Ribbon Bars

[HPL2008]

The iron cross was glued on .i don't now why peaple need to alter things like this . Here it is with out the cross

That's better!

I believe the Bottom bar is a kriegsmarine ribbon bar it has gold Eagles not silver for the long service awards.

Heer and Kriegsmarine used the same model eagle device for their long service award ribbons; the Luftwaffe had a different one.

The color of the eagle had nothing to do with the branch of service, but depended on the grade of the service award.

Two long service awards could be worn together. The combinations were:

• 3rd class (12 years) & 4th class (4 years)
• 2nd class (18 years) & 4th class (4 years)
• 1st class (25 years) & 3rd class (12 years)

The combinations may seem odd (why not just wear the two highest grades?), but apparently they were chosen due to aesthetic/stylistic considerations. The 4 classes were:

• 4th class = medal, matt silver
• 3rd class = medal, bronzed
• 2nd class = cross, silver
• 1st class = cross, gold

So, combining the 2nd with the the 4th class and the 1st with the 3rd class both resulted in the wearing of the combination of a cross and a medal.

In both cases the decorations - as well as the eagle devices on the ribbon bar - were in similiar/harmonizing colors (silver & matt silver, gold & bronzed).

The eagles on your bar look silver on my monitor, so they would be for the 2nd & 4th class. This also makes sense. A holder of the 1st class (25 years) award would have had to have served during WW1, but no decorations for WW1 service (not even the 1914/18 Ehrenkreuz) are present.

[Johnny Reb]

Nice bar! You don't see these narrower width ones very often, and first I've seen with political long service awards. I don't see any indications it's been messed with any way. If ever you decide to part with it, I'd be a player. Ribbon bars are my main interest. Thanks for sharing it.