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Remembered Today:

Medals of the Central Powers


trajan

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13 hours ago, Kimberley John Lindsay said:

... An excellent addition to your collection - the Braunschweig award being one which is seldom seen.

 

Many thanks Kim! Located for me by my dealer friend. Of course, I prefer the physical hunt myself, but WW1 German medals are rare in Turkey...

 

Best wishes,

 

Julian

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12 hours ago, Sepoy said:

... this is my only medal group. An Imperial German Red Cross Medal and a Prussian Merit Cross for War Aid. ... 

 

 

An interesting looking group! Haven't (yet) found anything on the first, which goes with the top ribbon, but according to: http://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/verdienstkreuz-kriegshilfsdienst-1916.html this pairing is usual, the cross being instituted 5th December 1916, and awarded for two years or more home service.

 

What about your others? Any rarities or oddities there???!!!

 

Julian

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Not all of my Imperial German State Medals are scanned, but here is a start.
A few Iron Crosses and Iron Cross related items. If anyone can help with details of the Iron Cross manufacturer marks, I would be most grateful.
 

The Iron Cross Award Certificate relates to Fahnrich (Ensign) Hans Von Winterfeld, 4th Kompany, Jager Battalion Nr14, 12th Landwehr Division.
Hans Von Winterfeld was from Stettin, Prussia (now Szczecin) and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class during September, 1915.
Lieutnant Winterfeld was reported as having been “Wounded” in the casualty list dated 27 July, 1916.

 

Sepoy

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Edited by Sepoy
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Here is the Bavarian King Ludwig Cross which was awarded in recognition of voluntary work of special merit at home.

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The Hungarian Commemorative War Medal instituted in 1929 and the Austrian Commemorative War Medal which was instituted in 1932.

HUNGARY.jpg

HUNGARY1.jpg

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Hello,

the EKII Award Certificate to v. Winterfeld was signed by Generalmajor Paul von Drabich Waechter who, according to Dermot Bradley (Hrsg.), Günter Wegner: Stellenbesetzung der Deutschen Heere 1815–1939 Band 1: Die Höheren Kommandostellen 1815–1939, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, ISBN 3-7648-1780-1, S. 191, was Divisionskommandeur from  24. April 1916 to 24. November 1917. He seems to have been in this position before, as the certificate suggests?

GreyC

     
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A selection of Turkish Medals, starting with the Turkish issued Harp Madalyasi (commonly known as the Gallipoli Star), and Iraq bar, which was worn separately.
It is followed by two "improved" German manufactured examples. The last medal is the Turkish Liyakat Madalyasi (Medal of Merit).


Sepoy

 

NB I know that the "Gallipoli Star" images have been shown elsewhere on the GWF, but thought it would be useful to include them in a thread on Central Power Medals.

 

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Edited by Sepoy
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34 minutes ago, GreyC said:

Hello,

the EKII Award Certificate to v. Winterfeld was signed by Generalmajor Paul von Drabich Waechter who, according to Dermot Bradley (Hrsg.), Günter Wegner: Stellenbesetzung der Deutschen Heere 1815–1939 Band 1: Die Höheren Kommandostellen 1815–1939, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, ISBN 3-7648-1780-1, S. 191, was Divisionskommandeur from  24. April 1916 to 24. November 1917. He seems to have been in this position before, as the certificate suggests?

GreyC

     

GreyC
Thank you for providing this information. I have looked at the signature in the past, but had absolutely no idea how to decipher it!
Sepoy

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15 hours ago, Sepoy said:

 

 

0219.jpg

 

 

0129_edited-1.jpg

 

0167.jpg

Untitled-60.jpg

german comm.jpg

 

What on earth is that strange deposit on the back of the EKI? It looks as if there is a makers mark to the left of the pin but I can't read it. Also - but remember I am very much a learner in these matters! - the "26" on the pin is odd, isn't it? Can't be a silver mark...

 

Is that an elongated and fancy "G" on the EKII??? If so, then "Godet" of Berlin?

 

I do like these stickpins indicating the awards and honours received. I don't think there was anything like that in GB was there?

 

The last two are fascinating items - is the last one an equivalent, as it were, of the GB SWB?

 

Julian

Edited by trajan
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16 hours ago, Sepoy said:

Here is the Bavarian King Ludwig Cross which was awarded in recognition of voluntary work of special merit at home.

Untitled-5_edited-2.jpg

 

I understand from: http://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/deutsche-staaten/konig-ludwig-kreuz-1916.html that the König-Ludwig-Kreuz 1916 (introduced that year) was made in four metals, the rarer silver version (250 or so) being awarded to members of the government, etc., the other 90,000 or so being in bronze, iron, or zinc, all of these being blackened. Which of those three is this one Sepoy? Looks to be bronze to me.

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3 hours ago, trajan said:

 

What on earth is that strange deposit on the back of the EKI? It looks as if there is a makers mark to the left of the pin but I can't read it. Also - but remember I am very much a learner in these matters! - the "26" on the pin is odd, isn't it? Can't be a silver mark...

 

Is that an elongated and fancy "G" on the EKII??? If so, then "Godet" of Berlin?

 

I do like these stickpins indicating the awards and honours received. I don't think there was anything like that in GB was there?

 

The last two are fascinating items - is the last one an equivalent, as it were, of the GB SWB?

 

Julian

 

The manufacturer's mark "26" is a later date maker (WW2). He must have made some 1914 crosses as well. It stands for B.H. Mayers Kunstpragesanstalt, Pforzheim .

 

Jan

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37 minutes ago, AOK4 said:

The manufacturer's mark "26" is a later date maker (WW2). He must have made some 1914 crosses as well. It stands for B.H. Mayers Kunstpragesanstalt, Pforzheim .

 

Thanks for pointing that out Jan. But, my take on this would be either this a pin provided by B. H. Mayer's Kunst-prageanstalt to replace a lost original  pin; or it is an entirely newly-made 1914 EKI to replace a completely lost original. It appears to me that the numbering system found used here to indicate the maker is associated with WW2  EK's only, and so is part of the wartime scheme - I assume - of disguising where and by whom items were being made, just as WW2 bayonets were marked with letters and numbers to disguise their place of manufacture.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 03/06/2017 at 03:59, trajan said:

...  an EK II with a Hamburg Hanseatenkreuz. And here is the Ordensspange to go with it ...

cross and ribbon bar.jpg

 

 

My long term aim is, for display purposes, to display my medals with the appropriate documentation, which is easy for the GB ones, but not so for the German ones. So with regard to the latter I have started looking out for certificates that match the medal groups I have, and came across these two nice ones to go with the medals above. These relate to an Unteroffizier Rudolf Kruger of the Reserve Infanterie-Regiment Nr.84 , and no, I have not had a chance to research him yet (the certificates came only yesterday!), nor have I worked out all the details on the 'Hamburg' certificate, and will post a plea for help in a few days if I don't get very far! What did surprise me, though, was the way what I think is 'Hamburg' is written on this one(with the date, at the bottom): is that really a capital 'H' there???!!! :wacko: 

 

Julian

 

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594fd0840be65_hamburg03.jpg.f469ec1b93e73a270576e2de0b13a23e.jpg

 

 

 

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Dear Julian,

Yes.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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Hi Julian!

All in order.

Here a translation and transliteration:

Der Senat

der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg

hat dem Unteroffizier im Reserve-Infanterie-

Regiment No 84

Rudolf Krüger

für Verdienst im gegenwärtigen Kriege

das Hamburgische Hanseatenkreuz verliehen.

Zu Urkund dessen ist dieses Besitzzeugnis

ausgefertigt worden.

Hamburg den 14. Dezember 1915

 

Siemsen, D.

Oberregierungsrat

 

The Senat of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg [The Senat is the governing cabinet of the State of Hamburg]

has awarded Unteroffizier Rudolf Krüger, serving in RIR 84

the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross for merit in this war

This certificate confirms/proves it.

Hamburg den 14. Dezember 1915

 

Siemsen, D.

Oberregierungsrat

Edited by GreyC
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Hi,

as addition:

The RIR 84 was mobilised on the 2nd August 1914 and was part of the 18th Reserve Divison.

  • R.I.R.84 (+ MG-Komp.) mobilised/deployed Kiel (Stab & I. Btl.), Neustrelitz (II. Btl.) and Rendsburg (III. Bataillon).
  • The Ersatz-Bataillon Res.-Inf.-Rgt. Nr.84 was depoyed  in Lübeck.
  • As he was in the 3rd Coy he was stationed in Kiel.
  • GreyC
Edited by GreyC
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1 hour ago, Kimberley John Lindsay said:

... Yes. ... 

 

1 hour ago, GreyC said:

... Here a translation and transliteration:

 

1 hour ago, GreyC said:

... The RIR 84 was mobilised on the 2nd August 1914 and was part of the 18th Reserve Divison.

 

Many thanks Kim and GreyC!

 

This is as far as I had got with transcribing the text: 

 

Der Senat / der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg / *** dem Unteroffizier im Reserve-Infanterie- / Regiment No 84 / Rudolf Krüger / für *** im gegen***igen *** / das Hamburgische Hanseatenkreuz verliehen. / Zu *** *** ist dieses *** / ausgefertigt worden. / Hamburg den 14. Dezember 1915 / *** D / Ober***

 

So, it would have taken me a while to get the rest...:unsure: But now I have the gist of how these things go, then hopefully I'll make better progress when the next one comes!

 

Thanks again,

 

Julian

 

PS: GreyC - Great work on both the transcript and the translation and checking back on the regiment!

 

 

Edited by trajan
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Hi,

he was most probably born in Groningen, Holland and was reported slightly wounded in the Verlust-Liste of 28th Aug. 1916.

GreyC

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Dear GreyC,

Good work!

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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Thank you, Kim.

I have attached a rather unspectacular photo only because these guys from the Stab (staff?) of 2nd. Coy 1st Btln RIR 84 may have known Unteroffizier Krüger from 3rd Coy 1st. Btln. dated a few month before he got his Hanseatenkreuz.

There is a regimental history to this unit. Maybe I can get my hands on it later next week.

William Speck: "Das Königlich Preußische Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 84", Zeulenroda 1937, Verl. Sporn, 398 Seiten.

GreyC

RIR84_2KompStab.jpg.1227190e1d3db50c4ea2cf09d25c8181.jpg

RIR_84_D_Reverse1.jpg.4a3534dd8adb4be882abd314b02e2de5.jpg

 

 

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Dear GreyC,

Good find!

They look like the archetypal "Schreibstuben-hengste"!

Having said that, two had the EKII...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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On 26/06/2017 at 04:53, GreyC said:

... he was most probably born in Groningen, Holland and was reported slightly wounded in the Verlust-Liste of 28th Aug. 1916. ...

 

Where on earth did you find that Groningen bit? I am amazed!

 

As for the wound, well, I was called away by my neighbour last night just as I was going to post the next bit of Herr Krueger's story, which I will do now, his Besitz-Zeugnis for a Black wound badge, for which he qualified with - it looks to be - ein wound... Note that the 'award' itself was instituted on 03 March 1918, and he had his confirmed 'In the field' on 04 May, and that by that date he had been made Vizefeldwebel, if I read that correctly, with his regiment's 6 Komp. I can't make out the name of the officer who countersigned this form - is that an 'M' at the start? - but I read that he was 'Oberstleutnant Regiment / Kommandeur' beneath, although I am probably missing a few suffixes there(!).

 

Oh, and yes, on which note, I see that the EKII certificate is signed by 'Oberstleutnant Balthasar', who is also named as the commander of Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 84 at: http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/RIR_84... So, perhaps time to see if I can get an ILL on: William Speck: Das Königlich Preußische Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 84 - the cheapest 'Abebooks' offer is USD 138... Although hang on, didn't I see somewhere once something about getting these regimental histories on line??? Happy to be reminded on that!

 

Julian

scan0003.jpg.bca54b2ffee32abde38d4db6f26227b5.jpg

 

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Hi Julian,

great to see that you have gotten all these documents of him. Don´t bother with the regimental history. There is one in town, just not on my desk yet. I´ll try to look it up this week for you and if need be do some scanning.

I have two photos of the RIR 84 in my collection as of now, a few more on the Ersatzbataillone and some of IR 84. As I have shown one I might as well show the other. It depicts the V. Abteilung of the Rekruten Depot of the RIR 84 which, according to the sign was situated in Bad Segeberg. That´s not too far away from RIR 84´s garisons. Note the different uniforms and shoulderboards (if that´s the right expression) The bunter Rock in blue with white shoulderboards/straps and red numbering, the Feldgrau Uniform with grey straps and red numbering and the rarer seen blue Litewkas, only used for in-barrack duties and therefore rare on photographs (on which you want to look smart) with either yellow or red numbers. Hard to see in the picture of the group: Somebody from IR 85 or LIR 85 came by to be on the photo. Maybe an instructor of the sister regiment or maybe they had their Rekruten Depot on the same grounds.

GreyC

RIR84_kla.jpg.db8e35bd0d0e0ec9d4bc528c17c2dbd8.jpg

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RIR84_D2kl.jpg.b8ca4c3f00f4087d461aae582b53f234.jpg

 

 

 

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GreyC, that would be great if you would check the RIR 84 volume for me. Perhaps I ought to 'adopt' it as 'my' regiment! So, perhaps its time to look for an Achselklappe / epaulette / apolet (in Turkish!) / shoulder board for it! And thanks for the photographs!

 

 

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Hi Julian,

the good thing with the No 84 epaulette is, that it can stand for Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 84, Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 84 and Infanterie Regiment 84 all the same ;-)

And thanks for providing the synonyms.

GreyC

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