Strange Oldenburg/Prussian 1866/1870-71 post 1897 photo from Stogieman

I scanned this for Stogie-Rick.

Note that he is wearing a white topped post 1897 (2 cockades) Prussian visor cap. His name was Hermann, he calls this his "old Kürassier cap" and age 78 in January 1917 sends this along wearing his medals "for the young ones" to his sister, Mrs Anna Krieg.

His awards include a Prussian EK2 1870 and Military Decoration 2nd Class (1866?), but waaaaaay at the end is an Oldenburg House Order Silver Merit Cross with Swords (almost certainly for 1870-71 as an NCO) and below, the brooch of a Prussian XV Years Sevice Bar. In the middle of his bar is an unidentified campaign lloking medal.

Don't be fooled by the "reverse colors" of the Oldenburg Cross at the end-- this is typical of the strange photographic chemicals at the turn of the century-- dark blue comes out light, while yellow looked dark.

Stogie-Rick bought it, I scanned it, now you pre-1900 guys can get to work on all that stuff in the middle! (Adding to MY confusion, anyway-- he appears to have slid the wrong medals onto some of the ribbons, though it's hard to tell from the overlap!)

[Daniel Krause]

Hi Rick,

NIIIICE collection of an old Veteran.

EK II 1870
Militärehrenzeichen 2.Klasse, definetly from 1866, no awards in 1870!
Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen (on wrong ribbon, he should change the dec. with the next one!)
Kreuz des Allgemeinen Ehrenzeichens 1890
???
1866 cross
1870/71 medal
Centenary medal and the rare Oldenburg Verdienstkreuz des Ordens Peter Friedrich Ludwig

Indeed a very nice picture!

Best regards

Daniel

The unknown campaign medal to the left of the Kreuz des Allgemeinen Ehrenzeichens and to the right of the 1866 cross is the 1864 KDM with the reverse side being worn exposed. A pretty common practice. The ribbons for the campaign medals look like they are overlapping each other so that only 1/2 of the ribbon is exposed.

Really nice picture of an old long serving salt that served in all three of the wars of unification.


Matt

Thanks!