Some Freikorps Awards

[glaser]

Very interesting breast stars and what i am gathering from the two posts is that Maybauer is the manufacturer that used DRGM 653146? I have a Gold and Silver Screw back wound badges with the same screw set up and markings. Nice to know who made them!! Thanks!

read Meybauer instead of Maybauer

[Masch19]

What are you mean good Or Bad


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[Destruction]

Hi,
Definitely a good one, and the first I see with Sedlatczek maker mark. Hook is repaired.

[Masch19]

Yes the hook is repaired


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[Destruction]

P.S. Is the cross enameled, as it looks? Or black lacquered?

[Masch19]

It is enameled


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[Masch19]

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[Brian L.]

Das Gedenkblatt der Schutztruppe Bug (Commemorative Document of the Schutztruppe Bug) awarded to Sergeant Heuer of Freiwillige Bataillon 44 which included 2 Mortar companies and 4 infantry companies.

As far as I'm aware, this commemorative service document served as an award document for the Bugstern (Bug Star) seen in post #2 of this thread, as these documents are often seen together with the award. I have never seen any other type of award document for the Bugstern.

This example has been trimmed along the black border, as the original document continued for about 2 cm beyond the black border. Still this document is not that common. It was printed on cheap newsprint and thus they tend to be very fragile.

[Gary B]

Wonderful thread, Brian.

This should be pinned.

Gary B

[Brian L.]

Freikorps Oberland Bewährungsabzeichen

The probation badge was created after the dissolution of Freikorps Oberland in June 1921 probably by the Oberland leader Joseph "Beppo" Romans. The symbol of the Freikorps and badge was the Edelweiss. Veterans of the Freikorps who had participated in the fighting In Munich in May 1919, the Ruhr in 1920 and in Silesia during the 3rd Polish uprising in 1921 were eligible for the award. But, also according to the Bavarian archives members of Bund Oberland, the successor organization of the Freikorps, who were involved in the Hitler Putsch on 9 November 1923 also received the probation badge. The design was by Prof.Dr. Karl Diebietsch (1899-1985), co-founder and artistic director of the porcelain manufacturer Allach and the badges were manufactured by Deschler.

The exact number of awards is not known. But, it's estimated that 2,000 to as many as 3,000 were awarded. Most awarded badges (but not all) had the awardees serial number stamped, engraved or merely scratched on the reverse.

The badge shown has the number '450' scratched to the right of the patent mark (Ges. Gesch.)

[Brian L.]

Bayerisches Schützenkorps (Freikorps Epp)
Erinnerungsmedaille der Stabskompanie / Commemorative Medal of the Headquarters Company, 1921 (i.e. Staff)

Not much is known about this very rare medal. But, it's assumed it was awarded to members of the Headquarters staff of the former Freikorps Epp to commemorate the two year anniversary of the founding of the HQ staff on April 18, 1919. It may have only been awarded to original staff still serving in the successor unit to Freikorps Epp, Reichswehr-Brigade 21.

The medal has a facsimile signature of Ritter von Epp on the reverse. Little is known for sure about the ribbon. But, I believe this is the original ribbon for the medal.

[Brian L.]

Commemorative Badge of Freikorps Würzburg (Erinnerungsplakette des Freikorps Würzburg)

Freikorps Würzburg was formed from the Bavarian Reserve Jäger Batallion 15, which returned to Germany from Georgia in April 1919 after a long, circuitous sea voyage by British merchant ship from the Black Sea to northern Germany and by train south to Bavaria.

Bavarian Reserve Jäger Batallion 15 had been formed in August 1918 in the Caucasus as the Kaukasisches Jäger-Regiment Nr. 1. It consisted of the bayerisches Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon and freshly trained released POWs who were formed into a Bahn-Schütz-Bataillon.
On the 20th of September, 1918 they were renamed the bayerisches Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 15 consisting of a staff and two battalions. The battalion was commanded by Major Martin Scheuring from the 8. B.I.R. who continued to command Freikorps Würzburg after its formation.

Bavarian Reserve Jäger Regiment 15 arrived at the Würzburg train station on April 9, 1919 after their very long and arduous return home and immediately volunteered to form Freikorps Würzburg, got back on the train and headed to Munich to join other Freikorps already taking up positions outside the city. Freikorps Würzburg took part in the heavy fighting in Munich against the Munich Soviet Republic on May 2-3, 1919.

After the defeat of the Munich Soviet, Freikorps Würzburg joined Detachement Probstmayer, Freikorps Aschaffenburg, Mobiles Freikorps Bamberg, Freikorps Bayreuth, Eiserne Schar Berthold and other smaller Freikorps units to form Reichswehr-Brigade 23.

The commemorative badge was given to former members of Freikorps Würzburg in a ceremony on April 9, 1934, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its formation.

The 2-piece badge is 900 silver with a silver gilt center medallion and marked on the reverse: KILIAN RUCKERT, WÜRZBURG, 900.

[Brian L.]

"Wehrsport" prizes (Plaketten) for hand-grenade throwing, September 1919

These are not expressly awards, but "Wehrsport" competition prizes. Still, I thought they would be appropriate for this thread.

The Freikorps and Reichswehr held a number of "Wehrsport" competitions, usually in September from 1919 to 1921. These took the place of military maneuvers, which were banned by the Versailles Treaty. Given that the Armistice was seen merely as a truce by the Germans, they did what they could to keep their troops combat-ready just in case hostilities broke out again.

While these sports competitions had traditional sports activities such as tug-of-war, wrestling, boxing, pole-vaulting, shot-put, racing etc. they also had shooting and hand-grenade throwing.

These two prizes are for 1st and 2nd place in hand-grenade throwing given to the 1. bayer. Schützen-Regiment (Freikorps Epp).

There was also a silver stickpin given out in 1919 and 1920 to all participants from Schützen-Brigade 21 which included the above regiment. The pin was round and had the same motif as these prizes.

Attached is an example of the stickpin for 1920 from Andre Huesken's site.

[CRBeery]

A couple from me.

[Brian L.]

The bronze one on the right was a commemorative "tinnie" given out to everyone attending the awards ceremony on April 9, 1934.
It was struck by Kilian Ruckert from the same die used to create the silver-gilt center of the award badge.