a semi-zinc mystery ribbon bar @1944

[McCulloh]

This is the latest in from Germany, a portrait of a Luftwaffe retread taken in 1944:
The mystery is his ribbon bar. The last two are easy, but the first two? Can anyone venture an opinion, especially about #2?
Thanks,
JeMc

[McCulloh]

I think #1 is the Ostmedal, but the white edges throw me. Ribbon backing showing through or different medal? I'm convinced that #2 is imperial-perhaps Brunswick, but the soft light photography is damnifying. ?

[Rick Research]

This one is quite interesting. I have never seen a WW1 veteran at this end of WW2 AND who held a 25 Years civil service cross as an absolutely NO rank "buck private." He must have been being punished for something!

Last ribbon is clearly the 1938-43 Treudienstkreuz in silver. The next to last ribbon is equally "clearly" the WW1 Hindenburg Cross, which LOOKS like the noncombatant type... but I cannot quite decide if the "dimple" in the center is the paper surface or the hole from X swords which are missing... because what comes ahead of that makes no sense as a noncombatant.

The middle ribbon is a mystery. This guy's ribbon bar is squished and out of shape, as well as "soft focus." It could be a Brunswick Ernst August Cross (combatant) or an Oldenburg Friedrich August Cross (combatant)... I just cannot tell. See the way it is overlapping the Hindeburg cross ribbon (pale blue line "2" ?)

I suspect the second ribbon is also pushed over onto that third ribbon. I can convince myself that I "see" the blurred edge of a civil Kriegsverdienstkreuz ribbon-- so this guy was decorated as a CIVILIAN during the war... and yet after 26+ years service is... a buck private?

The first ribbon can only be a 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class combatant.

And yet... is that a white/dark/white edge (white lines) on the ribbon with a "snag hole" ( yellow lines) showing the metal backing-- and pushing the first three ribbons over? A 1919 Baltic Cross would meet the w/d/w edges... but I don't see that repeated on the other edge f the ribbon. And of course that should be AFTER a Hindenburg Cross, in normal German practice.

But if this guy had TWO frontline awards from WW1, why no swords on his HC?

I suspect the "answer" lies in his bar having been smooshed and he hasn't FIXED it for this very unusual photo.

[McCulloh]

Well I'll be darned!! Thanks Rick, I had given up on getting a response.
I had assumed ribbon #1 was a large Ostmedal and that ribbon #2 (3) was smooshed. I think the edge of the ribbon bar at the left is the metal backing plate peeking through.
Interestingly, I have another photo of a Gefreiter wearing a 25 year LS that I got in Rick Whites' last album feeding-frenzy (man, if you think stuff goes fast from Detlev, you shouldv'e seen last weeks amazing Luftschutz group disappear in under 2 minutes).
Cheers,
JeMc