Service Award

[Rick Research]

Luftwaffe ribbon bars. These all happen to be 25 and 12, double gold eagles.

[Rick Research]

It is not possible to tell simply from the eagles whether the wearer was in the army or navy. that can only be told if the officer's group is traceable.

The top bar is a 40 (two gold eagles with wreath under first one), and all the others are 25s (two gold eagles). Note the variety of styles of eagle devices.

The ribbon bar 6th from bottom is the top row of a two row set, and the bottom ribbon bar is the bottom row of a two rows ribbon bar.

The Wehrmacht long service awards were last awarded in 1940 for paperwork turned in by 1939, so NO time after 1939 was counted and NO further awards were made for the rest of the war. On that basis, it is impossible to find someone with the 25 and 12 who did NOT serve in World War One!

[Rick Research]

Here are 18s, 12s, and 4s. Many recalled WW1 veterans who rejoined the armed forces in the mid 1930s had these grades of awards, since their former Imperial military service was counted. Younger military personnel who had joined AFTER the First World War got up to whatever grade they had received as of 1939.

[R. Spaulding]

Where was it worn for everyday wear?

[Bruce Simcox]

Hi Rick......

......I always enjoy it when you post some of your medal and ribbon bars for us to get a gander at, over here in T.R. The explanations, by Chris and yourself, gave me a better understanding of how to interpret these decorations.

My compliments gentlemen.

-------------------------

Bruce

[Laurence Strong]

OK Rick, How come the 25 year in post #5 is all by its self where is the 12 year or the 40 year?

[Gerd Becker]

Laurence,

the civil service awards (25, 40 and 50 years) were worn single at the medalbar and at the ribbonbar. You can see them sometimes with other long-service-awards, but you often find them single on a bar.

best,
Gerd

[Laurence Strong]

Thanks Gerd. So the civilian awards could be worn as single's, and the armed forces one's were paired up, with no exceptions?

[J Temple-West]

On a particular 'Friday frenzy' I picked up this 3 bar.. In my haste I mistook the 12 year service (due to its light colour) for a 4 year.. Now, I've posted this bar and received no thoughts on It, so, if I may, I'll put the question again..

Does anyone have any Idea if a civil award, of say 4 year long service (in this case the Customs service medal, shown) could be worn on a bar instead of the 4 year KM/Heer service medal that should be there?

I realize that the order of awards should be 12,4, 1st OCt, Customs, but could the above, in anyway apply?

[J Temple-West]

reverse....

[Rick Research]

I think what you have there was a CONFUSED Customs employee!

As a former army/navy 12 year career enlistee whose time ran out 1937-39 and went into the Zollgrenzschutz, when he subsequently qualified for the CUSTOMS long service, he may have THOUGHT "three was too many" and INCORRECTLY replaced his previous 1936 military "4" with the Customs 4!

That's all-- a Period Mistake. He should indeed have worn 12 and 4 from Wehrmacht, then Customs 4 and the Sudeten.

Oddly enough, Customs personnel with 25+ years time in by 1938 got the CIVIL SERVICE long service crosses-- and then when their own branch-specific awards were created in 1939 "double dipped" and ALSO received this "lesser time" medal-- AFTERWARDS!!!! But don't go there. The Nightmare Of Customs shouldn't derail Wehrmacht versus Civil Service! (Time in the military counted towards Civil Service Crosses, but time in the civil service did NOT count for military long services... Brain Hurts!!!! )

Three long service (I know what the full size bar is, the group was split ) = Imperial XV, 1938 Civil Service 25, and 1939 Customs--for continuous service from 1911!

[J Temple-West]

Many thanks, Rick.. The very answer I was looking for.

It would seem that these customs geezers were just as confused, then as they are now..
Apologies to any members who are Customs officers..