Germany, Luftwaffe. A Medal Bar For An Eastern Front Combatant

(Luftwaffe Ordensschnalle). A medal bar for a Luftwaffe combatant with distinguished Eastern Front service, featuring five decorations, including:

1. A 1939 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of iron and silver, on loop for suspension 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 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 44.05 mm (w) x 47.78 mm (h), in near extremely 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 and with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed number “1939”, without visible marks, measuring 48.11 mm (w) x 48.64 mm (h), in near 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 36.09 mm (w) x 44.09 mm (h), with some loss of finish and minor oxidation visible, in very fine condition.

4. A Wehrmacht 4-Year Long Service Decoration, constructed of magnetic metal, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon pinned with Luftwaffe device, the obverse bearing a central 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 central wreathed number “4”, without visible marks, measuring 30.03 mm in diameter, with some surface oxidation visible, in very fine condition.

5. An Italian Russian Expedition Commemorative Cross, constructed of silvered zink with enamels, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée, the obverse with white enameled arms set within a ribbed border, the reverse bearing central engraved initials “C.S.I.R” (Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia/Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia), the arms engraved with the locations of key battles involving Italian forces on the Eastern Front, unmarked, measuring 42.68 mm (w) x 47.42 mm (h), with some chipping and loss of finish visible to the enamel and base metal, respectively, in very fine condition.

All suspended from a 140 mm-long aluminum bar with a horizontal pinback and black wool reverse liner, with minor soiling visible to the ribbons, in near extremely fine condition.