Parade Mounted WWI & WWII German Long Service Medal ?? What have I got here

[Brent Smith]

Parade Mounted WWI & WWII German Long Service Medal ?? What have I got here ?? Just picked these up with other WWII items from a local US veterans estate

[Brent Smith]

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[Tom Yanacek]

Hi Brent,

Looks like a nice, original medal bar. The guy was a combat veteran of WW1 and one that left the military at the end of WW1 or shortly thereafter. He was not in the military during the Weimar Period. In the early 30s he applied for and received the WW1 Commemoratives for Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria (the last three medals on the bar). In 1934 or 1935 he applied for and received his Hindenburg Cross with Swords in commemoration of his service to Germany in the First World War. He then re-enters the military under the Third Reich, either for patriotic reasons or because he is called up because of prior military experience. But he finds himself back in the military on active duty. He most likely rated the Wehrmacht 4-Year Long Service Medal as soon as he rejoined the military since he would be given retro-active credit for his time served during WW1. My guess is that he rejoined the military sometime between 1936 and 1939 and that is exactly when this medal bar would have been assembled/upgraded.

There should be a silver eagle device attached to the blue ribbon of the Wehrmacht Long Service Medal but that is now missing.

Best regards,
Tom

[stross]

I don't see one in the picture, but is there a shadow or indentation to indicate what type of eagle?

[Brent Smith]

Can't tell what kind of eagle

Best guess just a Army Eagle.

[mailman]

Looks like a hole where one went.
At any rate, still a cool bar!

[Antonio Scapini]

I agree with the guys, a good, nice and original medal bar.

[DTS]

"In the early 30s he applied for and received the WW1 Commemoratives for Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria"

How exactly did one qualify for these? Did you have to serve on their soil? With a unit from that country? Or did just participating in WWI automatically qualify you?

Thanks,

DTS

[Tom Yanacek]

How exactly did one qualify for these? Did you have to serve on their soil? With a unit from that country? Or did just participating in WWI automatically qualify you?

Hi DTS,

The WW1 Commemoratives of the Central Powers were handed out as a courtesy upon application. That would include the Austrian, Hungarian, and Bulgarian Commemoratives. The only exception would be the WW1 Commemorative for Tyrol. To get that one you actually had to prove service on the Italian Front.

Best regards,
Tom

[Sevrin]

Hi DTS,

The WW1 Commemoratives of the Central Powers were handed out as a courtesy upon application. That would include the Austrian, Hungarian, and Bulgarian Commemoratives. The only exception would be the WW1 Commemorative for Tyrol. To get that one you actually had to prove service on the Italian Front.

Best regards,
Tom

Any restrictions on type or area of service for application; or just enough to be a combatant?

Thanks!

jr

[DTS]

Thanks for the quick replies!

DTS

[Sevrin]

The WW1 Commemoratives of the Central Powers were handed out as a courtesy upon application. That would include the Austrian, Hungarian, and Bulgarian Commemoratives.
Best regards,
Tom

Sorry to bump this Tom, but just wanted to understand clearly; one only had to serve (in any capacity?) during WW1, and that was enough to apply for these 3? No specific criteria to be met?

Thanks!

James

[Lambert]

Yes, that´s correct, just WWI service required.

[Ian Hulley]

The Commemorative awards for WWI ...



From the left, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and the Tirol.

Ian

[Jean-Claude]

Beautiful set of commemorative medals Ian

Not sure if it makes sens or if I'm out in left field again...On the original bar I appreciate that both the Bulgarian and the Hungarian medals have the swords integrated in the basic medal design so there is no need for a separate swords device on the ribbon (but swords are
used on ribbon bars for these medals when applicable just like for the Hindenburg cross) however if this individual was entitled to the Hindenburg Cross with swords would'nt he also be entitled to the swords device for the commemorative Austrian medal as well ?

Thanks

JC