trophies/relics of ribbon suspended medals

[Biber]

Can anyone suggest an explanation as to why there seems to be so many ribbon suspended medals found (esp. as battle trophies), when only the ribbon was generally worn?

just curious

B

[Robert P.]

Can anyone suggest an explanation as to why there seems to be so many ribbon suspended medals found (esp. as battle trophies), when only the ribbon was generally worn?

just curious

B

Most of the medals are found with partial ribbons. It was customary for soldiers to cut the ribbons in two pieces; one half for his tunic's button hole and one for the medal. I hope this helps. This practice was done with medals such as the EKII, the Ost and the KVKII, to name a few.

[streptile]

Most of the medals are found with partial ribbons. It was customary for soldiers to cut the ribbons in two pieces; one half for his tunic's button hole and one for the medal. I hope this helps. This practice was done with medals such as the EKII, the Ost and the KVKII, to name a few.

Honestly, I've wondered the same thing, and this explanation does help explain it.

Thanks.

[Mainemilitaria]

The reason so many unmounted medals were picked up is because most came either out of factories or depots (unissued) or out of homes durning the occupation period.....and the reason so many have short ribbons is either the German recipiant cut the ribbon for his buttonhole or the previous collector or the dealer "cut" it so he could have an extra ribbon section for a ribbonless medal.

Durning the occupation some GIs were given (or sold) boxes of Medals & badges to have as souviners (I've had 3 boxes that came out of the Daumer Factory) and many so called "Salesman's Sample boards" (of medals) were actually assembled to give (or sell) to the GIs....just like many had selection of confiscated Daggers, Mausers, etc..... you don't imagine they picked them up in Combat, do you? 90% of the souviners brought home came out durning the occupation.....

John G.
Mainemilitaria

[Robert P.]

The reason so many unmounted medals were picked up is because most came either out of factories or depots (unissued) or out of homes durning the occupation period.....and the reason so many have short ribbons is either the German recipiant cut the ribbon for his buttonhole or the previous collector or the dealer "cut" it so he could have an extra ribbon section for a ribbonless medal.

Durning the occupation some GIs were given (or sold) boxes of Medals & badges to have as souviners (I've had 3 boxes that came out of the Daumer Factory) and many so called "Salesman's Sample boards" (of medals) were actually assembled to give (or sell) to the GIs....just like many had selection of confiscated Daggers, Mausers, etc..... you don't imagine they picked them up in Combat, do you? 90% of the souviners brought home came out durning the occupation.....

John G.
Mainemilitaria

I would agree with both of these statements to a large degree. Regarding the 'sample boards', I grew up with a friend whose dad worked in supply during the occupation. He sent home trunks full of these 'boards' plus many other items of worth.

[adlerfan53]

I believe many of the awards were sold to the GI's came off of boards. The awards had short ribbons and sometimes had pinholes through the ribbons.
The EK2 did orginally come with a long piece of ribbon that was cut. One for wear on the tunic and the other for the medal itself. I think the same goes for the westwall and Ost medal.

[Biber]

I guess that explains a lot, but I still don't inderstand why you would ever find a ground-dug EKII or campaign medal. Did they keep their medals with them when they went into combat? Can't imagine there would be any need for a dress inspection (why else would you need them?) during the push for Stalingrad. Were they simply awarded in such numbers in the field that most recipients kept them in their pockets? It just seems strange to me.

B