Wonderful three-place medal bar that dates to the early Weimar/Freikorps period! He had likely been a veteran of one of Prussia’s conflicts prior to 1914, and then served on the home front during World War I, and was later active in the Friekorps. The medals featured here are from left to right: Ludwig Cross, German Legion of Honor, and the Franz Josef Jubilee Commemoration of the Armed Forces Medal. The Ludwig Cross is the blackened zinc variety, indicating late war manufacture. Overall, a very nice medal bar that displays well! The medal bar remains in very good condition, showing signs of age, use, and wear. Original felt backing present, as well as functioning pin. Please see the pictures for more detail. Guaranteed 100% authentic in every respect for life. Be sure to see our other listings for more historical antiques and militaria. Be sure to follow our store as new inventory is added daily. Ludwig Cross – King Ludwig Cross (1916) [Ludwigskreuz]. Awarded for voluntary work at home for the troops, or for welfare work. Black iron straight armed cross pattee with slightly convex ends to arms. The central medallion is oval. The obverse shows the head of Ludwig III. The reverse bears the date of the institution of the Cross’7.1.16′ on a background of Bavarian lozenges. The ribbon is 35 mm wide (as issued to male recipient’s), pale blue, and has a 19mm central band of narrow blue and white horizontal stripes. Later in the war the cross was also issued in bronze and blackened zinc. The German Legion of Honor was a veterans commemorative award of the Weimar Republic. The award was created in the 1920s under the authority of a “High Council of German Honor” composed of former German veterans, many of whom had served as high-ranking officers or even as generals during World War I. The award was presented apparently for civic accomplishments in peacetime by former veterans, with the criteria including the requirement that the recipient be an “excellent comrade and friend worthy of honor”. The High Council of German Honor was also connected extensively with the Freikorps movement and frequently awarded the decoration as a paramilitary award. Franz Josef Jubilee Commemoration of the Armed Forces Medal – This medal was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I and as a reward for those persons regardless of rank serving in the armed forces or constabulary that met the award requirements. It was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I and as a reward for those persons regardless of rank serving in the armed forces or constabulary that met the award requirements. · Soldiers who had served 3 years in the army by December 2, 1898. · Soldiers who had served 2 years in the army and one year in the Landsturm. · Soldiers serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina. · Reserve officers with one year of good service. · Navy Personnel with 3 years of good service. · Military Officials with one year of good service. · Gagiston (Military officials who had no place in the hierarchy of officers) with three years of good service. · Recipients of the 1873 War Medal.
