Another of my favourite Medal Bars. Since I started collecting “Bavarian Stuff”, I always wanted to have the combination of these two Baden and Bavarian Orden.
It has the following order:
– Militär-Verdienstorden 4. Klasse mit Schwertern (Bayern).
– Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse. (Preußen).
– Prinzregent Luitpold Medaille in Bronze. (Bayern).
– Orden vom Zähringer Löwen 2. Klasse mit Schwertern. (Baden).
Just to understand the position of the Decorations, we have to take into consideration, that this is an “Ordensspange” to be worn in a Frack Suit, which is why I wrote in the title, that it is too warm to wear now a Frack (I am writing the article with almost 30 Degrees Celsius outside and high humidity). Coming back to the position of the decorations, in a Frack-Spange, the importance of the Ordens goes from right to left. Please see attached a picture, where you can see the way and where this type of medal bar was worn. The normal order is from left to right.
Another “feature”, that I specially love from the Bavarian and Saxon Medal Bars is the fact, that many of them put their State Medals before the “mighty” (and Prussian) Iron Cross.
The Orden vom Zähringer Löwen is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful of the Imperial Germany Period. It was the second house Orden, behind the Hausorden der Treue. In front Medallion, we see the ruins of the Zähringer Family Castle.
In addition, we can put more or less a date to this “Ordensschnalle”; between 1920 and 1934. After this date, it is very common for the veterans to add the Ehrenkreuz 1914 -1918, also known as the Hindenburg Cross. Also, it was mandatory during the Third Reich to put the Iron Cross first and the other come after.
This officer started his career in the Bavarian army after 1900, because the absence of the cross for 24 years of service and also because the Prinzregent Luitpold Medaille was awarded in 1905. There is another possibility that he was not in the Army then but a public servant. But I believe he was in the Army, as well as it is easy to deduct, he was part of a wealthy family, or at least, it was a family that can afford a Frack and a Medal Bar to go with.
Well, today is the article a little bit short, but once again, it is too warm outside. I think I will have a Beer.