Funky medal bar

[Bergflak]

This medal bar grouping came from the same lot. Could they (both) have been worn by the same man? The officer fought in both wars.

There is a eagle missing from the blue band (I guess). What are the different medal bars?

[Tom Yanacek]

This medal bar grouping came from the same lot. Could they (both) have been worn by the same man? The officer fought in both wars.

There is a eagle missing from the blue band (I guess). What are the different medal bars?

Hello,

These two bars did not belong to the same man.

The three-placer is to an enlisted man from the Kingdom of Saxony. It consists of the Prussian 1914 Iron Cross Second Class, the Saxon Friedrich-August Medal, and the Hindenburg Cross with swords.

The five-placer is to a commissioned officer from the Kingdom of Württemberg. It consists of the Prussian 1914 Iron Cross Second Class, the 1939 War Merit Cross Second Class with swords, the Württemberg Military Merit Order-Knight's Cross, the Hindenburg Cross with swords, and a long service ribbon of some sort. It may have had a silver eagle device on the ribbon, representing a Wehrmacht 4-Year Long Service Medal or perhaps a device for the 25-Year Faithful Civil Service Decoration.

The five-placer is really nice, even with the missing long service device. There were only 2,183 Württemberg Military Merit Order-Knight's Crosses awarded in WW1.

Best regards,
Tom

[Don D.]

Could it not also be the Gold Military Merit Medal?

[Tom Yanacek]

Could it not also be the Gold Military Merit Medal?

Hi Don,

The Golden Military Merit Medal would be represented by an all-metal, plain gold wreath. The Military Merit Order was represented by metal wreath, but having vitreous enamel leaves.

Best regards,
Tom

[Volksgrenadier 44]

Hello,

These two bars did not belong to the same man.

The three-placer is to an enlisted man from the Kingdom of Saxony. It consists of the Prussian 1914 Iron Cross Second Class, the Saxon Friedrich-August Medal, and the Hindenburg Cross with swords.

The five-placer is to a commissioned officer from the Kingdom of Württemberg. It consists of the Prussian 1914 Iron Cross Second Class, the 1939 War Merit Cross Second Class with swords, the Württemberg Military Merit Order-Knight's Cross, the Hindenburg Cross with swords, and a long service ribbon of some sort. It may have had a silver eagle device on the ribbon, representing a Wehrmacht 4-Year Long Service Medal or perhaps a device for the 25-Year Faithful Civil Service Decoration.

The five-placer is really nice, even with the missing long service device. There were only 2,183 Württemberg Military Merit Order-Knight's Crosses awarded in WW1.

Best regards,
Tom

Your knowledge is frightening Tom

Nice bars anyway

Ross

[Don D.]

My bad Tom. You are of course, correct. I've been travelling and could not access my files.

[Tom Yanacek]

Hi Don,

What a wonderful medal bar, ribbon bar, and stickpin grouping that is. Thanks for posting it.

Here are some things I didn't realize about the Württemberg Golden Military Merit Medal:

When the Golden Military Merit Medal was instituted in 1800, it was a decoration strictly for commissioned officers. Then, in 1806, eligibility was extended to NCOs. In 1818, the Golden Military Merit Medal became a decoration solely for NCOs and enlisted ranks below NCO were eligible for the Silver Military Merit Medal.

Apparently, sometime around the start of WW1, commissioned officers were again made eligible for the Golden Military Merit Medal. During WW1, there were about 4,234 awards of the Golden Military Merit Medal. Of that number, 1,832 were awarded to commissioned officers and almost all of those were to Leutnante and Oberleutnante. (These award numbers were according to Dr. Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann.)

Best regards,
Tom