Medal bar with Württemberg medals

[Klaus O.]

Dear fellow collectors,

I found this medal bar on a German dealer site, which is quite interesting:



If I remember correctly, Rick told me that such combination of Württemberg Medals is quite rare, especially with the second cross from the left (Württemberg, Verdienstkreuz mit Schwertern, 1915-1918). Is it true? It seems to have belonged to a sort of Senior NCO, doesn't it?

Comments are welcome!

Ciao,

Claudio

[Rick Research]

It is always nice to see a Merit Cross with Swords! Only 2,284 of this strange award were made, to senior NCOs who were not eligible for any other appropriate decoration. This career NCO had enough service time in (1914-1918 counted as "ten" years for Regulars) to get the 25 Years Service Cross. Weimar Republic "social engineering" bestowed commissions on all ex-NCOs with "18" or more years service time in, so this fellow was a "Leutnant aD."