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Mysterious WWI Ribbon Bar

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World War One155 of 690WWI German Officer’s Shoulder strapsGerman WWI Hindenburg Crosses
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    Posted 9 years ago

    Chrisnp
    (310 items)

    This is a typically constructed WWI ribbon bar for a well decorated veteran. Reading left from right, the veteran would have been Belgian, and has been awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre. The French Croix de Guerre is in second place as a medal awarded by an ally. It has a couple pin holes that likely attached a palm, indicating mention at Army level.

    Now here’s the interesting part – the red ribbon. The most likely identification in my opinion is the French Legion of Honor, but I would think it would be in second place on a Belgian ribbon bar, as it would be the highest foreign decoration. If this is a French ribbon bar, it would certainly hold the first place. The closest thing I can find that’s Belgian is the Order of Leopold – also higher than the Croix de Guerre.

    The last ribbon is for the WWI Victory Medal. As a service ribbon it would be at the end - BUT - flip it over and it could be for an American veteran whose only valor awards were foreign (I would expect a British/Commonwealth Veteran to also have the British War Medal Ribbon that was paired with the victory).

    But wait! There's more! The victory medal ribbon is not a match for the French, Belgian, American or British official ribbons. By agreement the ribbon for all the allied victory medals was to be the same, but there were minor variations in manufacture. Picture 4 shows it laid over a French ribbon. Note the narrower blue lines and lack of blending. The closest match I can find is Italian! Another possibility I am considering is Czech, because France did have a Czech Legion.

    Comments and ideas folks? Other than that I’ve spent way too much time and energy here?

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    Comments

    1. kerry10456 kerry10456, 9 years ago
      Chrisnp, I tend to agree and would assume Czech, with ties to all the different countries. Would be the logical assumption
    2. Caperkid, 9 years ago
      Was wondering if you knew anything on theArtillary shell box i posted 8 days ago.. If you have the time thanks.
    3. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 9 years ago
      Thanks for the love and comment kerry, and I've tried to let you know the little bit about your box Caperkid.

      Thanks for the love elanski, ttomtucker, Caperkid, SpiritBear, nutsabotas6, racer4four, fortapache, blunder, officialfuel and kerry10456
    4. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 8 years ago
      Rob W. over at the Gentleman's Military Interest club pointed out that the red ribbon could also be the Serbian Milosh Obilich medal.

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