Germany, Third Reich. A Medal Bar for World War and Police Service

(Ordensschnalle). A medal bar for a combat veteran of both the First and Second World Wars with interwar police service, featuring six decorations, including:

1. A 1914 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 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, the suspension loop maker marked “K.A.G.” and stamped with a silver content number of “900”, measuring 43.38 mm (w) x 47.05 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

2. An Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 for Combatants, constructed of bronzed magnetic metal, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing central wreathed dates “1914-1918”, the reverse maker marked with the logo of an unidentified manufacturer, measuring 37.19 mm (w) x 41.56 mm (h), in better than very fine condition.

3. A War Merit Cross II Class with Swords, constructed of bronzed zink, 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”, unmarked, measuring 48.04 mm (w) x 49.59 mm (h), demonstrating near-total loss of bronze finish, in very fine condition.

4. A War Merit Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of “FÜR KRIEGSVERDIENST 1939” (“FOR WAR MERIT 1939”), unmarked, measuring 32.13 mm in diameter, demonstrating some loss of finish to the base metal, in very fine condition.

5. A Police Long Service Award, I Class for 25 Years, constructed of gilded bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon overlaid by an embroidered Police device post-application, consisting of a Cross Pattée with pebbled arms, the obverse bearing a central Ordnungspolizei insignia in the form of an oval oak leaf wreath overlaid by a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastikas, the reverse overlaid by a central oval medallion bearing a raised inscription of “FÜR TREUE DIENSTE IN DER POLIZEI” (“FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE IN THE POLICE”), unmarked, measuring 43.57 mm (w) x 48.74 mm (h), demonstrating pitting and loss of finish throughout the base metal resulting in some oxidation, in fair condition.

6. A Landwehr Long Service Award, II Class, constructed of copper, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 29.26 mm in diameter, in better than very fine condition.

All suspended from a 185 mm-long bar with a magnetic metal core, horizontal pinback, and red wool reverse liner, unmarked, demonstrating soiling and material fatigue throughout the ribbons with sporadic mothing of the reverse in an identical well-worn fashion evident to the decorations, in very fine condition.