Original Austrian/German WWI & Pre-WWII 4-Place Ribbon Bar
This is an original Austrian/German four-place ribbon bar, representing the military and civil service career of a veteran whose service spanned the First World War through the pre-Second World War period. The ribbon bar is mounted on its original painted steel backing with a horizontal pin and catch assembly, remaining untouched and in very good condition.
The first ribbon is the Austro-Hungarian Medal for Bravery (Tapferkeitsmedaille / Medal of Valor) 3rd Class, one of the Empire's most recognizable decorations awarded for acts of courage and bravery in the face of the enemy during the First World War.
The second ribbon is an Imperial German wartime decoration. While the exact award has not been positively identified, it is believed to represent an Imperial German state or wartime service decoration, reflecting the recipient's military service alongside German forces during the First World War.
The third ribbon represents the 12-Year Faithful Service Decoration, awarded to career civil servants for twelve years of loyal government service.
Completing the group is the West Wall Medal (Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen), instituted in 1939 and awarded to military personnel, civilian workers, and government officials who participated in the construction and defense preparations of Germany's Westwall (Siegfried Line).
The ribbon bar retains its original period construction, featuring tightly woven ribbons mounted to a painted steel backing with an intact pin assembly. Light age and storage wear are present, consistent with its age, but the colors remain well preserved, making this an attractive and historically interesting example that reflects the transition from the Austro-Hungarian Empire through Imperial Germany and into the Third Reich.
Overall, this is a scarce and appealing original ribbon bar representing over three decades of military and civil service, making it an excellent addition to any collection of Austro-Hungarian or German militaria.
