german documents with awards:
Imperial German & WWI – German documents that include the service medal
Showing all 33 results
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BADEN – AWARD DOCUMENT FOR THE MILITARY KARL-FRIEDRICH SILVER SERVICE MEDAL
SKU: 06-127$695.00
The Military Karl-Friedrich Silver Service Medal was the second highest award given to enlisted men and NCO’s by the Grand Duchy of Baden. As a matter of comparison, both Prussia and Bavaria offered decorations in these grades. In the Prussian Army, its 1st Class version, the Golden Military Merit Cross, was commonly referred to as the “Enlisted Man’s Blue Max.” This large format document, which measures 13″ x 8 1/4,” was awarded to Vizewachtmeister Paul Gerlach of Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 193 on 9 May 1917. The document has two horizontal folds and one vertical fold. It also has two holes punched on the side, probably because it was once a part of the man’s files. The document has the stamp of the Grand Duchy of Baden Ordenskanzler and the signature of the Chef. It appears to be von Babo, but I could be wrong on this point. This is a fine document for a very high level decoration. To give you an idea of the scarcity of this decoration, only 1,282 were awarded during the period of 1914 to 1917, with 589 of these awards made in 1917. (Also, each decoration was engraved with the name of the awardee on the reverse). Included is a handwritten letter with a regimental stamp on it, which refers to the decoration. I have not tried to translate the letter. I cannot say if it was the recommendation for the decoration, a transmittal letter for the decoration, or what. It is an intriguing companion piece…
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BAVARIA – 1914 IRON CROSS 2nd CLASS AND AWARD DOCUMENT
SKU: 06-188$150.00
This is a mini group of a 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and an award document. The man who received the award was a member of Infanterie-Regiment Nr 7 from Bavaria. The award was made in 1920, after WW I ended. The document has been laminated in plastic (not by me). One can see the stains and age on its reverse. One can also tell the document has been folded. The Iron Cross is on an original ribbon that measures 3.”In stock
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BAVARIA – AWARD DOCUMENT & DECORATION – MILITARY SERVICE CROSS 3rd CLASS – CROWN AND SWORDS
SKU: 06-202$425.00
This is a mini group consisting of the Military Service Cross 3rd Class with Crown and Swords (Militär-Verdienstkreuz 3. Klasse mit der Krone und mit Schwerten) from the Kingdom of Bavaria. The decoration was first authorized in 1866 during König (Mad) Ludwig II’s reign, when Bavaria fought on Austria’s (losing) side with her other allies (Saxony, Württemberg, Hannover, and Braunschweig) in the 1866 Austro-Prussian War. The decoration was awarded in three levels (1st through 3rd Classes). It was similar to the Iron Cross awards’ family, except it was awarded during peacetime as well as wartime. The cross was awarded by itself during peacetime. During wartime, it was awarded with swords. A higher level of the award featured a large crown. It is the latter we are offering today. The decoration, swords, and oversized crown are all bronze-toned and in very fine condition. A blue, white, and black ribbon is attached. The document accompanies it is very high-quality. It represents an early-war example, and measures 13″ x 8 1/4.” The King of Bavaria is mentioned at the top. The award was issued to a Max Kuhnigk, and is dated 23 December 1914. The document is countersigned by the Ordens-Großkanzler. Both document and decoration are in very fine condition.
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BAVARIA – AWARD DOCUMENT AND 1914 IRON CROSS – 2nd CLASS
SKU: 06-247$175.00
This is a combination of an award document and 1914 2nd Class. It was awarded to an Enlisted Man who served in Bavarian Jäger-Regiment Nr 1, Bataillone Nr 2.In stock
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BAVARIA – AWARD DOCUMENT AND DECORATION – MILITARY SERVICE CROSS 3rd CLASS WITH SWORDS – Josef Huber
SKU: 06-246$175.00
We are pleased to offer you today the award document for the Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with Swords. To accompany it is the actual decoration. The awardee was Josef Huber. The date of the award was 12 October 1918 with the document having been prepared on 21 October 1918…..In stock
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BAVARIA – MILITARY MERIT CROSS 3rd CLASS WITH SWORDS DECORATION AND AWARD DOCUMENT
SKU: 06-234$250.00
This is a Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with Swords award document (urkunde) and decoration. The Military Merit Cross was established in 1866 during (“Mad”) König Ludwig II’s (1845-1886) reign. Bavaria had aligned herself with Austria, Saxony, Württemberg, and Hannover. The sharp, brief war lasted seven weeks in which Austria and her allies were soundly defeated. During the conflict, Ludwig II authorized two completely different decoration lines for Bavaria’s soldiers. The first line was the Military Merit Order (MMO), which was limited to officers. The second line was the Military Merit Cross (MMC), intended for enlisted men and NCO’s. Both were introduced during the conflict. The MMC came to be Bavaria’s enlisted men and NCO’s Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class equivalents. In wartime it could be awarded with Swords and/or a Crown. The Crown signified a higher or second award within the three classes in which the decoration was awarded. Our Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with Swords (Militär-Verdienstkreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwerten), with its urkunde, was awarded on 15 March 1915 to an “L. Wiedemann” from Bavaria’s Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr 3. While the award’s date was 15 March, the Ordenskanzler’s Office did not sign off on it until 24 March. WW I was only about 19-months-old, so it was a relatively early award. The document measures 8” x 12” and has been folded into quarters. The decoration is in excellent condition. The pair will make an appealing display.
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BRAUNSCHWEIG – DOCUMENT AND DECORATION – WAR SERVICE CROSS 2nd CLASS
SKU: 06-207$225.00
This is the document and decoration for the War Service Cross 2nd Class from the Duchy of Braunschweig. The decoration was its equivalent of the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class. The Duchy had only one Infanterie Regiment, one Kavallerie Regiment, and one Artillerie Battery. The decoration was awarded to both the native sons of Braunschweig and other German allies. The document was issued to an Unteroffizier Furrmann. He served in Reserve-Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 19. The document was issued on 27 June 1918. The decoration is mounted on a blue and yellow, court-wrapped ribbon. It measures 13″ x 8 1/4.” This makes for a very pleasing group.In stock
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GERMANY – DOCUMENT AND AWARD – 1914 IRON CROSS 2nd CLASS – GERMAN NAVAL SEAMAN
SKU: 06-241$250.00
German naval operations were based in two areas of Germany: the North Sea’s Wilhelmshaven and the Baltic Sea’s Kiel. [During WW I Kaiser Wilhelm II’s brother, Prinz Heinrich of Prussia, was a Großadmiral (the only Großadmiral to have tactical command at the front) based at Kiel. He was responsible for operations in the Baltic against the Russians. Kiel was always a secondary front, since Wilhelmshaven hosted Germany’s biggest, newest, and best ships as they faced the English fleet. This was particularly true in 1916 when the two fleets clashed at the Battle of Jutland (Skagerrak)]….In stock
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GERMANY – 1914 IRON CROSS 2nd CLASS DOCUMENT IN A FRAME
SKU: 06-148$250.00
This is a very early war award document for a man who served in 1. Garde-Reserve-Regiment in the 7. Kompagnie. This document was issued in December 1914, so it is very early war. The document is signed by an oberstleutnant and regimental commander. The document is mounted in a period frame. The latter must be handled with care as it has substantial age. This is a nice document that has been in this frame for 80+ years.
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GERMANY – 1914 IRON CROSSES 1st AND 2nd CLASS – DOCUMENTS & DECORATIONS
SKU: 06-220$550.00
This is a most interesting mini group that consists of three backdated documents for the 1914 Iron Cross. The man involved was named Julius Lelonge. He served in Jäger-Bataillon Nr 10 during WW I. He originally was awarded the EK 1 on 30 June 1918. The three documents are all dated April or May 1937. They either are backdated, or served as replacements for his original citation. Lelonge was born in 1898, and was serving with Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon Nr 10 in 1937. Two of the documents are signed by his Bataillon Commander and bear the unit’s stamp. The third document comes from Berlin. Also, another document, dated 6 June 1916, awards Lelonge the Iron Cross 2nd Class. It sports the Armee-Korps to which Lelonge’s Bataillon was attached commanding general’s typewritten name. The general’s name was Kosch. Included are the actual Iron Crosses. The 1st Class is a true issued cross as it is hallmarked “KO” on the reverse. The 2nd Class has a correct period ribbon that shows great age. It is a wonderful group.
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GERMANY – AWARD DOCUMENT – 1914 IRON CROSS 1st CLASS – FELDWEBEL LEUTNANT – RESERVE-INFANTERIE-REGIMENT NR 212
SKU: 06-184$395.00
This is a combination of an award document for a 1914 Iron Cross and the actual medal. The document measures 4″ X 6 1/2 “. It is typed on onionskin. The document’s condition is not the greatest. It has some tears. It is complete, however. The award was made to Feldwebel Leutnant Gebhard, who served in Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr 212. It appears he was in a military hospital near Hamburg recovering from wounds he suffered at the Front. The date is 28 December 1915. It is signed at the bottom in purple grease pencil. [I cannot read the accompanying comment, or the writer’s name]. The Iron Cross that goes with it is a very salty, well-used example. It is very slightly vaulted. The paint’s condition is poor. The pair has a lot of character.
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GERMANY – AWARD DOCUMENT – BLACK ARMY WOUND BADGE
SKU: 06-190$95.00
This is a mini group of the award document and decoration for the Black Army Wound Badge. The document measures 5 3/4″ x 8 1/4.” The document has been folded into quarters. As the Wound Badge was not authorized until March 1918, many men earned the badge, but did not receive it prior to the war’s end in November 1918. This document is either a replacement document or an award that had not been made previously. It is dated December 1936. It was issued to a Josef Kaufmann. It bears a Third Reich rubber stamp in the lower left corner. I find it interesting that probably a lot of these documents were prepared and issued, as it has a place to note what class (color) the award was for, AND it differentiates between an Army badge and a Navy badge. The accompanying wound badge is in good condition.
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GERMANY – AWARD DOCUMENT – DECORATION – 1914 IRON CROSS 1st CLASS
SKU: 06-201$595.00
This is a marvelous mini group that consists of the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class and its award document. Such a fine pair has a to recommend it. First, it was awarded to an officer, Leutnant der Reserve Coesfeld. Second, he was assigned to Reserve Jäger Bataillon Nr 21. The document was signed personally by the Deutschen-Jäger-Division’s commander, a generalmajor. The document was signed on 14 June 1918. It measures 6 1/2″ x 8 1/4,”and sports the Deutschen-Jäger-Division’s unit stamp. The commanding general’s signature is rendered in the typical purple grease pencil so often used in the field instead of black ink. The 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class is vaulted. It has very fine paint on the obverse that rates at nearly 98%. The frame displays a pleasing patina. The reverse features a flat pin, with no evidence of silver or manufacturer’s hallmarks. It is a very handsome group from a unit and division that is rarely represented.
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GERMANY – AWARD DOCUMENT AND 1914 IRON CROSS 1st CLASS IDENTIFIED TO ULANEN-REGIMENT Nr 10’S BAERECKE
SKU: 06-236$550.00
This is an award document and 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class for a man attached to Ulanen-Regiment Nr 10. The award was to a Rittmeister Baerecke of that regiment. The document is dated 18 April 1916. The document was issued by the VIII. Armee’s Oberkommando. A rubber stamp for that unit appears in the lower left corner. In the lower right corner, we see that it was signed by an VIII. Armee Staff Adjutant/Oberleutnant. The 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class that accompanies the document is of the “issued” variety. It is flat. It sports the “KO” on the reverse, hallmarked under the catch. The Iron Cross’s condition is quite pleasing, overall.
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GERMANY – AWARD DOCUMENT FOR THE HAMBURG HANSEATIC CROSS
SKU: 06-135$150.00
This is a fine example of the award document for the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross. The document is ornate. It was awarded to a man who served in Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr 20. The document was signed and issued on 12 November 1918, one day after the end of the Great War.
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GERMANY – DOCUMENT AND AWARD GROUPING – IDENTIFIED – ARNOLD GEORG JOHANNSEN – KAISERLICHE MARINE
SKU: 06-248 XSK$2,995.00
We are pleased to present this remarkable and complete grouping belonging to Bootsmannsmaat (Boatswain’s Mate) Arnold Georg Johannsen, Kaiserliche Marine (German Imperial Navy). ….In stock
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GERMANY – DOCUMENT AND DECORATION – 1914 IRON CROSS 1st CLASS
SKU: 06-193$450.00
This is an award document and actual decoration for the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class. The document is to Leutnant der Reserve Schmidt. The document, which measures 6 1/2″ x 8 1/4,” is a late-war example. In fact, it was awarded in October 1918. Schmidt served in Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr 50. The document has been signed by an oberstleutnant and regiment commander. The 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class is a “KO” issued example, with normal wear. It is one of the latest Iron Cross documents I have seen that was still issued during WW I.
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GERMANY – DOCUMENT GROUP TO AN OFFICER
SKU: 06-102$225.00
This is a small, but interesting, document to an acting officer (Offizier -Stellvertreter) who served in an infantry regiment during WW I. The documents in this group belonged to Friedrich Kraus, who served in Infantry Regiment Nr 131. The documents are as follows: Document for the Silver Service Medal with ribbon to the Karl-Friedrich Service Medal dated 15 November 1915. Document for the Iron Cross 1st Class dated 7 June 1919 (it is always interesting to see documents for the Iron Cross dated after the end of the war. Document for the Kyffhäuser Bund issued 22 March 1925. Document for the Hindenburg Cross for Combatants dated 1 November 1934. Document for the 25 Years True Service in Silver True Service Badge awarded 14 June 1939. It is a lovely assortment of WW I and post WW I documents to a single man.
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GERMANY – DOCUMENT WITH AWARD – FELD-LUFTSCHIFFER-ABTEILUNG DOCUMENT AND DECORATION GROUP
SKU: 06-240$550.00
Due to their limited numbers, we are seldom able to offer Luftschiffer-Abteilung document and decoration groups. Today, however, we have just such a collection! The Imperial German Army operated a variety of airship detachments, although its “glamour” division featured zeppelins. Early in WW I, the Army and Navy both operated zeppelin fleets…..In stock
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GERMANY – IRON CROSS – 1914 – 2nd CLASS AND AWARD DOCUMENT
SKU: 06-244$250.00
IRON CROSS – 1914 – 2nd CLASS AND AWARD DOCUMENT. This 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class is paired with its award document. The award of the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class was given on 10 Oktober 1917 to Unteroffizier d. L. Paul Sonnemann, who was assigned to Vermessungs-Abteilung Nr 24. I have never heard of this unit type. Perhaps he was assigned to either a Pionier or Artillerie unit. The most detail interesting is the document’s form. Its left upper corner indicates that it came from Armee-Oberkommando der 4. Armee. The Armee-Oberkommando 4. Armee’s rubber unit stamp appears at the document’s bottom. It was signed with a blue grease pencil by a Major serving as the commanding general’s adjutant. A bit of quick research shows us that in October 1917 the commanding general was Generaloberst Friedrich Sixt von Armin (1851-1936). He previously had been the IV. Armeekorps’ commander. Von Armin had assumed command of the Armeekorps upon Paul von Hindenburg’s retirement in 1911. Von Armin led this unit until February 1917. His Corps was assigned to von Kluck early in the war and fought in both France and Belgium. He was highly-decorated, receiving both the Orden Pour le Mérite and the Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves. He also received the Order of the Black Eagle, which was more typically given to royals. However, he came from a well-known Prussian family and had performed admirably during the Franco-Prussian War and WW I, so an exception was made. It is a…In stock
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GERMANY – OFFICER’S DOCUMENT – DECORATION – PHOTOGRAPH – 1914 IRON CROSS 1st CLASS
SKU: 06-195$650.00
This is a mini group to an officer who received the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class. His name was Hauptmann d. L. II Karl Pletscher. As indicated on the document, Pletscher was a member of Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr 30. At the time of the award he was forty-four years-old and hardly a youngster. The award document measures 6 1/4″ x 8.” It features the award date (1. April 1918) and the regimental commander’s signature (he was a major). [This illustrates the officers’ attrition rate by the late war, having a major command a regiment instead of an oberst]. A privately-purchased EK 1 accompanies the document. The Iron Cross is a “KO-manufactured,” flat (non vaulted) model, which was the primary, issued 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class. We can see the KO hallmark under the reverse’s catch. A large-format photograph depicts Pletscher when he was a younger officer, probably as a leutnant around the turn of the 20th Century. A 10 September 1918 clipping from Berlin’s Allgemeiner Anzeiger zum Militär Wochenblatt (General Gazette Weekly Newspaper for the Military) accompanies the mini group. It features several soldiers’ obituaries, including Pletscher’s. His mentions that he died on the battlefield on 10 August 1918, exactly a month before the obituary notice. This is an interesting, and ultimately, touching, group of items.In stock
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GERMANY – POST WW I IRON CROSS 1st CLASS DOCUMENT AND DECORATION
SKU: 06-228$525.00
This is an interesting post-WW I Iron Cross 1st Class and award document. As was the case after the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815 and the Franco-Prussian War ceased in 1871, WW I’s Iron Crosses often took several years to be distributed to their worthy recipients. This is one of the latest awards of the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class that I have ever encountered. The Besiß-Zeugnis (document), which measures 8 ½” x 6 ½,” was issued in 1924, some six years after WW I’s end. The document is signed by a General der Infanterie. It bears Gruppenkommando 2’s unit stamp. Gruppenkommando 2 was based at Cassel. Along with the Besiß-Zeugnis is a 1914 Iron Cross without a hallmark that shows signs of wear.In stock
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HAMBURG – AWARD DOCUMENT AND DECORATION – HANSEATIC CROSS – Walter Grantien
SKU: 06-245$225.00
This is a fine pair of the award document and Hanseatic Hamburg Cross. This award was made to an Unteroffizier Walter Grantien who served in Infanterie-Regiment Nr 69….In stock
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MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN – 1870 MILITARY SERVICE CROSS 2nd CLASS AND URKUNDE
SKU: 06-187$1,495.00
This is a simply marvelous group which consists of the 1870 Military Service Cross 2nd Class and its Urkunde (award document) from the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, Friedrich Franz II (1823-1883) ruled the duchy. He sat on the throne from 1842 to 1883. Mecklenburg-Schwerin had long been Prussia’s ally. It fought with Prussia during the 1864 Danish-Prussian War and the 1866 Austro-Prussian War. The document and decoration were awarded to a young officer by the name of Wilhelm Meyer. Meyer served in Hannoversches Pionier Bataillon Nr 10. The regiment was raised in 1804. It was garrisoned in Minden and assigned to the X. ArmeeKorps. The Bataillon was a former Hanoverian unit. It fought proudly in the Peninsular Campaign and at Waterloo with the Duke of Wellington. Its men carried the bandeaux for those campaigns on their pickelhauben. Meyer went on to become a Generalleutnant in the Prussian Army. He was assigned to the General Staff for matters relating to Pionier-Bataillons. The document is quite ornate and measures 12 1/4″ x 7 1/2.” It is dated 31 December 1872 and signed by Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The embossed seal of the Duchy appears on the document. The decoration is the same size as an 1870 Iron Cross 2nd Class. It is gilt-toned. A short length of original ribbon, measuring 4 1/2″ x 1 1/2,” is present. The silk ribbon is light blue, yellow, and red. The Military Service Cross 2nd Class was awarded in…
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MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN – DOCUMENT & DECORATION – 1914 MILITARY SERVICE CROSS 2nd CLASS
SKU: 06-221$250.00
This is a fine group that consists of the 1914 Military Service Cross 2nd Class and the award document (urkunde) for that decoration. The decoration has a fine gilt finish and an original ribbon that accompanies it. Also included is the original award document, which measures 12″ x 8.” The document was awarded to a Leutnant der Reserve Gustav Kluggenburg. Kluggenburg was attached to the 3. Maschinengewehr of Leib Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm III (1. Brandenburgisches Nr 8. The document was prepared and issued 21 November 1917. It has Mecklenburg-Schwerin’s Coat-of-Arms and a reproduction signature of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV. It makes a fine presentation.
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MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN – MILITARY SERVICE CROSS 2nd CLASS DOCUMENT AND DECORATION
SKU: 06-206$225.00
This is a fine example of both the award document and the actual Military Service Cross 2nd Class from the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The large-format document measures 13″ x 8 1/8.” The document was issued to a man who served in Reserve Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 36. The regiment was created in 1890 and garrisoned at Danzig, which was close to Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The document is dated 18 August 1917. It bears Friedrich Franz IV’s reproduction signature. The decoration looks similar to the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class, which was its equivalent. It has a gilt finish and is actually set up as a one-place medal bar. The blue, yellow, and red ribbon shows wear.
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MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN – MILITARY SERVICE CROSS 2nd CLASS DOCUMENT AND DECORATION
SKU: 06-215$225.00
This is the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin’s Military Service Cross 2nd Class, with its award document (urkunde). The document measures 8″ x 12.” The award was made to a man named Kruse. He was a member of the XXVI. Armeekorps. The award date was 28 April 1916. At the document’s bottom is the Grand Duchy’s Coat-of-Arms, as well as a reproduction of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV’s signature. The decoration is in very fine condition with a short length of original ribbon.In stock
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PRUSSIA – ALLGEMEINES EHRENZEICHEN 2nd CLASS AND AWARD DOCUMENT IN THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION CASE
SKU: 06-200$350.00
This is a mini group of the Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen 2nd Class in silver. The civil decoration was first awarded in two classes during the 1810 Napoleonic War, while König Friedrich Wilhelm III ruled Prussia. Our offering today is the final version, which was awarded from 1895 through 1917. The decoration is in nearly-mint condition. It measures 1 1/2″ in diameter. The 2nd Class was only awarded in silver. The obverse displays König Friedrich Wilhelm III’s royal cypher. The reverse states “Verdienst Um Den Staat” (Service for the State). The decoration is housed in a black leatherette case that measures 2″ x 2 3/4″ x 3/4.” Inside the case gold trim runs around the frame’s edges. The case opens from the side rather than from the bottom. The silk liner on the left is black, while the case’s fitted bottom is lined in black velvet. An 13″ length of original red and white ribbon is laid over the decoration’s top. The original urkunde (award document), measuring 13″ x 8,” is included. The document is in the same format used by virtually all Prussian decorations, including the Red Eagle Orders, Crown Orders, Hohenzollern House Orders, and even the Orden Pour le Mérite. The man receiving the award was named Wilhelm Geuting. The award was made in September 1902! Below the basic information, the document is signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Ordens Kanzler. It is a beautiful set, in superb condition.
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PRUSSIA – AWARD DOCUMENT GROUP TO ARTHUR HAY
SKU: 06-126$2,495.00
I have been holding onto this document group for more than three years. I kept it partly because it is extremely interesting. Another reason: it took a long time to familiarize myself adequately with its contents so I could describe it. It concerns a Prussian officer with the unexpected name “Arthur Hay.” Hay went from an Unteroffizier in 1886, to at least the rank of Oberstleutnant in 1917. He started in the cavalry and served in both Ulanen, Husaren and Dragoon regiments prior to the war’s outbreak. He achieved the coveted rank of Rittmeister well before the war began in 1914. As best as I can make out, he went from the cavalry to the infantry [as the war developed, most cavalry fought as dismounted troops. WW I showed once and for all that mounted troops were outmoded]. He served as an infantryman until the end of the war. I do not know his final rank, but he may have gone on to be an oberst, or possibly a general. I will leave this as part of the fun for the eventual buyer researching this man. Hay served at least THIRTY years in uniform. He survived the war and even received the Hindenburg Cross in 1935. No less than SIX Promotion Patents are present, covering him from the ranks of Unteroffizier up to major. Each patent is very ornate and hand printed by a skilled calligrapher, with special seals. Also in this group are many award documents. Of his three…
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PRUSSIA – PROMOTION DOCUMENTS (PATENTS) FOR AN OFFICER IN THE PRUSSIAN ARMY
SKU: 06-125$195.00
This is a set of two promotion or “patents” to one man in the Prussian Army. The first shows the promotion of a man from vizefeldwebel to leutnant der reserve. It is always interesting to see a man who has come up through the ranks and this was not terribly common twelve years before the beginning of WW I. His name was Wilhelm Fehler. This document was prepared 16 December 1902. There is a second document prepared on 27 January 1912 promoting Fehler from leutnant der reserve to oberleutnant der reserve. Both of these documents are quite ornate. They both measure 14 ¼” x 8 ½ .” The document has four sides, and opens up like a book. Each of the documents has holes punched into its side. Obviously, they were a part of a military record Fehler kept on himself, which was quite common among officers.
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PRUSSIA – RED EAGLE ORDER 4th CLASS AND AWARD DOCUMENTS
SKU: 06-172$695.00
This is a very fine example of the Order of the Red Eagle 4th Class and its award document (Urkunde) from Prussia. The Red Eagle Order is a complete family of decorations, containing breast stars, neck orders, and ribboned medals. Our example includes an ornate document dated 22 August 1907 and made out to a Carl Friedrich Rohte. It is signed by the Ordens Kanzler. This is a civil, and not a military, award. Three additional documents relating to the decoration’s award and other decorations that he received are included, such as the transmittal letters, etc. The decoration itself comes on a very short ribbon. The decoration’s only flaw is a chip to its hand-painted center.In stock
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SAXONY – DOCUMENT FOR THE FRIEDRICH-AUGUST MEDAL IN BRONZE
SKU: 06-113$125.00
This is a very fine document for the Friedrich-August Medal in Bronze from Saxony. It is dated 30 November 1917. A staff officer by the name of Walter Keller earned it. He served in III. Abteilung Feldartillerie Regiment Nr 279. The document bears the signature and unit stamp for Infantry Division Nr 212. The signature is from a Generalmajor, whose name appears to be Francke. This was not an especially high-ranking decoration. It is unusual to see it signed by a generalmajor and Division Kommandeur so late in the war. Keller must have been well-thought-of, since documents such as these would often have been signed by just Bataillon or regimental commanders.
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SAXONY – PAIR OF DOCUMENTS TO A SOLDIER WHO SERVED IN SAXON KARBINER & ULANEN REGIMENTS
SKU: 06-143$125.00
This is an interesting pair of documents for a soldier (Rudenz Halm) who served in Königl. Sächs Karbiner Regiment before the war. One of the two documents is a certificate of satisfactory service during his two-year enlistment (1910-1912). The document is signed by his company (squadron) commander (chef). The second document is for the award of the Friedrich-August Medal in Bronze, This award was made in January 1918 while the man was assigned to Königl. Sächs Reserve Ulanen Schutzen Regiment. It is signed by the regimental commander, a major. It displays the regiment’s unit stamp. Both documents have been folded. They are most interesting. The Karbiner-Regiment was a very elite mounted regiment in the Saxon Army. It stood just behind the Garde-Reiter-Regiment in terms of status amongst cavalry regiments. The Ulanen-Schutzen-Regiment was a composite reserve regiment formed after August 1914, but was still an elite regiment. Just guessing, I would say it is very possible that Halm was wounded earlier in the war and was reassigned to the Ulanen regiment after his recovery.
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