NSDAP Long Service Ribbon Bar - Comments

[Chris Taylor]

Here's another new addtition to my collection.
I was studying it after receiving it & started woundering about the NSDAP Long Service device.

I'm fairly confident that it's alright, everything about this bar seems to conform to original examples that I have & have seen, but this is my first NSDAP Ribbon device, and if I think about or study anything to long I can talk myself into or out of almost anything, so I thought I should get some second opinions on it.

Let me know what you think, any comments would be appreciated.

Also, does any one have any specific info on the Königlich Hausorden von Hohenzoller ribbon w/swords (3rd ribbon)? As in what was the criteria for the award & what state awarded it?

Thanks again.

[Chris Taylor]

Close up of the device....

[Chris Taylor]

The back looks un-messed with....

[TJ Suter]

I compared the NSDAP device to an example I own and it looks okay to me.

[Rick Research]

Huhn! The problem is with that third ribbon. It's not a Hohenzollern, but a 1920s unofficial veterans' group piece-- the "Prussian War Honor Cross 1914-1918"-- and that shouldn't be on a post 1934 group.

It happens, sometimes, regulations or not, but with a 1940+ NSDAP award, I don't like it.

[Chris Taylor]

Rick- I was wondering about that ribbon. The sword device didn't really look like it went with the bar to me.

What are the chances of somebody adding this later to enhance value or due to a missing or broken ribbon?

[Rick Research]

It looks to me that two ribbon bars of this style were combined. You can check out the ribbon materials:

the 1920s one is certainly silk, the NSDAP would be synthetic. The other two could be either--and which they match will reveal how many have been switched. The tabs all match?

[Chris Taylor]

Rick- I just noticed that I posted the wrong photo above. The ribbons were not originally in this order.

I know I probably shouldn't have, but I took off the ribbons to examine & check for rust on the bar & must have put the 2nd & 3rd on in the wrong order.

Would this make a difference?

The following photo is how I received it.

Also the tab size, (big), on the EK2 & 1914-18 Honor Cross is different that the tab size, (slightly smaller), on the Prussian War Honor Cross 1914-1918 & the NSDAP LS ribbons.

Could this possibly indicate the combining of different small bars to create a longer one?

Also whats a good way to determine silk from synthetics, burn test?

[Rick Research]

If the individual metal tab backings match each other, chances are just the 1920s ribbon was switched. If its metal backing doesn't match the other three, that "unit" was replaced. Because each ribbon on a detachable tab south German style bar like this was individually made, you'll often find uneveness from one to another, so that is within "specs" and not always a matter for concern.

But-- it can't be on a 1940 bar in any position, since ALL the unofficial 1920s veterans "awards" (almost entirely simply self-purchased "vanity" pieces) were banned after creation of the Hindenburg/Honor Cross.

BTW, you were lucky to get the tabs on and off--and back on again. In my young days playing Doctor Frankenstein I established that once off and back on usually worked-- on unrusted pieces. Twice off works most of the time...but that twice back ON is where the brittle thin elderly tabs snap right off.

I don't mess with anything like this anymore.

Silk is softer, smoother, with a finer "weave" than the coarser, "bumpier" 1930s on synthetics. It's not easy to describe in text, but it's a "touch" and on sight thing. Burn things?! Never!

[Chris Taylor]

Thanks for all the help & info on this one Rick.

I'm having a little trouble getting a definate on the ribbon types, but from what I can tell the NSDAP looks to be different than the other 3.
Well, even if this isn't the original configuration, at least there all real & thats something. I still don't think it's to bad for a $20 investment.

And beleive me, I know how lucky I was to get these on & off with out snapping a tab. It's not something I'm fond of doing for the reason stated, but this one got me going & i'll be damnd if wasn't going to figure it out one way or another.

Thanks again.