Austria, Imperial. A Medal Bar with Nine Awards to an Established Austrian War Veteran

A vast medal bar belonging to an established Austrian war veteran who likely served in a civilian role during the Third Reich. The medal bar consisting of nine medals and awards, including:

1. An Austrian Military Merit Cross III. Class with Swords. (Militärverdienstkreuz). Instituted on October 24th, 1849. Second Period (1914-1918 Issue). Of multi-piece construction, in silver with red and white enamels, consisting of a Cross Pattée with red and white enameled arms, with gilded laurel leaves in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the obverse with a central white enameled medallion inscribed with “Verdienst” (Merit), the reverse with white enameled arms and a white enameled center medallion, on a fixed integral ring and swivel loop for suspension, measuring 30.4 mm (w) x 30.9 mm (l).

2. An Austrian Military Merit Medal “Signum Laudis”. (Militärverdienstmedaille “Signum Laudis”). Instituted on March 12th, 1890. A circular gilded bronze medal, the obverse with the rightward facing bust of Kaiser Franz Joseph, circumscribed by his name and title in Latin, the reverse inscribed “Signum Laudis” (A Sign of Praise) in capitalized lettering within a laurel and oak wreath, topped by an attached semi-hollow crown for suspension, measuring 30.6 mm in diameter.

3. A Third Reich German War Merit Cross II. Class without Swords. (Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter). Instituted October 18th, 1939. Constructed of bronze, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms, the obverse bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed date of “1939”, on a fixed integral ring and swivel loop for suspension, measuring 47.8 mm (w) x 47.3 mm (l).

4. A Prussian Merit Cross for War Aid. (Verdienstkreuz für Kriegshilfe). Instituted December 5th, 1916.  Mounted in reverse. Constructed of zinc, consisting of a Maltese Cross, the obverse with a central integrated medallion inscribed “Für Kriegshilfsdienst” in capitalized lettering within a halved oak wreath, the reverse with a similar central medallion bearing the crowned cypher of King Wilhelm II, on an integrated pierced fan and swivel loop for suspension, measuring 41.2 mm (w) x 41.2 mm (l). 

5. A German Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918. (Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918). Instituted on July 13th, 1934. Constructed of bronzed magnetic metal, consisting of a Cross Pattée with crossed swords and dated “1914” and “1918” centrally within a laurel wreath, the reverse is plain, on an integral ring for suspension, measuring 37.6 mm (w) x 38.0 mm (l). 

6. An Austrian War Commemorative Medal with Swords. (Kriegserinnerungsmedaille mit Schwertern). Instituted March 13rd, 1933. A circular tombac medal, the obverse with a rightward facing eagle with open wings and the Austrian Coat of Arms on its chest, inscribed “Für Österreich” (For Austria) in capitalized lettering, the reverse dated “1914” and “1918” centrally within a laurel wreath, suspended from an integral horizontally-pierced block and ring, measuring 36.0 mm in diameter.

7. A Third Reich German Civil Long Service Cross. (Treudienst Ehrenzeichen). Instituted on January 30th, 1938. Constructed of silvered bronze with enamels, on loop for suspension, consisting of a Cross Pattée with pebbled arms joined through the quadrants by a circular oak leaf wreath, the obverse bearing a central black enameled swastika, the reverse bearing a central raised inscription of “FÜR TREUE DIENSTE” (“FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE”), unmarked, measuring 41.2 mm (w) x 41.1 mm (l).

8. An Austrian Commemorative Jubilee Cross 1848-1908. (Militär Jubiläumskreuz). Instituted August 14th, 1908. Constructed of gilded bronze, on a loop for suspension, consisting of a Cross Pattée with an oak wreath in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the obverse with an integrated central medallion bearing the rightward facing bust of Kaiser Franz Joseph, the reverse dated “1848” and “1908”, unmarked, measuring 36.0 mm (w) x 36.2 mm (l).

9. An Austrian Balkan Mobilization Cross 1912/1913. (Erinnerungskreuz 1912/1913). Instituted July 9th, 1913. Constructed of gilded bronze, on an integrated loop for suspension, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a central integrated medallion dated “1912” and “1913”, unmarked, measuring 34.5 mm (w) x 34.3 mm (l). 

All medals and decorations are mounted onto a medal bar via their original ribbons, the medal bar with a magnetic metal core and a green wool backer, with a functional elongated horizontal pinback for attachment to an uniform, unmarked, measuring 195 mm (w) x 43 mm (l). An unnamed example of a fine grouping of awards, with light soiling on the ribbons but in overall near extremely fine condition.