Austro-Hungarian/German Empire, WWI – Five Piece Combatant Medal Bar. Assembled around late 1934, for a combatant member of the Austro-Hungarian/German Empire who had acted meritoriously during the Great War and had 15 years of military service prior to 1924. Form Left to Right:
- Iron Cross 2nd Class 1914 (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914, instituted August 5, 1914).
- Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords (Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914/1918, instituted July 13, 1934).
- Prussian - 1st Class Long Service Cross for 15 Years (Preussen-Dienstauszeichnung für 15 Dienstjahre, Instituted July 4, 1913).
- Hungary - Commemorative Medal 1914-1918 for Combatants (Ungarn – Weltkriegs-Erinnerungsmedaille für Frontkämpfer 1914-18, instituted May 26, 1929).
- Austria - War Commemorative Medal 1914-1918 with Swords (Österreich – Kriegserinnerungsmedaille mit Schwertern, instituted December 21, 1932). The swords were authorized November 10, 1933, to those who had previously been awarded a Bravery Medal , the Karl Troops Cross or the Wounded Medal.
The bar consists of a stamped sheet metal base, that is covered to the front with each medal’s appropriate rayon/silk ribbon, crossed swords device, and to the back with a field-green wool, assembled with black stitching. The reverse has the appropriate tombak pin, hinge and catch assembly. It measures 6 3/8 inches wide by 2 1/2 inches tall. A great piece!