Photos Bavarian and other German States Military Medals in my Collection.

[Connaught Ranger]

Overview of the Bavarian part of the collection.

Cross on the left is the oldest piece so far in my collection given to those who went on the campaign with Napoleon Bonaparte to Moscow,
ultimately the Bavarian's changed sides and its not uncommon to see medals representing both sides of the campaign on some Bavarian bars.
Interestingly enough the first cross on the bar has the Russian Crosses medal ribbon, on the 1866 Cross, I believe this to be a genuine mistake by the military tailor when making up the bar for a 1866/1870-71 soldier, its impossible for him to have been at the 1813-14 campaign, the 1866 Campaign and 1870-71 campaign, the youngest 1813-14 veteran would have been far to old to be engaged in the 1870-71 Campaign as a combatant.
The cross in the middle is the Prussian 1866 Battle for Konig-Gratz on the 3 July 1866 Combatant medal
The last medal is a Prussian in 1870-71 Franco Prussian War for a combatant (none Combatant awards were in steel with a different ribbon.

A medal bar to a Bavarian veteran of the 1870-71 Campaign in France, on the left the Combatants medal for the
1870-71 Franco-Prussian War (made from captured enemy cannon,) in the center his Bavarian Military Service Clasp (Schnalle),
a Schnalle (rectangular iron frame with ribbon) such as this were the common sign for service among the NCO until the introduction
of a purposely designed service medal was introduced into the Prussian and Associated German States military, regular and reserve in the late 1800's.
The Bavarian version carries the initial "L II" for King Ludwig II.
he like all 1870-71 veterans still alive on the date received the Centenary Medal of Kaiser Wilhelm 1 in 1889.
The middle medal under the Schnalle, is a Military Veterans Association
medal commemorating the battle of SEDAN during the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War.

Some what similar to the last item in appearance the bar has the Combatant medal for the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War,
In the middle a Military Service medal II Class for 12 years military service and the large Centenary medal for Kaiser Wilhelm I,
Whats very interesting about this bar is the style of construction, its made to clip with large brass hooks on the left and right to the polished
steel parade breastplate of a Bavarian cavalry trooper.

Here is an example of a Bavarian Service Schnalle when worn as a single decoration such as on the presentation of the award to the recipient.


Some single items, left Prince Luipold 1905-1912 Jubilee Medal
King Ludwig II Bavarian Military Veterans Association located at AST Commemorative medal.
Kingdom of Bavaria III Class for 9 years service medal.
Bavarian Emergency Help Cross from the 1970's era.
Kingdom of Bavaria 15 year Military Service Cross for NCO's.

Kingdom of Bavaria 15 year Military Service Cross for NCO's.
Bavarian Emergency Help Cross from the 1970's era.
Bavarian Fire-brigade Service Cross (Modern issue.)

More items will be added later.

 

[NebrHogger]

An impressive collection!

 

[Bombardier]

Awesome collection mate, you are very lucky

 

[Connaught Ranger]

2 awards to a Bavarian, the Prussian Iron Cross II Class Model 1914 and the Bavarian Military Service Order Cross without swords.
Normally the award of the Iron Cross is associated with bravery in the face of the enemy but there are documented instances of it being awarded on the Combatant ribbon for non-combatant activity.
The Bavarian Military Service Order Cross is on the non-combatant ribbon for the award, (the combatant version has two thin black stripes) and if a civilian were to be awarded this Bavarian award, the ribbon is quite different.

Quite similar to the above but this is the Combatant version of the Bavarian Military Service Cross III Class,
Contrary to regulations the Bavarian award has been placed in first position on the bar, frequently seen on Bavarian bars, a case of Bavaria thumbing its nose at Prussia.

Bavarian 3 piece bar.
Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Third Reich, 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant,
Bavarian Military Service Medal III Class for 9 years service.


Bavarian 4 piece bar.
Bavarian Military Service Cross with Crown & Swords II Class.
Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Wiemar Republic Marine (Navy) Flanders Cross, Unofficial veteran's Association award for German sailors who fought as infantry in France and Flanders.
Wiemar Republic, Unofficial Veteran's Association award German Legion Of Honor medal with Combatant insignia.
The owner circa 1934 could have added a Hindenburg Cross with swords denoting combatant, but if still serving in the military, or in any official capacity would have to remove the unofficial awards, this rule was strictly applied during the Third Reich.


Bavarian 3 piece bar.
Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Bavarian Military Service Cross with Swords III Class.
Third Reich, 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.

2 x mini ribbon bars for use on uniform or civil attire.


10 piece bar, possibly to either a Prussian or Bavarian for service in WW1 and WW2.
Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Bavarian Military Service Cross with Swords II Class.
Third Reich 1934-45 Third Reich, 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.
Third Reich Faithful Service Cross in Silver (25 Years)
Third Reich Air Protection Service Medal II Class,
Austrian Republic, Commemorative Medal for Combatant* in WW1 (*denoted by swords insignia.)
Third Reich Annexation of Austria Medal.
Third Reich Annexation of Sudetenland with Prague Castle bar.
Hungary Horthy Regime Commemorative medal for WW1, Combatant.
Bulgaria Commemorative Medal for WW1 Combatant.
So we have a man decorated for service in WW1, who later served with some capacity in the Third Reich early campaigns
possibly as an Administrator hence the civil Faithful Service Cross as opposed to a Third Reich Military service medal, and
he had some capacity with the Air Raid protection Association (Luftschutz.)

 

[Connaught Ranger]

An impressive collection!

Not wishing to brag, but this is only a small part of it, I tend to collect medals to the lower ranks, high order awards are way to pricey!

 

[NebrHogger]

Not wishing to brag, but this is only a small part of it, I tend to collect medals to the lower ranks, high order awards are way to pricey!

I enjoy seeing dedicated collections like that. My medal collecting interests are a little more varied. I mainly collect railroad related medals and medallions. Also Colonial medals of Italy, France and Belgium. It looks like I'll be able to hit the militaria expo in Ciney, Belgium this April. There are several vendors selling only medals, and I'll be shopping with them.

 

[Connaught Ranger]

Awesome collection mate, you are very lucky

Most of the German items I acquired when living in Germany in the late 1990's early 2000-03 were from flea-markets in Bavaria.
and militaria shows.

 

[Connaught Ranger]

These Bavarian awards come at the latter end of whats known as the Bayern Militar-Verdienstorden 1866-1918
also referred to as the MVO, these crosses come under the title - Militar-Verdienstfreuz des MVO 1866-1920* the awards were for the lower ranks such as NCO's and Privates who performed acts of valor in combat or meritorious acts not directly in service in the front line, any award with the two black lines in the ribbon were usually associated with combat awards. They could also be awarded to civilians for services rendered to the state but with another type of ribbon and without swords.


Left to right:
MVK des MVO 3rd Form 1913-1918 I Class with Crown and Swords Enameled medallion.
MVK des MVO 3rd Form 1913-1918 I Class with Swords, Enameled medallion. on a non-combatant ribbon (This award has the reverse with an enameled medallion, possibly a private purchase piece from a military jeweler.)
MVK des MVO 3rd Form 1913-1918 II Class with Swords, Enameled medallion.


MVK des MVO 3rd Form 1913-1918 III Class with Crown and Swords.
MVK des MVO 3rd Form 1913-1918 III Class with Swords.
MVK des MVO 4th Form 1918-1920 III Class with Swords (late war / retroactive award in zink but with silver swords.)


MVK des MVO 3rd Form 1913-1918 III Class with Swords in presentation box.


MVK des MVO 3rd Form 1913-1918 III Class with Swords in presentation box.


Prussian Iron Cross 1914 Model II Class presentation box, inside are the buttonhole ribbon for civil wear, mini ribbon bar
and a Iron Cross, Hindenburg Cross stick-pin for civil wear. This box came along with the blue box so presumably from the same veteran.



Another version of a typical WW1 era ribbon bar for the uniform, these can be found with hooks for the medals
or without hooks, period picture show both forms in use.



Left to right - Bavarian Veterans Association (Location unknown) 10 Year membership insignia
Part of a Veterans Association "1874-1924 Bavarian Military Veteran's Association" Insignia possibly would have had ribbons in the Bavarian colors.
Military Bandschnalle for wear in civil cloths, the four ribbons represent the awards he would have received during WW1
Bavarian King Ludwig Black Cross 1916-1918
Prussian War Help Service Cross 1916-1924
Bavarian Prince Luipold 1905-1912 Jubilee Medal
Bavarian Military Service Medal III Class for 9 years service.


Left to right - German Alpine Climbing Association 40 year badge (many founding members were former WW1 Gebirgsjager)
Bavarian Crown-Prince Alphonse merit insignia, given for services rendered to the prince immediate post ww1 up until circa 1924.


Bavarian 1874 Military War Veterans Association insignia for the area of Immenstadt, Allgau South-West Bavaria.

 

[Connaught Ranger]

.
Every 3 months or so I get to dust the display case

 

[Connaught Ranger]

Bavarian 1874 Military War Veterans Association insignia for the town of Kempten, Allgau South-West Bavaria.

Next - Kingdom Of Wurttemberg items -





Left to Right -
Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Kingdom of Wurttemberg, King Wilhelm II Silver Bravery/Merit medal.


Left to Right -
Kingdom of Wurttemberg, King Wilhelm II Silver Bravery/Merit medal.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.



Left to Right -
Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Kingdom of Wurttemberg, King Wilhelm II Silver Bravery/Merit medal.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.

Of interest is the fact he has lined the rear of the bar with the ribbon for
the Kyfferhauserbund* WW1 veterans medal, an unofficial award bought by veterans
seeing as there was no official State recognition for Ww1 service until the Hindenburg Cross series
were introduced in 1934, Ww1 veterans still serving in the military or Public office had to remove any
unofficial awards from their medal bars as the wearing of such was banned by the Nazi Party.

* More on the Kyfferhauserbund here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyffhäuserbund

 

[Connaught Ranger]

Left to Right -

Kingdom of Wurttemberg, King Wilhelm II Silver Bravery/Merit medal.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.
Kingdom of Wurttemberg,Military Service Medal for 9 Years Service.



Left to Right -

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Kingdom of Wurttemberg, King Wilhelm II Silver Bravery/Merit medal.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.
Kingdom of Wurttemberg,Military Service Medal for 9 Years Service.


2 medal Spange medals removed at some point - Left to right:

Kingdom of Wurttemburg King Wilhelm Cross for War Service
Prussian War Help Service Cross 1916-1924.





Top - Kingdom of Wurttemburg buttonhole for wear with civil attire,
the ribbons are for Kingdom of Wurttemberg, King Wilhelm II Silver Bravery/Merit medal.
and the Prussian war Help Service Cross 1916-1924.



Top - Kingdom of Baden, Services in putting down the up-rising of 1849 medal
(aka the Brother Murder medal, so called because the military were ruthless in suppressing the peasants revolt.)

Bottom - Kingdom of Baden Military Service medal, 1916 - 18 in silver.



3 place bar -

Service to the Baden Fire Brigade Spange early 1934 in silver
awarded for 25 years service as a Volunteer Fireman.

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Kingdom of Baden Military Service medal, 1916 - 18 in zink, late war variation.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.

Interestingly his bar is a piece of wood wrapped in ribbon and fixed with a safety pin.



Also belonging to the same man his Veteran Association badge for the location of Steinen.

 

[Connaught Ranger]

5 Medal Bar - Kingdom of Baden & Third Reich.

Left to Right :

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Kingdom of Baden Military Service medal, 1916 - 18 Bronze with Iron core, possibly Silver plated when made.
Its also had the original rectangular Ose or ribbon ring replaced with a small circular one, better to hang on the bars hook.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.
Third Reich Faithful Service Cross for 25 years service (not a military award.)
Third Reich Air Protection Service Medal II Class, (Luftschutz) Air Raid Service.

 

[Connaught Ranger]

Came across this one in Romania a small 5 place mini bar in worn condition for a soldier from
Baden with service in WW2.

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Kingdom of Baden Military Service medal, 1916 - 18 Bronze with Iron core, possibly Silver plated when made.
Its also had the original rectangular Ose or ribbon ring replaced with a small circular one, better to hang on the bars hook.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.
Third Reich Iron Cross I and II Class judging by the hole in the ribbon for an insignia.
Kingdom of Romania Crusade against Communism 1941.

(Probably the soldier was Administration but got caught up in the fighting on the Eastern Front.)



Kingdom of Saxon-Meinigen - 3 place bar.

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Kingdom of Saxon-Meinigen Military Merit medal, II Class, with Combatant ribbon, in zink (late war version.)
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.




Kingdom of Saxon-Altenberg 2 medal bar.

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
King Ernst Bravery Medal Model 1918-1919 in zink (late war model.)



Kingdom of Saxony 3 place bar -

King Freidrich-August Silver Medal 1905-1918 Combatant ribbon.
Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Kingdom of Saxony Military Service Medal III Class for 9 years service.



Kingdom of Saxony 4 place bar -

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
King Freidrich-August Silver Medal 1905-1918 Combatant ribbon.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.
Kingdom of Saxony Military Service Medal III Class for 9 years service.
Kingdom of Saxony Reserve Service (Landwehr) Medal II Class 1913-1918 Model.

The mini ribbon bar while similar has a slightly different ribbon on the end - Kingdom of Saxon Honor Cross with swords 1901-1918.



2 piece medal bar - left to right -


Prussian Military Service Cross for 15 years service,
Kingdom of Saxon-Meinigen Military Merit medal, II Class, however, the ribbon does not match the medal as its
for the Saxon Weimar Service Cross I Class for 15 years service / Saxon Weimar Service medal II Class for 12 years service,
Saxon Weimar Service medal III Class for 9 years service, as its impossible for one man to have 15 years in two different armies,
so either the military tailor did not have the correct ribbon or the ribbon has been added post WW1-1995 when I bought the bar.

 

[Connaught Ranger]

2 piece bar -
Prussian War Help Service Cross 1916-1924. late/post war version in zink.
Prussian Red Cross Service medal III Class in Bronze.
Some military medical personnel as well as civilians also qualified for the War Help Service Cross from
working with severely war wounded in the post war convalescent homes.


3 piece bar -

Kingdom of Mecklenburg-Schwerin military Service Cross II Class on noncombatant ribbon.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for non-Combatant.
Prussia Service medal for Reserve (Landwehr) 1913-1920, II Class.



3 piece bar -
Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Kingdom of Hessen-Darmstadt King Ludwig IV, Bravery medal in silver.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.




2 piece bar -

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914, (note the ribbon color leeched by light is now
turning a light shade of brown from black, due to the vegetable dies used in period ribbons.)
Kingdom of Braunsweig, Military Service Cross 1914-18, II Class, on Combatant ribbon.





3 piece bar -

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Austria - Landesdenkmünze 1914-1918, also known as “Errinnerungsmedaille für die Landesverteidigung von Tirol 1914-1918” in Germany, was instituted on February 07, 1928 by the Provincial Law of Tyrol (Tiroler Landesgesetz) promulgated by the Landtag, or Provincial parliament of Tyrol.
First emission 1928 but further amendments to the statute saw them being issued as late as until March 1940, and 120,000 veterans approximately were issued with the medal by that date.
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.


2 piece medal bar -

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.

Mini ribbon bar for uniform or civil attire.
Standard configuration from early 1938 to 1945.




3 medal bar with two additional service medals.

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.
Prussian Military Service Cross, 2 model 1913 - 1920, I Class, for 15 years

also in the group are the Prussian Service medals for 9 and 12 years service,
theoretically the soldier should have returned the lower grade when he received the higher grade.



3 medal bar to a WW1 veteran.

Prussian Iron cross II Class Model 1914,
Wiemar era Kyfferhauserbund Veterans Association medal, with combat insignia,
Wiemar era German Legion of Honor Veterans Association medal, with combatant insignia.

 

[NebrHogger]

What an amazing collection! With such a wide variety, what's on your got to have list?

 

[Connaught Ranger]

What an amazing collection! With such a wide variety, what's on your got to have list?

Believe it or not, despite having some 30 odd Iron Cross Model 1914 II Class, I have yet to get a I Class version.

 

[Connaught Ranger]

Kingdom of Hessen, War Service Medal.



Upper - "Der Stahlhelm" WW1 War Veterans Insignia amalgamated en-mass into the NSDAP by Hitler & Co.
Lower - Prussian "Krieger Verdienst" medal 1873-1918, WW1 issues mainly to troops for merit and bravery
serving outside of Europe such as the German Colonies in Africa, where due to its statues, the Iron Cross
could not be awarded. Its ribbon was very similar to the Iron Cross ribbon.

Left - State of Hamburg - Hanseatenkreuz 1915 - 1918 for military service in WW1, but it could be awarded to civilians,
when awarded for merit or bravery it was the equivalent to the Prussian Iron Cross.

The Hanseaten Cross series had similar red crosses only the central medallion and ribbon design was different,
a double headed eagle for Lubek on an equally divided red and white ribbon,
a castle for Hamburg on a ribbon with a central broad white stripe flanked by two broad red stripes,
a key for Bremen on a ribbon divided into 9 stripes, 5 white 4 red.

Right - Regimental medal in silver, celebration the first Christmas of the war in 1914


A selection of mainly Prussian items.


Prussia - Commemorative medal for the combatants of 1864.


Prussian - Prussian-Austrian War of 1866 Crosses for the Battle of Koniggratz 1866/67
and Der Main Armee 1866 there is a third in this series "Treuen Kriegern" and a fourth, the Cross for non-combatants (“Loyal to its duty in times of war”). A central medallion on its obverse has an image of a crowned Prussian eagle leaning against a captured Austrian cannon and a date “1866” below. Round wreath is made of oak leaves. Upper arm of a cross bears an inscription “Pflicht”, left arm – “Treue”, right arm – “Im”, lower arm – “Kriege”. All inscriptions are made in capital letters, both of which I have yet to locate.

All share the same form and same rear design - Königgrätz Commemorative Cross was instituted on September 20, 1866 by the King of Prussia Wilhelm I and was awarded to Prussian officers, NCOs and other ranks as well as to military officials following the Prussian victory in the Austro-Prussian War (June 17 – July 26, 1866). Award was named after the Battle of Königgrätz (Schalcht bei Königgrätz) sometimes referred to as the Battle of Sadowa, that took place on July 03, 1866 and was not only the decisive battle of that war but also involved the largest number of troops in Europe until that time. The battle of Königgrätz ended with one of the highest casualties for a major battle: Austrians and their Saxon allies lost 44,000 men killed in action, wounded and missing in action including 22,000 being held prisoners while Prussians had 360 officers and 8,812 men killed.



2 medal bar -

Prussia Service to the State Silver Medal.
Prussia Centenary medal for Kaiser Wilhelm I,

Top - Prussian Military service Schnalle II Class, used between 1842-1913.

 

[Connaught Ranger]

3 medal bar -
Prussia - Battle of Koniggratz 1866 Cross for Combatant.
Prussia - Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71 Combatant medal.
Prussia Centenary medal for Kaiser Wilhelm I.


2 medal bar -
Prussia - Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71 Combatant medal.
Prussia Centenary medal for Kaiser Wilhelm I.



Prussia -

Upper - Prussia Centenary medal for Kaiser Wilhelm I mini.
Prussia Centenary medal for Kaiser Wilhelm I large parade ribbon mount missing pin
Lower - Prussia mini medal buttonhole for centenary medal and military service schnalle, for wear in civil attire on the lapel.




Prussia - Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71 non-Combatant medal in steel.



Prussia - Hohenzollern Commemorative Medal for Combatants, 1848-1849 / PREUSSEN. Hohenzollersche Denkmünze für Kämpfer von 1848-1849. - circumscribed ‘SEINEN BIS IN DEN TOD GETREUEN KRIEGERN’ (His warrior loyal unto death) - instituted by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV on 23 August 1851 in association with the House Order of Hohenzollern for those officers and soldiers who remained loyal during the rebellions of 1848 and 1849. The Prussian army played a crucial role in suppressing not only the rebellions in Prussia but also in Baden and Saxony. Nonetheless, Prussia became a constitutional state in 1849. The medal was produced at the Royal Mint in Berlin.



Prussia - Commemorative medals :-

Upper left - King Friedrich of Prussia Memorial medal 1809-1909, upper ring is gold, its likely this was mounted on a watch fob/chain.
Upper right - Wilhelm Kaiser and King of Prussia - Military Veteran's Association of ATTENDORF 1868/93 Jubilee.
Lower left - Wilhelm II German Kaiser, In Memory of My Service Time (features a depiction of the 1870 Franco-Prussian war Iron Cross.)
Lower right - Wilhelm II German Kaiser a commemorative item with the recipients name place unmarked, this is in aluminium which would have been a rare material at the time.


Upper - Prussian Guards Insignia.
Lower - Commemorative silver medal featuring the profile of General-Field-marshal Hindenburg,
with reference to his campaigns in Poland and Russia in WW1.

Prussia -

Upper left - Military Veterans Association of NORTORF 1870/71 maker marked to the rear.
Upper right - Medal used to raise funds for the German national War memorial for those who fell in combat.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussian_National_Monument_for_the_Liberation_Wars)
Lower left:Commemorative token in recognition for donations for war graves “I Had a Comrade”, a.k.a. “Iron Medal”
This token was instituted in 1919, soon after the Great War came to its end and was given to Germans who donated funds for erection and beautification of graves of those fallen for their Fatherland in 1914-1918.
Lower right Prussia Commemorative medal for the 9th Infantry Regiment.


Kingdom of Saxony
Military Association Cross for 25 years membership.

 

[Connaught Ranger]

Prussia

3 Medal bar -

Prussia - Iron Cross Model 1914 II Class,
Third Reich - Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.
Bulgaria - Tsar Ferdinand I, Merit Medal II Class on war ribbon.



3 Medal bar - Prussia.

Prussia - Iron Cross Model 1914 II Class,

Germany - Fasching/Carnival medal despite the elaborate inscription from King Alwin I for service
and it appears to have part of a Prussian button fixed to the front.

Third Reich - Third Reich 1934-45 Hindenburg Cross for Combatant.



Prussia - Iron Cross Model 1914, II Class with combatant ribbon left, Non-combatant right.


Prussia-Weimarer Republic - Iron Cross Model 1914 II Class, one piece casting possibly a jeweler/military tailor copy on non-combatant ribbon.

Ottoman Empire - Harp Madalyası / Eiserner Halbmond / Gallipolli Star - It was instituted by Sultan Mehmed V on 1 March 1915 for gallantry in battle. This decoration was awarded for the duration of World War I to Ottoman and other Central Powers troops, primarily in Ottoman areas of engagement. This is the B.B. & Co version of the award.


Prussia - Prussian War Help Service Cross 1916-1924. late/post war version in zink.



Prussia - Prussian Military Service Cross, 2 model 1913 - 1920, I Class, for 15 years