Imperial Medal Bars with Wehrmacht Long Service Decorations

[Tom Yanacek]

Very nice Tom!

Here is the matching ribbon bar. What colour is the backing on your medal bar?

Kind regards
Pierce

Hi Pierce,

Nice ribbon bar. You should give that to me since I have its matching medal bar.

The medal bar has dark blue wool backing. Here is a picture of the reverse.

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

This bar shows many subtle indications that it has been mounted together for a long time. Although these indicators are not proof positive that the bar was assembled during the Third Reich Period, they certainly make a strong case for it.

In the photo below, notice the spot of corrosion to the 12-Year Long Service Medal. This was caused by metal on metal contact between the Long Service Cross and Long Service Medal.

[Tom Yanacek]

In this photo, you can see rust transfer to the ribbon of the Hindenburg Cross, caused by contact with the sword tip of the medal.

[Tom Yanacek]

Here you can see surface rust to the Wehrmacht long service eagle (made of iron) and rust staining to the ribbon in the immediate area of the eagle.

[Tom Yanacek]

In this last photo, you can see rust staining to the upper left of the Iron Cross ribbon. This was caused by ribbon contact with the steel backing plate and occurred from the underside of the ribbon, eventually bleeding through to the outside.

Notice also the subtle age browning discernible on the whites of the ribbons.

[luftkrieg]

With Crown Order Medal.

[luftkrieg]

38.

[RonR]

Coming into this marvelous thread kind of late.


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[RonR]

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[luftkrieg]

Coming into this marvelous thread kind of late.


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I knew you would have something nice to post Ron!!

Best regards
Pierce

[Tom Yanacek]

A new one for me:

This one has Oberst/Generalmajor written all over it!

[luftkrieg]

A new one for me:

This one has Oberst/Generalmajor written all over it!

Wonderful Tom! Thanks for posting. A Max Show find?

Best regards
Pierce

[Tom Yanacek]

Wonderful Tom! Thanks for posting. A Max Show find?

Best regards
Pierce

Hello Pierce,

Thanks for your comments! Yes, this was a find from this weekends MAX Show. When I bought the bar, the Silver Hessen Bravery Medal was missing and a zinc Prussian Cross for War Aid was hanging in its place. I then scoured over the show until I found a loose Hessen Bravery Medal to buy, so that I could restore the bar to its original condition. You would think that it would be easy to find a Silver Hessen Bravery Medal at a big show like the MAX. However, it took a lot of searching before I finally found one. The search paid off and I am very happy that I could restore the bar. I think it looks great, now.

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

Here is one from the SOS this weekend: A four-placer with the Waldeck-Pyrmont Merit Cross 4.Class.

[Tom Yanacek]

and the reverse: