Germany, Imperial. A Fascinating Lot of Awards and Documents for First World War, Freikorps, and NSDAP Service to Robert Koch

(Konvolut). A fascinating and rare award and document grouping to Robert Koch, a First World War combatant who later served with the Freikorps and joined the NSDAP. It consists of:

1. A medal bar for First World War service featuring twelve decorations, including:

A Bavarian Military Merit Cross, I Class with Crown and Swords, constructed of a copper alloy, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms, the obverse bearing a central raised monogram of King Ludwig II, situated within  stylized belt and buckle bearing an inscription of “MERENTI” (“MERIT”) with arabesques, the twelve o’clock arm riveted with a crossed sword clasp, the reverse bearing a central raised Bavarian lion rampant, situated within a stylized belt and buckle bearing an institution date of “1866” with arabesques, without visible marks, measuring 42.70 mm (w) x 67.40 mm (h), demonstrating minor oxidation, in better than very fine condition.

A 1914 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of iron and silver, on loop for suspension with with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central initial “W”, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1914”, the twelve o’clock arm with a royal crown, the reverse with three central oak leaves, the six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, the twelve o’clock arm with initials “FW” topped by a royal crown, without visible marks, measuring 43.14 mm (w) x 48.16 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

A Flanders Cross, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon pinned with three campaign clasps, unmarked, measuring 40.40 mm (w) x 45.90 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

A Saxon War Honour Cross, constructed of gilded bronze with multi-coloured enamels, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 39.60 mm (w) x 52.58 mm h), in extremely fine condition.

A War Honour Cross of the Association of German War Participants, constructed of bronze with multi-coloured enamels, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 41.95 mm (w) x 46.72 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

An Austrian Honour Legion Cross, constructed of gilded bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon pinned with combatant’s clasp, unmarked, measuring 40.95 mm (w) x 44.25 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

A Medal of the German Honour Legion, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon pinned with clasp, unmarked, measuring 32.48 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.

A Prince Regent Luitpold Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 32.75 mm (w) x 44.57 mm (h), demonstrating minor loss of finish throughout the base metal, in very fine condition.

A Kyffhäuser Medal, constructed of gilded bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon pinned with clasp, the obverse engraver marked “HOSAEUS”, measuring 30.98 mm (w) x 46.88 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

A German Confession Cross, constructed of gilded bronze with multi-coloured enamels, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 42.30 mm (w) x 46.88 mm (h), demonstrating minor flecking to the enamels, in near extremely fine condition.

A Bavarian Long Service Award, III Class for 9 Years, constructed of silvered bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 33.18 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.

A Golden Wedding Anniversary Medal, constructed of magnetic iron, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the reverse engraver marked with the initials of Alois Boersch, measuring 38.04 mm in diameter, demonstrating minor tarnishing to the base metal, in near extremely fine condition.

All suspended from a 240 mm-long bar with a non-magnetic metal core, horizontal pinback, and white silk reverse liner, unmarked, demonstrating minor material fatigue, in near extremely fine condition.

2. A miniature award chain, constructed of blackened, gilded, and silvered bronze, featuring twelve awards, including a Bavarian Military Merit Cross III Class with Crown and Swords, a 1914 Iron Cross II Class, a Prince Regent Luitpold Medal, a Golden Wedding Anniversary Medal, a Kyffhäuser Medal, a Flanders Cross, a Medal of the German Honour Legion, a German Confession Cross, a German Field Honour Decoration, a Saxon War Honour Cross, a Bavarian Long Service Award III Class for 9 Years, and an Austrian Honour Legion Cross, suspended from a 130 mm-long multi-link bronze chain completing in a needle at each end for pin-on attachment, in extremely fine condition. 

3. A pair of ribbon bars, each featuring six decorations, including a 1914 Iron Cross II Class, a Bavarian Military Merit Cross III Class with Crown and Swords, an Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 for Combatants, a Prince Regent Luitpold Medal, a Bavarian Long Service Award III Class for 9 Years, and a Hungarian War Commemorative Cross, one bar measuring 180 mm in length and featuring a horizontal pinback, the other measuring 105 mm in length and configured for sew-on attachment, both demonstrating some soiling, in better than very fine condition.

4. A Sturmabteilung (SA) Gruppe Hochland cap insignia, constructed of gilded and silvered bronze, the reverse retaining both attachment prongs and marked with a Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) logo , measuring 40 mm (w) x 40 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition

5. A Sports Medal, constructed or bronze, unmarked, measuring 30 mm in diameter, accompanied by its original package of issue, in extremely fine condition.

The medals and insignia are accompanied by an array of interesting and unusual documents and paper items, including:

6. Five rare Freikorps service documents issued between 1919 and 1920, including an identification card and two discharge certificates, indicating that Koch served with Freiwilligen-Husaren Regiment 11, Freiwilligenescadron München 2. westphäl . Husarenregiment 11, Zeitfreiwilligen Kompagnie von der Planitz, and 1. Zeitfreiwilligen Bataillon von Godin (Schützenbrigade Epp/Freikorps Epp), one retaining a certified photograph of Koch, in overall extremely fine condition.

7. A Kyffhäuser League Freikorps Epp service certificate, constructed of paper stock with multi-coloured ink, named to Koch as a resident of Munich and combat veteran of Freikorps Epp, issued in Berlin on 1 July 1937, certified by the handwritten signature of SS-Gruppenführer Wilhelm Reinhard, measuring 23 cm (w) x 34 cm (h), in extremely fine condition.

8. An NSDAP membership booklet, constructed of a card stock binding with a faux red leather exterior liner, the cover bearing a gilded and embossed NSDAP-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed swastika, the interior content consisting of 44 paginated pages featuring handwritten bearer particulars, a certified black-and-white photograph of Koch, and membership due stamps for the years 1933-1938, measuring 10.5 cm (w) x 13.5 cm (h), in extremely fine condition.

9. Accompanied by a mixed lot of 18 award documents, sports booklets, and assorted paper items, in overall near extremely fine condition. 

Additional photos available upon request.