The German Ostsee Division Bars and Groupings

[Dansson]

This thread is dedicated to so called Finlandkämpfers 1918.


I have decided to do a thread which concentrates on the German Ostsee Division, which fought in Finland 1918. Within German Collecting, this is my main course in it and would love to see others items and have discussion about it!

Any support for this idea, would be if you post a picture of the grouping or the bar


I can begin with one attributed bar I have and if interest is shown, I will post the rest and keep updating it, helping with research and take actively part in discussion




Here is a 4-place Medalbar for a member of the Ostsee Division, which fought in Finland 1918!

The medalbar is attributed to Wachtmeister Richard Steiner, a soldier in the Sächsisches-Karabiner Regiment. It's a really beautiful small medalbar which is mounted in a Saxonian style.

it has;

• The Sächsisches Ehrenkreuz mit Schwerten, for gallantry in War
• The Preussisches Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse, to recognize bravery above the call of duty, in front of the enemy
• The Finnish Cross of Liberty 1918 3rd Class with Swords (Vapaudenristin 3.lk miekoilla), the highest award in Finland 1918 to be awarded to NCO's or Junior Officers (The higher grades were pure Officer awards). Awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or excellent leadership in battle, only 971 awarded.
• (These were handed out more easy to Germans in 1918 than Finns)
• The Commemorative Medal of the Freedomwar 1918

3/4 awards for bravery on this bar, not a useless NCO to have in the Company
The Cross of Liberty 3rd class is very unusual to see on a NCO bar.

[Claudius]

Hello Dansson;

This is an outstanding bar!

I have a tried the past to bid on these kinds of bars when they come up for auction and have always been outbid.

Thank you for showing it here. Please display more German/Finland groups and give the background on the gentleman and his circumstances.

In the meantime, can you show us more photos of this bar? Straight on and reverse side.

[Dansson]

Thank you Claudius!

My Ostsee Division collection consists so far of one grouping and 5 medalbars.
All can be seen in my Collection thread, I personally hope this thread will be alive, full of discussion and pictures

Not the easiest items to find, without mentioning JB27 items, almost pricless in Finland. I yet miss a JB27 grouping/bar

[Coburg]

Superb bar
Jim

[Dansson]

Superb bar
Jim

Didn't you have an Ostsee-Div. Bar?

[Coburg]

Here it is. It is still in my collection
Jim

[tompress]

.... and here you can read the book by Rüdiger von der Goltz about his expedition in Finland and Baltic States

https://archive.org/details/meinesendunginfi00golt

greetings
Tomasz