Germany, Wehrmacht. An Unusual Medal Bar for an Eastern Front Combatant

(Ordensschnalle). An unusual medal bar for an Eastern Front combatant featuring fix decorations, including:

1 A 1939 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of iron and silver, on loop for suspension with its period original early-issue ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central mobile swastika, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1939”, the reverse six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, without visible marks, measuring 43.96 mm (w) x 49.71 mm (h), demonstrating minor loss of finish to the core resulting in some surface oxidation, in very fine condition.

2. A War Merit Cross II Class, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms, the obverse bearing a central wreathed swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed date of “1939”, without visible marks, measuring 48.67 mm (w) x 49.53 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

3. An Eastern Front Medal, constructed of silvered and patinated zink, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a swastika, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of “WINTERSCHLACHT IM OSTEN 1941/42” (“WINTER BATTLE IN THE EAST 1941/42”), above a crossed sword and laurel branch, topped by a Stahlhelm and stick grenade, without visible marks, measuring 36.08 mm (w) x 44.44 mm (h), demonstrating near-total loss of finish, in very fine condition.

4. A Wehrmacht 4-Year Long Service Award, constructed of magnetic metal, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, circumscribed by an inscription of “TREUE DIENSTE IN DER WEHRMACHT” (“FAITHFUL SERVICE IN THE WEHRMACHT”), the reverse bearing a wreathed number “4”, unmarked, measuring 30.45 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.

5. A second Wehrmacht 4-Year Long Service Award, constructed of magnetic metal, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, circumscribed by an inscription of “TREUE DIENSTE IN DER WEHRMACHT” (“FAITHFUL SERVICE IN THE WEHRMACHT”), the reverse bearing a wreathed number “4”, unmarked, measuring 30.17 mm in diameter, in very fine condition.

6. A West Wall Medal, constructed of bronzed zink, on loop for suspension with its original ribbon, consisting of a double-sided oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the top and bottom by ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised pillbox topped by crossed sword and shovel and a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of “FÜR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCHLANDS” (“FOR WORK IN THE PROTECTION OF GERMANY”), unmarked, measuring 33.42 mm (w) x 45.55 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

All suspended from a 170 mm-long two-piece bar with a horizontal pinback and field-grey wool reverse liner, the mixture of combatant and non-combatant awards possibly indicates shifting service roles, while the second half of the bar (which commences with the initial Long Service Award) features an unusual combination of awards with ribbons for the miniature version of the 1939 Iron Cross II Class visible beneath the award ribbons, an interesting example in very fine condition.