Oberst Schmidt's Medal Bar

[Gary B]

Here is a nice medal bar to an officer who served in both WWI and WWII. Although it is identified, his common name makes it impossible to find out more information about him. The bar itself is one of the best constructed bars I have seen/owned. All of the individual medals (except the last one) are sewn down tightly so there is no "swing". The bar itself is curved to conform to the recipient's chest.

Gary B

[Gary B]

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[Mark P]

WOW!! that is an amazing bar. Thank you sharing your collection, regards Mark

[Antonio Scapini]

That's another amazing set Gary, it is one of the most beautiful and mint I have ever seen. Thanks for showing us this beauty!

[Iam Al Bandy]

Very very beautiful medal bar! Congratulations!! Great piece!

[Klaus O.]

Hi Gary,

I remember vividly to have seen this bar years ago (maybe 10-12 years ago, can't remember exactly), in a show in Southern Germany (Illingen, nowadays there no more militaria shows there). I was tempted to buy it, but hesitated. Afterwards I regretted it, because I wasn't able to purchase much back then.

It's a bit a weird combination for a senior officer (no enamaled or officer grade WWI decorations); in WWI was clearly a mere NCO (Prussian long service award cross for NCOs) and after he rose to become a Oberst/Colonel, if we believe that the name written on the back of the paper support is the real one.

I think that the bar is really a great one, brand-new, never worn and really well constructed, professionally. To do a research based on this combination is practically impossible. Maybe it would be advisable to see if this colonel is somewhere to be found in the archives in Washington where they kept data on such high offiers. Schmidt, like Smith, is a very common family name in Germany, though.

Just for the info: the addittion of the Prussian LS cross before the WH-LS awards wasn't really consented (it went against the rules), but I saw many bars like this one... maybe the wearers were really proud of their pre-1918 service or just wanted their medal bars to be a bit "longer", for showing off... ;-)

Thanks for showing us... it brought me memories back... ;-)

ciao,

Claudio

[Gary B]

Hi Gary,

I remember vividly to have seen this bar years ago (maybe 10-12 years ago, can't remember exactly), in a show in Southern Germany (Illingen, nowadays there no more militaria shows there). I was tempted to buy it, but hesitated. Afterwards I regretted it, because I wasn't able to purchase much back then.

It's a bit a weird combination for a senior officer (no enamaled or officer grade WWI decorations); in WWI was clearly a mere NCO (Prussian long service award cross for NCOs) and after he rose to become a Oberst/Colonel, if we believe that the name written on the back of the paper support is the real one.

I think that the bar is really a great one, brand-new, never worn and really well constructed, professionally. To do a research based on this combination is practically impossible. Maybe it would be advisable to see if this colonel is somewhere to be found in the archives in Washington where they kept data on such high offiers. Schmidt, like Smith, is a very common family name in Germany, though.

Just for the info: the addittion of the Prussian LS cross before the WH-LS awards wasn't really consented (it went against the rules), but I saw many bars like this one... maybe the wearers were really proud of their pre-1918 service or just wanted their medal bars to be a bit "longer", for showing off... ;-)

Thanks for showing us... it brought me memories back... ;-)

ciao,

Claudio

Thanks to all for the comments.

Claudio, I purchased this bar from a friend in Germany about 9 years ago, so your memory is correct! I agree ref the wearing of the Prussian LS award. He was probably very proud of his service as an NCO in WWI and did not care for the new regulations. Interesting to me, is that the ribbons for the LS awards are different for the Prussian LS and TR LS awards. Attention to detail was a mark of this medal bar tailor. It is probably the highest quality bar in my collection.

Gary B

[McCulloh]

With a 25 year LS medal as well as a Brunswick cross he MUST be in the Weimar rank lists. Can Paul find him?