Imperial Austrian (k.u.k.) Decorations

[Fritz]

1

K. u. K. - Kaiserliche und Königliche Österreichisch-Ungarische Monarchie
 

Militär-Verdienst-Orden, 3. Klasse (Ritterkreuz) mit der Kriegsdekoration
Introduced by Kaiser Franz Joseph in 1849 originally in one class for military valour, it was furthered in 1914 with altogether 3 classes.

Eisernes Verdienstkreuz mit der Krone, 1916
Introduced on 1. April 1916 by Kaiser Franz Joseph, with and without the crown as a further class of the Zivil Verdienst Orden (1850) for the duration of the war and  for other ranks only.

Kaiser Karl Truppenkreuz, 1916
Introduced on 13. December 1916 by Kaiser Karl I. for at least 12 weeks at the front and participation in at least one battle. On incorrect ribbon.

All on triangular war ribbon, obverse and reverse

 

[Fritz]

2

Goldene Militär-Verdienst-Medaille -Signum Laudis- on peacetime ribbon

Felddienstauszeichnung, 2. December 1873

Jubiläumskreuz Kaiser Franz Joseph, 1848-1908 am zivilen Band, civil ribbon

Signum Memoriae Medaille, 1848-1898. Apart from slightly faded civil ribbon, almost mint

[Fritz]

3

Große Silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille mit der Wiederholungsspange, Kaiser Franz Joseph (Leisek)

Kleine Silberne Taperkeitsmedaille, Kaiser Franz Joseph (Tautenhayn)

Bronzene Tapferkeitsmedaille, Kaiser Franz Joseph (Tautenhayn), ribbon rather shot, ring possibly replaced

Obverse and reverse of medals, all on war ribbons

 

 

 

[Fritz]

4

Große Silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille, Kaiser Karl, 1917-18. Silver? (Kautsch)

Kleine Silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille, Kaiser Karl, 1917-18, Silver, on original ribbon, somewhat shot (Kautsch)

Bronzene Tapferkeitsmedaille, 1917-18. (Kautsch) 

 

 

[Fritz]

5

kuk Österreich-Ungarn before the 11. November 1918

Population structure of the k.u.k. Monarchy, nationalities

Orden und Ehrenzeichen der Österreichisch-Ungarische Monarchie, nach Vorlagen der Fa. Rothe & Neffe, k.u.k. Kammerjuweliere, Wien

[Fritz]

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The next two on my agenda, just ordered:

Bronzene Tapferkeitsmedaille, Kaiser Karl 1917-1918, patinated bronze on war ribbon,
Stempelschneider: Kautsch, Wiener Münze

Mobilisationskreuz 1912/13 for the Balkan Conflict, gilt bronze on correct ribbon,
reverse blank.  The mobilisation was simply a precaution, luckily this did not result
in a conflict for Austria, however, the conflict came the following year on 28. June 1914 in Sarajevo.

The decorations, as arrived

 

Verwundetenmedaille, 1917
Also known as Blessiertenmedaille, was Introduced 12.5.1917 for wounded soldiers. The medal was to be struck in bronze. The centre stripes of the ribbon indicated the number of wounds suffered, this example for one wound. To the averse is the portrait of Kaiser Karl,
the reverse bears the inscription LAESO MILITI - MCMXVIII (1918)
Most examples, as above, were struck in zink. Bronze examples are relatively rare. This example has some areas of zink oxidation.

[Fritz]

7

Improved pictures added as from part 3

Post-war awards

Österreich, 1. Republik, 21. December 1932 (Medailleur: Grienauer) *
Ungarn, Titularkönigreich, 26. May 1929, decrée by Admiral Horthy
Bulgarien, Königreich, 9. December 1933, on order of Zar Boris of Bulgarien

* was also awarded with crossed swords on the ribbon and mounted on the ring, for those who had been decorated for bravery or wounded.

 

[Fritz]

New item added, see further back:
 

 

[JamesT]

A nice KuK medal bar mounted in the post Anchluss style. 

[Fritz]

Twice the Signum Laudis Medal? Two variations? Note, the 1914-18 Ehrenkreuz is not present, which was given after 1934.

[JamesT]

2 hours ago, Fritz said:

Twice the Signum Laudis Medal? Two variations? Note, the 1914-18 Ehrenkreuz is not present, which was given after 1934.

Yes two Signum Laudis Medals. One in silver with most of the plating worn away and the second in bronze. The silver with a repetition clasp (the silver plate behind the swords). This Medal is known as the Hungarian type because the portrait of FJ is slightly different to the standard Signum Laudis and is attributed to Bachruch Jewellers in Budapest but I have not seen definitive evidence for this.

I don't know the regulations for Austrian citizens with respect to the Ehrenkreuz. I suspect that it was never claimed. The repetition clasp on the Military Merit Cross should be coloured gold but this is probably just an oversight by the tailor who mounted these medals.  Also the military merit cross is bronze which is far more rare than the usual sterling silver ones.

[Fritz]

I thought it might be silver. After 1934 and 1938 most WW participants received the Ehrenkreuz, and this was added to the medal bar.

[JamesT]

Two more medal groups mounted in the post Anchluss style. What is interesting about the top one is the General Campaign Medal on the far right instituted in 1873 which its 43 years earlier than the Kaiser Karl version of the Signum Laudis on the left instituted in 1916. On first glance it would make the soldier winning the Signnum Laudis and the large bravery medal a very old soldier during WW1. But the General Campaign Medal was awarded for campaigns up to and including the Boxer Rebellion 1900-01. Another example of an Anchluss style bar without the Ehrenkreuz. 

Below a medal bar with the Ehrenkreuz and the Third Reich 1 October 1938 Commemorative Medal for the liberation of the Sudetenland. 

[JamesT]

An Austro-Hungarian Red Cross Bronze Merit Medal with war decoration. These medals were awarded for meritorious service in time of war and were subordinate to the Red Cross Decoration which was in the form of a cross as shown in the 3rd Pic (not mine). Recipients were usually volunteer health workers, members of the Red Cross, or staff of the War Help Bureau.