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**Colorado** · 04-24-2015, 06:12 AM

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**byterock** · 04-24-2015, 04:25 PM

I would say not. After 70+ years they most likely just fell off or removed at one time and where put back incorrectly.

Unless this was meant to be on a 'tail' coat but which sometimes looks like the medals are backward but this does not look like the case.

**Colorado** · 04-24-2015, 04:42 PM

Thanks.

I am about 99% sure, this is exactly how this was made up pre-WWII. The devices and medals both could not fall off and the stitching is as it was originally placed.

**Tom Yanacek** · 04-24-2015, 05:20 PM

Hi Jeff,

It's hard to be exactly sure what went on with this medal bar. I'm not too concerned about the 4-Year LS being placed before the 12-Year LS. That did happen on occasion and may have been a simple mistake or confusion in interpreting the regulations. The higher class should always take precedence, of course, but sometimes the regulations were a bit vague and left things open to interpretation. Wording such as, "placed according to class and, within class, by date of award" can become confusing. And what exactly does, "by date of award" mean? Does that mean that the one awarded first is worn first or does it mean the one most recently awarded is worn first?

As you say, this may have been put together in 1936, when the Wehrmacht LS Decorations were first instituted and therefore not everyone was aware of the proper placement.

Below is an example of a completely original medal bar that has the Wehrmacht 4-Year LS Medal incorrectly placed before the Wehrmacht 18-Year LS Cross. So, for whatever the reason, things like this did happen.

Best regards,
Tom

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**Tom Yanacek** · 04-24-2015, 05:47 PM

Hello again Jeff,

I can also understand byterock's concerns because it looks like your bar has had a hard life.

IMO this is not a Frackschnalle for the civilian tuxedo dress. Although that would certainly explain the reverse order of the medals, this is definitely a standard parade mount for a military uniform.

What I do question is why the medals are hanging so low on this bar. On this type of medal bar, with the large rosettes, the medals were supposed to rest on top of the rosettes and not hang down partly below them. The suspension rings of the medals would have originally been tucked under the ribbons and the hooks would have been hidden under the ribbons as well. In other words, this bar has been treated roughly over the years (and I'm not trying to say that it happened while in your care). Obviously, the backing cloth is long gone and somebody was tugging on the medals and may have even removed them since they are apparently only attached by hooks. It also looks like all the padding, meant to puff up the ribbons, has been removed too.

The medal bar pictured below is what yours would have looked like before it was mistreated. This specific style of medal bar has large rosettes and the medal were meant to rest atop the rosettes.

Best regards,
Tom

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**Sevrin** · 04-24-2015, 06:22 PM

Nice

Those are some nice bars Tom!

**pagannz** · 04-24-2015, 07:13 PM

I think the medals are hanging low due too someone running cotton thread through the ribbons and pulling a we bit to tight.
The ribbon looks to scrunched up in the first photo, hence the "tight cotton theory"

**Colorado** · 04-24-2015, 07:27 PM

Thank you Tom and everyone else for the nice photos and responses.

The medals are in excellent shape, but the ribbons as was stated, were tugged on a few too many times. It was a bottom of the duffelbag find so it's a wonder the threads stayed together.

I was going to list for sale, but wanted this anomaly discussed first.

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12 and 4 Year Heer Medal Bar - Medals Placed in Reverse Order? Opinions Please

12 and 4 Year Heer Medal Bar - Medals Placed in Reverse Order? Opinions Please

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