5.-
1st class.
1st class.
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6.-
1st class 1937. No markings.
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7.-
1st class.
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8.-
1st class.
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9.-
1st class.
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10.-
1st class with Star. Marked "1" on the fan.
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11.-
Grand Cross.
12.-
Grand Cross without swords.
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13.-
1st class. Marked "1" on the fan.
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About the Eagle Ordes I posted I can be 100% sure of the provenance of two of them: the "Grand Cross" (belonged to an ancestor of mine) and the "1st Class with Star" (belonged to an ancestor of a family very close to mine). The rest I got them as I show them except in any case that I will say.
#10.- 1st class with Star.
Box and its contents match or so they were presented. Six pointed Star with silver content "900" and maker mark "21". Neck Cross with silver content "900" and maker mark "21", also number "1" on the fan. Inside the case: "Orden vom Deutschen Adler. Verdienstkreuz mit Stern". War ended before the award document ever reached the recipient.
#11.- Grand Cross with Swords.
Box and its contents match or so they were presented. Eight pointed Star with silver content "900", no maker mark. Sash Badge with siver mark "900", no maker mark. Award document dated "BERLIN-DEN 22 MAI 1939. Was not presented to the recipient before 1941.Comment
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#13.-
Attribuited to a finland officer and no reason to doubt about it knowing the person from who it came, in fact it came with a complete set of finland and german awards. Silver mark "900", maker mark "21" and number "1" on the fan.Comment
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#9.-
Nothing about the provenance. Silver mark "900", no maker mark, no number "1".
#8.-
Came with an extense lot (medals, uniforms, documents and other items) to a Spanish Air Force General. Swords added period time, silver mark "900", maker mark "21", no number "1".Comment
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#7.-
Nothing about the provenance. Silver mark "900", no maker mark, no number "1".
#5.-
Nothing about the provenance. Don´t know 100% about the case-cross matching but also no reason to doubt about it. Silver mark "900", no maker mark, no number "1".Comment
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aenobarbo-
Thank you for these pictures. Very helpful. You have a lovely collection and I yearn for your Grand Cross!
I have since discovered a fair amount of skepticism among some very advanced collectors about Angolia's interpretation of the fan marks. For that matter, his implication that the transition in 1943 was sudden and complete is also questionable -- it seems that there are a number of transitional pieces as current inventory was used up on both cases and medals.
Thanks everyone for an interesting thread.
WesComment
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stunners all! thanx for the pix posts and information, no matter that it's not categorical...Comment
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After going through the majority of all threads dealing with the DAO, there appears to be a lot of different views amongst the collectors as to the different markings and classes. I do not claim to know the specifics, but would like to share my thoughts. A couple of incorrect statements have been brought forward, including a few from myself, but I can swallow my pride. I encourage you guys to add to the discussion in order to shed some light over this intriguing topic.
To avoid misunderstandings regarding the various classes, I believe it would be best to use the 1943 classification when referring to an object.<o></o>
Let’s start with the classes and focus on the 3<sup>rd</sup> class and above. The 3<sup>rd</sup> class of 1937 was a Commander’s cross, 50mm on a 45mm ribbon and worn around the neck. The Grand Cross was a 60mm sash badge on a 100mm shoulder sash and an 80mm silver star with golden eagles. In between these two classes was the 2<sup>nd</sup> class, which was the neckcross and a 75mm silver star with golden eagles. Both cross and star of the 2<sup>nd</sup> class could be awarded together, but I assume an upgrade from 3<sup>rd</sup> class by awarding the star only would be possible, as this is stated in the regulations of 1943, although not mentioned in the 1937 regulations.<o></o>
In 1943 not only the concept “Stufe” was changed to “Klasse", a totally new class was introduced. The 1937 neck cross (1<sup>st</sup> Stufe) equaled the 1943 III. Klasse and the 1937 cross and star (Verdienstkreuz mit Stern) became the II. Klasse. The Grand Cross remained the same, but a new class appeared, I. Klasse. It consisted of a 50mm (!) sash cross on a 90mm shoulder sash with a 5mm wide stripe in the center and the same star as the one of the Grand Cross (80mm). There was one major difference though, the eagles on the cross and star are in silver, with a golden rim on cross and star. Excellent images of this rare decoration can be viewed on Medalnet’s very informative website.<o></o>
Before we move on to the enigma of markings, here’s one question: should the I. Klasse be viewed as an upgraded version of the II. Klasse or as a lower grade of the Grand Cross? The wearing on a sash and the Grand Cross-sized star would indicate the latter, but wouldn’t it be more logical to name them Grand Cross 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> class?<o></o>
Cheers<o></o>
Peter
p.s. Pablo, thanks for showing those magnificent images
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