Medal Ribbon Photo Question

[Paul B]

A photo from my collection showing a decorated officer wearing the tailored type Bluse with pleated breast pockets. A nice shot in it's own right, but notice the method of wearing the ribbons for the EKII and another award by passing them through the pocket button-hole. The ribbons also appear to be of the size found on the undress ribbon bar.

This is a new one on me...have any of the many people on this forum waaay more knowledgable on medals and awards ever seen this before? was it a common practice? Any ideas on what the other ribbon is?

I've no idea which unit this officer belonged to. Many thanks in advance.
All the best

Paul.

[Paul B]

Extreme close-up...

Closer...

[stogieman]

seen rarely!

This type of fashion statement for ribbons is not unique, but it is quite rare to see. I'll go through my albums. I believe I have exactly one photo like this. Tough part is figuring out what the second ribbon is.

[J Howland]

The ribbon is probably the Wurttemburg "Tapferkeits-Medaille" associated with its Militar Verdienst Orden. The only reason that I say "probably" is that you're dealing with a photo from a time period where film could still sometimes register ribbons that were predominately yellow as solid black...

Jim

[Paul B]

Thanks

Thanks for the response, gents. As Jim rightly says, identifying the second ribbon is very difficult due to the distorted way in which black and white photograohy captures certain colours -I've seen yellow collar and cuff litzen appear a dark, almost black colour.

It's certainly a bit of a fashion-statement, as Rick says, and one I've never seen before. By the way Rick, did you get my details OK?

All the best

Paul.

[Rick Research]

I suspect from the proportions of stripes that the second ribbon may be a Hessian General Decoration/ aka Bravery Medal, with the pale blue washed out looking "white." But unless you can read his board devices or there is some other clue, this is a toughie.

This style was common in 1918+ because the wearers didn't like slapping a ribbon on the front of their button-less Blusen.

This fellow had to have held a world record-- FIVE! ;eek: !!! (1920)

1914 EK at left, a solid color (probably Saxe-Weimar White Falcon), straight down from button and NOT partially overlapped the Silesian Eagle 2nd( notice how dark the yellow looks!), another but different solid color looking, and what is probably a Saxe-Ernestine House Order/Medal.

[Rick Research]

Here's a group of avaiation NCOs from the fall of 1918:

[Rick Research]

The Vizefeldwebel pilot is wearing EK2 and Baden MM Medal from his buttonhole... as well as a CUT OUT wound badge... the first pre-1919 example I've ever seen!

[Rick Research]

Closer. Why they just didn't wear a NORMAL ribbon bar....

But this war's end "fashion statement" style is, I'd venture, what encouraged 1934's NSDAP 1923 "Blood Order" wearing style... on the other pocket.

[Wood]

Rick,
Apart from the cut out wound badge, it is also the first clear pic I've seen of an air gunners badge in wear (to his left)
Regards,
Wood