Hi everybody!

Is this a Baltic Cross first class on the pictures attached? Any ideas on the item: fake or original one? It was found at the place of WW2 battle near Tsimla town, Khoroshevskaya village, South of Russia.

 

Edited December 18, 2017 by Ruslan
some addition

[bolewts58]

It's real and appears to be a silvered version sold by Friedrich Sedlaczek, Berlin. But, there's no such thing as a Baltic Cross 1st class. The Baltic Cross came in one class, either as a pinback or on a ribbon for wear on a bar.

[Uffz. Rohleder]

My newest Baltic cross. A nice 2 piece mini 

Looks like those mini Baltic crosses are rather hard to find. 

[CRBeery]

830S marked version.

[Eric Stahlhut]

my pet theory on these 830S marked variants is that they came from the area of northern germany (schleswig holstein area) as this "S" after the numerical content was utilized extensively throughout scandinavia. the border with denmark was fairly porous and it's easy for me to envision a kiel jeweler who had commercial interests and customers on both sides. the population shifted back and forth and the actual boundary was fairly static, so customs were somewhat interchangeable. perhaps this could be the same sort of hallmarking stipulation that one sometimes encounters with medals and badges imported/exported between austria and germany.

 

[Stojan]

Hi everybody !

Here I have a nice example (in my opinion) of a baltic cross, I think it's real, probably sold by Sedlaczek, but I'm not sure.. What do you think ??

 

[Destruction]

Hi Stojan,

Definitely a good one, the most often encountered type. These are met with Sedlatzek mark sometimes, yes.

 

Best!

Serg

[Militarycross]

Just acquired this example of the Baltic Cross. What strikes me as odd is the colour of the ribbon as compared with all the other ribboned examples. Anyone with thoughts on that?

[bolewts58]

That's because the ribbon is wrong. The ribbon is actually for the Royal Bavarian long service decoration.

Edited August 28, 2021 by bolewts58

[Militarycross]

Thank you, bolewts58. That's very helpful. One would assume that someone all those decades ago chose to use this ribbon because they couldn't source the proper one. 

[bolewts58]

16 hours ago, Militarycross said:

Thank you, bolewts58. That's very helpful. One would assume that someone all those decades ago chose to use this ribbon because they couldn't source the proper one. 

I think it's more likely that this ribbon has been added relatively recently. It would not have been at all difficult to source a proper, original ribbon even as recently as the 1970s from a military supply store or tailor. One should remember that the Baltic Cross was available for purchase by Freikorps veterans well into the 1970s.

 

Even now, there's a large roll of original ribbon for sale on eBay Germany.

Edited August 29, 2021 by bolewts58

[Militarycross]

Since it came with a bunch of stuff from a Canadian veteran, I suspect that the ribbon was what was on it back in 1944 or 45 when it was acquired. Matters not, we have it identified and that's the key piece. Thanks again for your help.

[bolewts58]

A nicely made "Spangestück" (note the small suspension ring) with blasted rivets on the reverse as well as a nice 2-piece mini.

 

[TheMadBaron]

My current collection:

 

[Militarycross]

Very nice collection.

 

phil

[TheMadBaron]

In wear on a Weimar-era police officer.

 

 

[Tupper]

My newest Portrait Photo of an Luftwaffe Feldwebel with Baltenkreuz

[bolewts58]

Baltic Cross award document.

 

Awarded to Gefr. Fritz Reichwald, Freikorps Weikhmann

Freikorps Weikhmann was part of the Deutsche Division serving in Kurland and Lithuania in 1919. It later was part of the Russian West Army of Prince Avalov-Bermondt and disbanded 18 December 1919 after returning to Germany.

The document is stamped on the reverse that the cross was issued (rather than being privately purchased).

Edited June 12, 2023 by bolewts58

[Graf]

On 13/04/2022 at 10:33, TheMadBaron said:

In wear on a Weimar-era police officer.

 

 

Nice photo

[Militarycross]

Great photo, Graf.