(Afrikakorps Ordensschnalle). A superb medal bar for a recipient who served with the Afrikakorps, featuring three decorations, including:
1. A War Merit Cross II Class with Swords, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed date of “1939”, without visible marks, measuring 48.36 mm (w) x 49.58 mm (h), in near mint condition.
2. An Italian War Merit Cross, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Geneva Cross, the obverse bearing a central raised five-pointed star situated atop rays which encompass all of the arms, the reverse bearing a central raised inscription of “MERIT DI GUERRA” (“WAR MERIT”), above a wreathed sword and below the monogram of King Victor Emmanuel III, unmarked, measuring 37.14 mm (w) x 44.60 mm (h), in near mint condition.
3. An Italo-German African Campaign Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised depiction of two gladiators (symbolizing Italy and Germany) grappling with a crocodile (symbolizing Great Britain), the reverse bearing a central raised depiction of the Arco di Fileni, flanked by a fasces and swastika, circumscribed by an inscription of “ITALIAN-GERMAN CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA” in both Italian and German, the obverse maker marked “LORIOLI, MILANO”, measuring 30.83 mm in diameter, the medal has been stitched to the bar backwards, in otherwise near mint condition.
All suspended from a 95 mm-long zink bar with a horizontal pinback and dark grey wool reverse liner, unmarked, an exceptionally well-presented example in near mint condition.