Interesting Ribbon Bar Photo

[Chris Taylor]

I was getting together a grouping of Luftwaffe photos I was considering parting with, (but I might not now), and came across a ribbon bar that peaked my curiosity. These photos are all of the same NCO throughout the war.

First off I'm not sure of the 6 ribbons on this bar, but I believe they are as follows (any help on this would be appreciated):


Austria Bravery medal

Austria Karl troop cross

Bremen Hanseatic Cross

Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (1939)
Bremisches Hanseatenkreuz

Austrian War Service (only with swords)

1. Oktober 1938 w/Prague Castle


Or could the 3rd ribbon be:


Saxony Honour cross

Now, the 2 things that caught my eye.

First If this was the Bremen Hanseatic Cross, which would make him one of 20,000 recipients, would there be any way to narrow down who this is by this award. I know it's a long shot, but I was just wondering.

The other, as shown in the photo below, is how his ribbon bar was corrected & the Bremen Hanseatic Cross (or Saxony Honour cross) was moved from the 3rd position to the 5th position.

An interesting example of trying to conform to the ever changing rules regarding ribbon placement.

The first photo was taken in April 1941 & the 2nd (in the helmet) was taken in Feb 1942.

Let me know what you guys think.

[Chris Taylor]

Here's an on top comparison of the 2 bars.

I'd love some feedback on this guys.

[McCulloh]

I would be flabbergasted if that was a Bremen Hansa cross. This looks a lot like an ex- Austrian NCO.
I think its a wound medal (karl) with 2 wound stripes.
Perhaps Ricky Smudgemeister will discern truth through the veil of greyish fuzz.

[Chris Taylor]

Thanks, I too think the Bremen is a long shot, but just couldn't figure out what else it looked like, except the Saxon ribbon above.

Also I think my assumption about the KVK is wrong, I believe it's a 1914-18 Cross-

[David S]

I vote for the wound medal as well.

To be the Bremen there would have to be better spacing on the L & R edge stripes (to show four). And yes that is a HK not a KVK . . . placement is everything.

[Klaus O.]

Hi guys,

I agree... to me is this the combination...

Ciao,

Claudio

[Rick Research]

Bingo! Claudio's got it.

Wherever the colored ribbons came from, Chris, that first "Austrian War Service" up in post number 1 is actually for their 1914 Red Cross awards.

[Chris Taylor]

Thanks guys for all your help on this.

Claudio- thanks for the illustration, it really makes it clear.

Rick- My fault on the Austrian ribbon, I copied the wrong one.
It should have been this one:

Austria
Österreichische Kriegserinnerungs-Medaille mit Schwertern auf dem Bande (1932)

They came from the website RIBBONS OF ORDERS AND DECORATIONS OF THE WORLD. Here's the link to their 3rd Reich ribbon section http://www.medals.lava.pl/de/de3.htm .

Overall, I find it a pretty helpful site, being that I can't quite name all the Imperial & pre-war ribbons on sight yet (but I'm tryin' ).