Germany. A Wehrmacht 25-Year Long Service Medal Bar

An extensive first and second war German Wehrmacht medal bar, with seven medals, awards, and decorations, consisting of

1) An Iron Cross 1914 Second Class; a cross pattée of multi-piece construction with a blackened iron core (magnetic) within a ribbed border; on loop for suspension; the obverse with a raised central “W”, with the re-institution date “1914” in raised numbering on the lower arm, and the royal crown on the upper arm; the reverse with a central oak-leaf branch consisting of three oak leaves, with the original institution date “1813” in raised numbers on the lower arm, a raised Prussian crown on the upper arm, with “FW” in equally raised lettering directly below; measuring 42.30 mm x 42.94 mm.

2) A War Merit Cross Second Class; Maltese cross in bronzed tombak; on loop for suspension; the obverse with crossed swords between the arms of the cross and a circular raised border of oak leaves on the obverse with a raised mobile swastika in the center; the reverse with a circular raised border of oak leaves bearing the institution date “1939” in raised numbering; measuring 47.34 mm x 47.56 mm.

3) A Hindenburg Cross; “Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918”; a bronzed metal (magnetic) cross pattée with crossed swords between the arms of the cross; the obverse inscribed with “1914/1918” within an open-ended laurel wreath; the reverse plain; maker marked “G&S” on the reverse; measuring 37.60 mm x 37.60 mm.

4) A Wehrmacht Heer (Army) 25-Year Long Service Cross; a cross pattée in gilt bronze; the obverse with a national eagle clutching a mobile swastika in the centre; the reverse with “25” in the centre; measuring 40.13 mm x 40.09 mm - with its miniature Hoheitszeichen.

5) A Wehrmacht Heer (Army) 12-Year Long Service Cross; a gilt metal (magnetic) medal; the obverse with a national eagle clutching a mobile swastika in the centre, circumscribed “Treue Dienste in der Wehrmacht”; the reverse with the numeral “12” within a closed oak wreath; measuring 29.94 mm - with its miniature Hoheitszeichen and half-wreath.

6) A Commemorative Sudetenland Medal and Miniature Prague Medal Bar; a circular bronze medal; on loop for suspension; the obverse with two raised male figures, the one on the right bearing the German flag in his left hand, with his right hand placed around the shoulders of the figure on the left, with broken chains around his right arm (symbolic of the liberation of the Sudeten German from Czechoslovak oppression), with the German eagle directly below; the reverse with the date “1. Oktober 1938” centrally and circumscribed “Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer” (One People, One Country, One Leader); measuring 32.14 mm in diameter.

7) A 1897 Prussian Kaiser Wilhelm Centennial Medal (Kaiser Wilhelm Erinnerungsmedaille-Zentenarmedaille); a gilt bronze medal; the obverse with a leftward facing bust of Kaiser Wilhelm, inscribed “Wilhelm der Grosse Deutscher Kaiser, Koenig von Preussen” (German - Wilhelm the Great German Kaiser, King of Prussia); the reverse inscribed “Zum andenken an den hundertsten Geburtstag des Grossen Kaisers Wilhelm I, 1797 - 22 Maerz 1897 (German - In remembrance of the one hundreth birthday of Wilhelm I); measuring 39.08 mm. All mounted on a German-style medal bar using period original ribbons; field gray wool backer; metal core (non-magnetic); horizontal pinback; measuring 198 mm x 45 mm; in virtually mint condition.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.