06-173 IRON CROWN ORDER 3^rd CLASS WITH SWORDS - ORIGINAL AWARD DOCUMENT - AUSTRIA. This is an Order of the Iron Crown 3^rd Class with Swords along with its original award document, from Austria. The award document is quite large and ornate. It measures 12 3/4" x 7 1/4." The document’s format is quite similar to Prussian documents in many ways. At the top, the document begins," Seine Majestät Der Kaiser von Oesterreich König von Bohmen u.s.w. und Apostolischre König von Ungaren." The document follows that the awardee is a Dr. Artur Trotter, who serves in the Army Reserves. The award is dated 7 February 1916 with notice made in Vienna on 26 February by the Chief or the Ordens section. This official’s signature is at the bottom. In the left lower cover of the document is a huge embossed seal of the Kaiser’s House, complete with the double-headed Austrian Eagle. This document is in PERFECT condition for being ninety years old. It has never even been folded. It has been cared for beautifully all of these years. This is the identical theme used on the Iron Eagle itself.  As for the Iron Eagle, it is in wonderful condition. The decoration’s obverse is in sparkling condition, with all of the enamel in first-rate condition. The same goes for the reverse. The decoration’s blue and yellow ribbon is in the Austrian tri-fold style. The gilt crossed swords are attached to the ribbon. They make a very fine pair. $1,795.00

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06-177 ENLISTED MAN’S FRAMED DOCUMENT AND DECORATIONS - GARDE-GRENADIER-REGIMENT Nr 4. This is an interesting framed grouping of a document and decorations from a man who served in Königin Augusta Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr 4. The regiment was established in 1860. It was garrisoned in Berlin, where it was attached to the Garde Korps. The presentation comes in a period frame, and measures 10 1/4" x 8 1/4." Inside the frame is an award document for the 1914 Iron Cross 1^st Class, which measures 8 1/4" x 6 1/4." The man’s award of the Iron Cross 1^st Class did not come until 17 September 1924. This is the latest awarding of the Iron Cross 1^st Class that I have seen, personally. It is truly remarkable, since the award comes nearly six years after the war’s end! It is signed by a General der Infantrie of the Reichs Heer, who was stationed in Cassel. The man receiving the decoration was named Wald. Within the regiment he was assigned to the 2. Machine Gun Kompagnie. A red and white ribbon is stretched diagonally across the frame’s upper left corner. A Gallipoli Star has been secured in its lower left corner. The upper right corner displays a ribbon for the 1914 Iron Cross 2^nd Class. Finally, the lower right corner shows a 1914 Iron Cross 2^nd Class that has been converted to a 1^st Class. The decoration’s ring has been removed from its top, and the remains have been neatly filed off.  The frame’s back displays several interesting bits and pieces. Two newspaper photos of General Liman von Sanders appear. He was the German commander in Turkey, who dealt directly with Germany’s Turkish allies. He was greatly respected by the Turks and constantly honored by them. A portion of a Feldpost card from Wald to a loved one back home is included. It features the regimental stamp for Königin Augusta Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr 4. Under this material is a blue envelope with the German name for the Gallipoli Star. This might be the original award envelope for this decoration. Finally, an original photograph of Wald as a young man in the full dress uniform of Königin Augusta Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr 4 appears. A small, hand carved pipe also comes with the framed collage. It measures 8 1/4" in length. It seems like a style one might find in Turkey or other portions of the Middle East. It is ready to hang on your wall. You can even have a pleasant smoke while you admire it. $1,095.00  

 

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06-174 VIZEFELDWEBEL’S DOCUMENT AND DECORATION GROUPING - GARDE-FÜßILIER-REGIMENT. This is a document and decoration grouping from a Garde-Füßilier-Regiment in WW I. It belonged to Vizefeldwebel Friedrich Groß. Included in this interesting grouping are the following items:

*Long Service Award 2^nd Class. This document is large-format, measuring 13" x 8 1/4," and dated 18 January 1915. It is the same type of document that was awarded prior to WW I’s beginning, and is quite ornate. It bears a Garde-Füßilier-Regiment’s unit stamp, and his battalion commander’s signature.

*Long Service Award 1^st Class. The document was issued on 26 April 1920. This is a much smaller document, quite simple looking.

*Award Document for the Kyffhäufer Bund. It is dated 31 December 1921.

*1914 Iron Cross 2^nd Class for Non Combatants with Award Document. This is the grouping’s real prize. The document is dated 20 November 1920, and very simple in appearance. It is very difficult to find one of these documents. We can tell it is for a non combatant because the ribbon is described as a "Weiß-schwarzen Bande." The 2^nd Class Iron Cross is in very fine condition. It is hallmarked "KO" on the jump ring. Its ribbon is original.

This is a very special grouping to a man who served in a Garde-Regiment, and was awarded a 1914 Iron Cross 2^nd Class for Non Combatants after the War’s end. $450.00DW

 

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06-179 AWARD DOCUMENT AND DECORATION - HINDENBURG CROSS/WIDOW’S CROSS. The Honor Cross, or more commonly, the Hindenburg Cross, was issued in three grades. First was the class for combatants, awarded with swords. This cross was bronzed-toned. The second was similar to the combatants’ cross, except without swords. Finally came an award made to widows whose husbands had died for Germany. This cross had a slightly different ribbon, no swords, and was black in color. Today’s example is a fine representation of the latter and its award document. $80.00  

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