Medal Bar of a Bavarian Sergeant (NCO)
From left to right: Bavarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with Crown and Swords; Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class; Honor Cross for Combatants
Also included is the matching ribbon bar with full size ribbons and the small button ribbon.
The Bavarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class was issued to enlisted men and NCO's of the Bavarian sector of the German Army. Bavarian officers received separate distinct medals. The 3rd Class had two forms: (1) swords; (2) crown and swords. The Crown and Swords combination was awarded to NCO's or to soldiers who were receiving their second award or were cited for greater merit. Because of this, the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords is more rare than its counterpart. One source claims that approximately 73,000 of these were issued for World War 1.
An interesting aside: this bar would have been put together during the Third Reich. Although the Bavarian Military Merit Cross and the Iron Cross would have been awarded to the soldier either during or shortly after the war, the Honor Cross was not created until 1934. It was the first award issued by the Third Reich, to honor the sacrifices of the German people during the Great War. Without question, this particular soldier had this bar put together after he received his Honor Cross.
From left to right: Bavarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with Crown and Swords; Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class; Honor Cross for Combatants
Also included is the matching ribbon bar with full size ribbons and the small button ribbon.
The Bavarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class was issued to enlisted men and NCO's of the Bavarian sector of the German Army. Bavarian officers received separate distinct medals. The 3rd Class had two forms: (1) swords; (2) crown and swords. The Crown and Swords combination was awarded to NCO's or to soldiers who were receiving their second award or were cited for greater merit. Because of this, the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords is more rare than its counterpart. One source claims that approximately 73,000 of these were issued for World War 1.
An interesting aside: this bar would have been put together during the Third Reich. Although the Bavarian Military Merit Cross and the Iron Cross would have been awarded to the soldier either during or shortly after the war, the Honor Cross was not created until 1934. It was the first award issued by the Third Reich, to honor the sacrifices of the German people during the Great War. Without question, this particular soldier had this bar put together after he received his Honor Cross.