3rd Reich medal bars

[Chris Boonzaier]

I had replaced the medal on the extreme right because the funny cross that came loose withthe group did not seem to fit, (see Ricks thread below), so I found this medal (extreme right) with the same ribbon and put it on the bar.
Now I see the cross actually does belong there and nhave restored the bar... and have no idea what the medal on the right is.
Should it have a blue and silver ribbon at all ?

[Rick Research]

That is the "all purpose" Bulgarian War Ribbon on the end--lots of peacetime things that had their own statutory ribbons remained the same but went to this ribbon for wartime merit awards.

This particular Silver Merit Medal (there was a grade with crown, and bronzes with and without crown) couldn't go on this WW2 bar, since Tsar Ferdinand abdicated in 1918. His son Boris III then came to the throne--a cleanshaved bust with a huge protruding Adam's apple appears on his medals.

Hey--all that matters is that Life Saving Medal!!!!

[Klaus O.]

Chris,

Interesting bar... I would definitely change the last Bulgarian medal with the "bulgarisches Tapferkeitskreuz in Silber", since was worn with the same ribbon. It's quite a common cross. The "Rettungsmedaille" is particularly interesting. Too bad that wasn't that good looking, although it was sparely given.

The Iron Cross 2nd class seems to be the "Schinkelform" type, the early style IC with more elegant and slimmer arms. Could you confirm me that?


Ciao,

Claudio

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,
The original to the bar bravery cross is back on it, as I had said in an earlier thread, it had come off at some stage and I had it laying around, not knowng it belonged on there.

Yup, its a shinkle cross, awarded in september 39 for Poland.

The complete group (one of my all time favourites consists of this bar, EK1, German cross in gold, bronze close cbt, bronze panzer assault, black and silver wound and the sports badge.

With the life saving medal (rarér than oakleaves... by quite a stretch) came a superb typed on a double sheet thick paper, commendation by the head of the army for his brave rescue and congratulations for the award of the medal.

What I love about the group is that he was with the 2nd Panzer divisions (rated by the allies at the time to be THE best panzer division, SS included.

As part of the 2nd Panzer div he took part in poland, was the first division to reach the coast when going through France, spearheaded the way in Greece, made it furtherest east in Russia (his Batallion was the one that made it into Moscows suburbs) fought like crazy in Normandy, made more headway than any other unit in the Mortain counter offensive, and outran all other units in the Battle of the bulge....
And died by falling of a scafold while working in a brewery in the early 50s....

The group has all the docs (except the Bulgarian one) and medlas.
The interesting thing (guesswork here) is that the medals he would have had on him when captured are not there.
Medal bar and DKiG are in good shape and were at home. Black wound badge, not needed so left at home. Broken CCbt snapped in two pieces (thank god for super glue!), EK1 with broken needle, Panzer assault with broken hook... the pieces that were at home.
Missing is what he would have had with him, cloth DKiG etc.