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    #1

    Crusade Question

    Gents,
    I am a little confused. The Crusade Against Communism medal - was it only given to Romanians fighting with Germany or to Germans fighting in Romania?

    Marc
    Tags: None
    #2
    Germans fighting with Romainian units too.
    pseudo-expert

    Comment

      #3
      So it was just for combat in Romania - ja? Sorry for my ignorance - I read the WAF site and it is not clear.

      Comment

        #4
        I believe it was also for the fighting in Russia. There were quite a few Romanian units there with the German Army. Many German Officers and NCOs were assigned to Romanian units to provide leadership (or back bone).
        pseudo-expert

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          #5
          hello

          Let me strait this thing out.This medal was given to the soldiers German and Rumanian maybe other German Allies (Italy).This medal was awarded to those who have fought against Russia, or in the East.Exept the medal they received bars , Odesa,Donet,Bug.....and the most valuable Stalingrad.A total of 16 bars I think was given for this kind of medal.In romania after the war ,it was forbitten to wear or to have this medal (you could be in jail because you fought against Russia).

          Ahile

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            #6
            Hi Flak!

            By the way-GREAT book!


            The Crusade medal is the subject of a number of interesting threads in the past now and perhaps many of the photos have evaporated.

            It was, as stated above, awarded to Romanian troops, German troops with some Romanian connection (entire Signals units for example, received it) and also as stated above, perhaps some other Axis/ Italian troops as well (we all await an Italian example to surface or a document to a HiWi or NSKK/RAD member).

            Most of the medals were awarded starting in the late Summer of 1942 according to extant documents and apparently a majority went to units in Army Group South. Medals were also awarded to navy and Luftwaffe units and persons (Sonderfuhrers, nurses, Doctors etc. on Staffs). A goodly number (sans bars) also went to German units inside Romania "helping" their allies.

            Awards ceased in the late Summer of 1944. Award documents have surfaced to Flak (!) Nachtrichthelferinen issued a scant week before Romania capitulated/switched sides, so it seems that it was awarded at Battaliaon level via liason officers award lists made at Divisional level. I have issue documents and forwarding letters from late 1942 that seem to indicate this. It was then passed out at a company level, usually by the CO..
            Medals with bars are typically mentioned in Soldbuchs. More than one bar is unusual and more than two bars is rare.
            The Romanian bronze version of the medal has been dug up in graves at Stalingrad.

            There are two war time issue types: German (Austrian) mint/private made pieces and the Romanian ones. Romanian ones are bronze and have "P. Grant" underneath Ms. Romania's head. German ones lack the artist's name and some were made of tombak and bronze washed. They also were issued with "german" ribbons (straight hanging, not Romanian style with the back hooks).
            Souval also cranked these out post war well into the 1980s for "veterans".
            Kleitman especially liked this medal and wrote several articles about it.
            Attached Files
            Last edited by McCulloh; 09-08-2008, 11:59 AM.

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              #7
              An Stalingrad bar would be a great complement, that's for sure. I've seen some campaign bars for sale (Nipru,Bug...), and not many days ago, I saw one medal for sale with two bars and a packet on e-stand. The Stalingrad bar must be scarce and expensive, am I right?

              Comment

                #8
                very rare indeed-if it was original. The vast , vast majority are not and it was unofficial. it was however, worn and still is by members of this association.
                Attached Files
                Last edited by McCulloh; 09-15-2008, 10:39 AM.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Hungarian if I'm not mistaken...

                  By the way, I've seen the last update of Kai Winkler, and I've come across a rare Crusade medal, in Silver! I've searched the forum for info about that and the conclussion is that it's nothing but a fake or a post war made piece without the broze finish, am I right? I had never seen a Crusade medal in silver indeed...more than 100 EUR for that medal, and actually it's not original...
                  Last edited by Gernika81; 09-12-2008, 09:29 AM.

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                    #10
                    An NCO with the Rumanian Crusade Against Communism medal ribbon on his button hole.
                    Attached Files

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Here is a medal bar with the Rumanian version of the medal (P. Grant) and "CRIMEIA" bar.
                      Attached Files

                      Comment

                        #12
                        WOW - what a bar! Very interesting thread started as I was trying to make a caption on a photo in my book!
                        Marc

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by Gernika81 View Post
                          Hungarian if I'm not mistaken...
                          You are right!

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Yup-Hungarian.
                            It's the only non-German Axis Eastern Front vets' Assn. out there that I know of.
                            There is a "significant", or there was as they are all dieing off these days, number of Romanian vets in the Don organization (moving borders).

                            Hungarians also apparently got the Crusade medal in the war, albeit sparingly.

                            I've never heard of a real silver Crusade medal.

                            Unique is sometimes ........ not good.
                            There ARE fakes of this medal out there: cast crude ones and made of zinc alloy and otherstaybrite versions. I almost bought one @ 5 years ago but the guy wanted $20 for it and that was too much for me for a blatent fake.

                            By the way Brian, I think you photo shows an Austrian Anschluss medal in the button hole- a big one too. Also, I'd wager $100 that the medal bar shown was a navy bar.

                            Also, Kevin Ryan-if you're out there-perhaps you can add some modern Romanian vets pictures (with the medal) to the thread?
                            In Deva, he's met a number of WW2 vets who are still alive and have the medal.
                            Attached Files
                            Last edited by McCulloh; 09-15-2008, 10:52 AM. Reason: add sentences

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Thanks for the aclaration McCulloh. Great pic!

                              Comment

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