Original German WWI Imperial German Medal, Ribbon and Buckle Lot – 18 Items Original Items

Original Items: Only One Lot of 18 Available. This is a wonderful opportunity, especially for the new collectors out there wanting to add a beautiful assortment of items to their collection. Whether you are wanting to get into collecting or just add to already existing collections, you do not want to miss out on this lot.

The Pieces Included Are:

– Personal Photograph Postcard: The bottom left corner is torn away with some tearing present, the photo is still easily discernible. There is a name or message on the reverse but we cannot read it.

– WWI “Front Heil” Veterans Organization Belt Buckle: Der Stahlhelmbund der Frontsoldaten (The Steel-helmet-league of Front-line Soldiers) was conceived as a national veterans’ organization by Franz Seldte in November of 1918, and was officially founded on Christmas day of that year. It was mostly comprised of WWI veterans trying to assimilate back into what was then a devastated society. The Stahlhelm became the largest of the post-war veterans’ groups, incorporating many of the smaller “Freikorps” groups into it. Most of its members were assimilated by the SA in 1933, and it was disbanded in 1935, with its remaining members absorbed by the DRKB (Deutscher Reichskriegerbund), which, in turn, was absorbed by the NS-RKB (Nationalsozialistische – Reichskriegerbund) in 1938.

– Prussian M1895 Belt with “Gott Mit Uns” Brass Belt Buckle: Great condition but unfortunately the catch is broken and missing

– Hindenburg Cross with Crossed Swords (for combat):
The Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (German: Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918), commonly, but incorrectly, known as the Hindenburg Cross was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, President of the German Republic, by an order dated 13 July 1934, to commemorate the distinguished deeds of the German people during the First World War. This was Germany’s first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war, and where they had since died it was also awarded to their surviving next-of-kin. Shortly after its issuance, the government of NSDAP Germany declared the award as the only official service decoration of the First World War and further forbid the continued wearing of German Free Corps awards on any military or paramilitary uniform of a state or NSDAP Party organization. This example is marked on the back with L. / NBG

– Imperial German WWI Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class Medal (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, or EKII): Some oxidation and minor surface present. The ribbon is missing and the ring is marked, but cannot be read.

– Bavarian WWI Merenti Cross for Military Merit with swords, 2nd Class, 1866 (no ribbon):
The Order of Military Merit was instituted in 1866 in 5 Classes. In 1905 the Cross of Military Merit was revised initially to 2 Classes and in 1913 to 3 classes. Each class was awarded according to the rank of the recipient and could be issued with or without swords (for peace or war time period) and crown (for a 2nd award).

– WWI Imperial Austrian Military Merit Cross Medal: The Military Merit Cross is a cross pattée of white enamel edged in red enamel, with a center medallion also of white enamel edged in red enamel, on which the word “VERDIENST” (merit) appears, broken into “VER” and “DIENST” to fit the center. The War Decoration is a green enamel wreath of laurel leaves between the arms of the cross.

The 3rd Class is suspended from a trifold ribbon. The ribbon is that of the Austrian Bravery Medal, a “laddered” pattern of red stripes with white between the “rungs” and a white border (this ribbon was also used for wartime awards of a number of other Austro-Hungarian decorations). The cross is approximately 30-mm in width, with the arms broadening to a width of 15-mm. The center medallion is approximately 13-mm in diameter. The War Decoration wreath, which during World War I was more likely gilt rather than green, is 3-mm wide.

– Commemorative Medal of the Unity of Italy (no ribbon): The Italian Risorgimento was celebrated by a series of medals set up by the three kings who ruled during the long process of unification – the Commemorative Medal for the Campaigns of the War of Independence and the various versions of the Commemorative Medal of the Unity of Italy, which were granted by the Kingdom of Italy to those who had taken part in the military operations which had led to Italian independence and later to all who participated in the First World War, since at that time it was traditionally held that Italy completed its unification with the annexation of the Trentino. Its final awards were to participants in the March on Rome and the Impresa di Fiume.

– Finnish Liberation Medal & Ribbon Bar: The ribbon bar features the Finnish Liberation, Ordre de la Croix de la Liberté, Hindenburg Cross With Swords and EK. The Finnish Liberation Medal is suspended behind the ribbon bar. The Commemorative Medal of the War of Liberation. Awarded to all who had participated in the war to secure Finland’s independence. Instituted on 10 September 1918 by the Finnish Senate in Helsinki, this blackened iron medal was originally decreed to hang from a dark blue ribbon. In order to avoid confusion with the Order of the White Rose’s ribbon, General Mannerheim decided on 3 July 1919 to have this medal’s ribbon altered and black side stripes were adopted. On the same day a silver heraldic rose was instituted for wearing on the ribbon in case of an award for bravery. Equally instituted that day were 11 silver bars bearing the names of actions in which the recipient had participated. The obverse shows the Finnish arms, a crowned rampant lion standing on a curved sword and holding a broken sword in its raised paw. The reverse shows the Cross of Liberty with in each of the upper angles an armored arm holding a sword (as in the Cross’s Military Division suspension). In the lower angles is the year “19 / 18”.

– Ribbon Bar With 5 Ribbons: The ribbons featured are: EK, Merenti Cross for Military Merit with swords, Hindenburg Cross With Swords, “white” unidentified ribbon (faded), Unidentified Bavarian Ribbon

– Ribbon Bar: Ribbons featured are the Baden Order of the Zahringen Lion Merit Cross and EK. There is an unknown device attached.

– Miniature Bavarian Ribbon Bar with 5 Ribbons

– Patriotic Medal Ribbon Lapel Device

– Imperial German Submarine Warfare Badge Stick Pin

– Bavarian Silver Medal Reward of Loyalty and Diligence

– Engraved, Dated and Named 1922 German Shooting Medal

– MINIATURE Germany Prussia Commemorative Medal for the Franco-Prussian War 1870 1871 in Bronze for Combatants

– Medal Bar With 6 Awards: Hindenburg Cross (no medal), “250” medal, FA Kreuz, 1914 Loyal Service cross and 1914 EK2

These wonderful items come ready for further research and display!