Long Service Ribbon

[pzrwest]

Here is a picture of both his medal bars. The grey ribbon on the top bar for the long service medal is actually a faded blue ribbon. Ed had the medals on a wall and exposed to sunlight which faded the blue ribbon

[pzrwest]

Here are a couple pics of the reverse sides of the medal bars

[pzrwest]

I have some thoughts on this second medal bar. From talking with Ed, he told me his dad was a civilian employee working on the west wall. He had ended WW1 as an officer with a construction battalion. I'm assumeing that he had the second bar made before he received the faithful service cross and it had the veterns medal, long service cross, west wall medal, and the Austrian medal on the bar. Then he was awarded the faithful service cross and moved the long service cross to the end of the bar remmoveing the Austrian medal and put the faithful service medal in the long service cross's place. Does this make sense?

[Valter Gorenc]

Yes, that certainly makes sense. The reverse of the bars looks legit to me. The 4-place bar is constructed in older style, usually used in WW1 or before, not the "modular construction" which was much more common during WW2, but OK, that could be possible. If i understood right, both bars are from the same man? Then the whole precedence thing is different. The man first prucased the first bar, with his two WW1 bravery awards, long service medal (I would assume he was reserve officer), Hindy and hungarian memorial medal. This bar is completely in accordance with regulations from 1939.

(see here: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/rela...ulations39.htm )

Then, when he got additional decorations, he didn't order a new bigger bar to incorporate all his medals, but just another bar with his new medals (austrian memorial, Westwall); but veteran's medal still doesn't fit here - these medals were forbidden during 3rd reich and he surely purcased it before 1934. Also, if he accumulated additional army service years (and he didn't as you say he was civilian employee), he would get the new wehrmacht long service award, not imperial long service cross. The first bar was clearly made not before 1934 (Hindenburg cross), yet it bears imperial long service medal, not cross. The imperial long service cross could be from someone else, or your man unofficially purcased one and put on the bar, assuming he is entitled to wear it for whatever reason. Completely out of order still, but not impossible.

What the more experienced guys think about these bars and my theories?

[pzrwest]

I have his shoulder boards and sword knot on the display as well. Whether he was a reserve officer or regular officer I can't say. He did work his way up through the ranks. Ed said his dad joined the army at an unteroffizier schulle(sp) so he didn't start out as a private. Would there be any indication on the shoulder boards? They backed in red material. There is evidence that there was either cyphers or rank stars on the boards. Getting back to the long service cross what I think I will do is put a piece of blue ribbon on it and leave the faithful service cross where it is and just add the Austrian medal to the red/white ribbon. Then just add the long service medal and ribbon to the display by it's self

[pzrwest]

Here are a few pics of one of the shoulder straps, is this a regular officers strap or reserve officers strap. As for the cypher or stars have no idea what was there

[pzrwest]

Well the Austrian medal has arrived and a wound badge as well. I added these two items to the display. I am now going to see if his grandson still has the mini EKII so it can be put back on the mini medal chain to complete the display as it once was. Now my question is should I put the faithful service back on the bar or leave it on the piece of blue ribbon or put the long service cross on the piece of blue ribbon? Here is a pic of how the display looks now( this display was assembled by Edgar(uboot vet) the man's son)

[SCOTT G]

Hi Harold nice display
But notice on the mini chain a Friedrich August Cross ,yet this is not on either ribbon bar?

[pzrwest]

The mini cross second from the left on the chain is actually the reverse side of the faithful service cross. It is on backwards because Edgar's father had de-Nazified the cross by filling off the swastika. If you like I can take a pic of the reverse side of the cross to show the modification. I'm assuming that after WW2 he only wore the medal chain in public with the modified cross to comply with the laws of not wearing any medals with a swastika on them

[SCOTT G]

Sorry Harold my mistake Now you mention it and viewing on the large monitor{not the laptop}can clearly see that the centre is square not round.
Still dosn't change first statement of "NICE COLLLECTION/DISPLAY" pass my congradulations onto Edgar...And I do hope you can find or replace the mini EK2

[pzrwest]

This display was given to me by Egar a few years ago. He said he was going to put it in his will that when he died it would come to me. Edgar will be 90 on his birthday this coming March. He is a vetern from WW2 having served in the uboot service. When I told him it would be a sad day when I got this display, he asked me why and I replied you won't be here anymore Edgar. Which he walked over to his memorial and took down the display and handed it to me. I am proud to be the custodian of this display. I was once asked how much I wanted for the mini medal chain at a show and I replied $600.00, to which the person refused. When I told Edgar about it he said why didn't you sell it for a lower price and I replied it would never be for sale as long as I'm alive. I never sell anything anyone gives me. Anyways enough for now hoping Volker(Edgar's son) still has the mini EKII and lets me reunite it with the rest of the display

[SCOTT G]

Harold you are truely a lucky man to be so fortunate to know such a great man as Edgar comes across as being best of luck with the mini EK2 hope you are able to reunite it with the chain
Finish with saying Merry Christmas to you and yours

[pzrwest]

Same to you Scott and all the rest of the members here on WAF ein Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr