Germany, Wehrmacht. A Medal Bar for Afrikakorps Service

(Ordensschnalle). A medal bar for Afrikakorps service featuring three decorations, including:

1. A War Merit Cross II Class with Swords, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed date of “1939”, without visible marks, measuring 48.87 mm (w) x 49.20 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

2. An Italian War Merit Cross, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Geneva Cross, the bearing a five-pointed star on a radiant background, the reverse bearing an inscription of “MERITO DI GUERRA” (“WAR MERIT”), topped by the monogram of King Victor Emmanuel III, and situated above a wreathed sword, unmarked, measuring 37.61 mm (w) x 40.40 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

3. An Italian-German African Campaign Medal, constructed of a metal alloy, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing two gladiators (symbolizing Italy and Germany) grappling with a crocodile (symbolizing the United Kingdom), the reverse bearing a depiction of the Arco dei Fileni, flanked by a fasces and swastika, circumscribed by an inscription of “ITALIAN-GERMAN CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA” in both Italian and German, engraver marked “DE MARCHIS” and maker marked “LORIOLI, MILANO”, demonstrating the characteristics of a Type 5 medal reproduced in Germany during the war by Rudolf Souval, Vienna, with approval from Lorioli, measuring 31.50 in diameter, in near extremely fine condition.

All suspended from a 95 mm-long bar with a magnetic metal core, dark grey wool liner, and horizontal pinback, in extremely fine condition.