Marinekorps Flandern

[Gordon Williamson]

Anyone have any info on exactly who got the Marinekorps Flandern Cross, when, and for what ?

[Rick Research]

Having seen it in some extremely odd 1920s groups, including Kyffhäuserbund medals with multiple battle bars that had nothing to do with Flanders, I'd guess it could be purchased by any veteran who coughed up the purchase price. Haven't ever seen any paperwork for "requirements"--typical of most of the ephemeral Weimar era awards.

Oddly enough, the Reichsmarine seemed to have no problem with any of this sort of "vanity" award being worn on official uniform--the exact opposite case compared to the Reichsheer. The MK Flanders Cross, Skaggerak Medal etc are often seen in naval portrait photos of the period.

I think the MKF Cross shows up about 1925.

[McCulloh]

Gordon:
To add my 2 cents worth:
There is a good article on the Marine Cross in the old OMSA Journal from @1977 (?). Maybe Rick even wrote the article as rumor has it he was active back then in the Society.
Ostensibly, it was "awarded" to naval personnel for service in the 3 Marine Divisions in France et al. and usually came with campaign bars. There are a whole series of bars (See Detlev for the list) including "Seekreig", "Luftkreig" (which I have never seen),"Yser"and "Somme"etc. . I even saw one last year with a "Serbia" (obviuosly nicked from a Kyfyserbund medal) on a bar which excited me as I thought it was an easy way to i.d. the unit (not true).
Despite the name, its obvious that it was purchased by many men who rarely, if ever, saw France. (Which is what Rick said above, ...Sorry).
Looking at some of the medal bars with other unit medals (the "True to the Regiment type) it's clear that army infantry vets also purchased the medal.
See Niemann's Bewertsung-Katalog at 2.02.13 (pp.98).
I think given the number of medal groups (13 since 1998) I have seen with only a "Seekrieg" medal bar on the award, that it was often used as a generic naval campaign medal.
Note that there were also similar looking naval freikorps awards (Agerp. 9-10).
When is the book coming out? I have had a Borders gift certificate waiting for use since Christmas!
Cheers,
JeMc

[Rick Research]

Here is Jason Williams' Marinekorps Flandernkreuz, parade mounted with matching "Somme" bar.

This bar could be for only the 3rd Marine Division's service on the Somme in 1918--IF it was a purely Marinekorps award.