In a lot of photographs depicting the some of the higher officer cadre of the I. SS-Pz.Kps. one can spot an enamelled cross with swords being worn on the lower part (or beneath) the left breastpocket. It resembles the "Mussert cross" but it couldn't be that since the "Mussert cross" award was worn as a medal and not as a "breast badge".
For photographic reference see "Verleihung Genehmigt!" (Schneider) page 180 (SS-Stubaf. Jürgensen), same book page 449 (SS-Brigfhr. Witt).
Some excellent pictures in "The hisitory of the 12.SS-Pz.Div." by Meyer on pages 21-23 (SS-Brigfhr Witt) and some not to good pictures in the Peiper book by Agte on Pages 417-418 (SS-Ostubaf. Frey).
Can anyone tell me what decoration/award this is?
Best regards,
~Sigurd
Identification of an award
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Sigurd Helge
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Identification of an award
GMY
~Sigurd Helge
"Believe those who seek the truth. Doubt those who claim they've found it"
~Sigurd Helge
"Believe those who seek the truth. Doubt those who claim they've found it"
Hi! That's the Bulgarian Bravery Order, 4th Class (1st Grade).
Bulgarian Bravery Order
• Bulgaria’s oldest order.
• Instituted on 1 January 1880 to commemorate Prince Alexander of Battenberg’s elevation to Prince of Bulgaria on 14 May 1879.
• The obverse features a golden lion rampant on a red background within a green circlet upon white; in Cyrillic is Za Chrabrost (For Bravery) with the date 1941 (date Bulgaria entered World War II) at the base.
• All grades have gilt crossed swords placed between the arms of the cross.
• The ribbon is the same for all classes/grades: light blue with a silver thread inset from either edge. This was known as the “War Decoration” ribbon and was used for other wartime Bulgarian decorations as well.
• As an order, only officers were eligible. The class/grade awarded usually corresponded to the officer’s rank.
• The Soldiers Cross for Bravery was associated with the Bravery Order and was for NCOs. It was slightly smaller yet identical to the basic badge of the Bravery Order.
The Bravery Order consisted of seven classes:
• Grand Cross: Worn only by the King of Bulgaria as the Grand Master of the Order, it consisted of a 95mm breast star worn with a 100mm sash and a 72mm sash badge.
• 1st Class: A silver 63mm breast star and a neck cross surmounted with a crown (during World War I, two higher distinctions were created: “with diamonds” and “with skulls”).
• 2nd Class: A white 57mm cross with a crown worn around the neck.
• 3rd Class (1st Grade): A white 55mm cross without crown worn as a pin-back decoration on the left breast.
• 3rd Class (2nd Grade): A white 42mm cross without crown worn from a triangular ribbon on the left breast.
• 4th Class (1st Grade): A red enamel cross without crown worn as a pin-back decoration on the left breast.
• 4th Class (2nd Grade): A red enamel cross without crown worn from a triangular ribbon on the left breast.
Regards,
Shawn
Sources:
Dr. Kurt G. Kleitmann, Pour le Mérite und Tapferkeitsmedaille, Verlag Die Orenssamlung, Berlin 1966.
David Littlejohn, M.A., A.L.A., Foreign Legions of the Third Reich, Volume 4: Poland, the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Free India, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Russia, R. James Bender Publishing, California, 1987.
Bulgarian Bravery Order
• Bulgaria’s oldest order.
• Instituted on 1 January 1880 to commemorate Prince Alexander of Battenberg’s elevation to Prince of Bulgaria on 14 May 1879.
• The obverse features a golden lion rampant on a red background within a green circlet upon white; in Cyrillic is Za Chrabrost (For Bravery) with the date 1941 (date Bulgaria entered World War II) at the base.
• All grades have gilt crossed swords placed between the arms of the cross.
• The ribbon is the same for all classes/grades: light blue with a silver thread inset from either edge. This was known as the “War Decoration” ribbon and was used for other wartime Bulgarian decorations as well.
• As an order, only officers were eligible. The class/grade awarded usually corresponded to the officer’s rank.
• The Soldiers Cross for Bravery was associated with the Bravery Order and was for NCOs. It was slightly smaller yet identical to the basic badge of the Bravery Order.
The Bravery Order consisted of seven classes:
• Grand Cross: Worn only by the King of Bulgaria as the Grand Master of the Order, it consisted of a 95mm breast star worn with a 100mm sash and a 72mm sash badge.
• 1st Class: A silver 63mm breast star and a neck cross surmounted with a crown (during World War I, two higher distinctions were created: “with diamonds” and “with skulls”).
• 2nd Class: A white 57mm cross with a crown worn around the neck.
• 3rd Class (1st Grade): A white 55mm cross without crown worn as a pin-back decoration on the left breast.
• 3rd Class (2nd Grade): A white 42mm cross without crown worn from a triangular ribbon on the left breast.
• 4th Class (1st Grade): A red enamel cross without crown worn as a pin-back decoration on the left breast.
• 4th Class (2nd Grade): A red enamel cross without crown worn from a triangular ribbon on the left breast.
Regards,
Shawn
Sources:
Dr. Kurt G. Kleitmann, Pour le Mérite und Tapferkeitsmedaille, Verlag Die Orenssamlung, Berlin 1966.
David Littlejohn, M.A., A.L.A., Foreign Legions of the Third Reich, Volume 4: Poland, the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Free India, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Russia, R. James Bender Publishing, California, 1987.
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Sigurd Helge
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- Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2002 9:59 am
- Location: Sweden