JamesT Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 Is this possible? Red Cross Silver Merit Medal with war decoration and with swords on the ribbon. I suspect an affectation. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 Indeed. Under fire. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesT Posted December 27, 2021 Author Share Posted December 27, 2021 That is interesting. On another site this picture has been ridiculed as a fantasy. I think I may keep it in my collection. Danke 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Try looking for some reliable information on the internet. There is also recommended publication on this subject, I think it was by Werlich, may be out of print, but still available. Werlich: There is also a volume on Austrian decorations under this title Latest published by Verlag Militaria, Wien, they have a homepage 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesT Posted December 27, 2021 Author Share Posted December 27, 2021 Thanks Fritz. I will investigate. I have also asked the question to the Orders & medals Society of America which can often supply the evidence to obscure questions. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesT Posted February 7, 2022 Author Share Posted February 7, 2022 I have had the following reply from OMSA "No data has been found to support the idea that swords were ever associated with the red cross decoration or medals. Front line service was recognized by the addition of the war decoration. I would be highly suspicious of any red cross decoration which has attached swords." I have also carried out my own extensive investigations, as I always do, in the various publications I have access too but without any success. You suggest that you have seen evidence of this. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Thought to be for non combattants under fire. The swords are neatly set and look as though they have always been on the ribbon. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Here is the latest info I got from a specialist, although Austrian decorations are not his main point: Falls das offiziell nicht möglich war, wovon auch ich übrigens ausgehe, sind private Eigenmächtigkeiten dieser Art aber auch in Österreich keine Seltenheit. Spätestens nach dem Ende der Monarchie 1918 hat sich kaum noch jemand um die Einhaltung solcher Regeln gekümmert, zumal in einem privaten Rahmen. Aus Deutschland kenne ich viel Belege vorschriftswidriger Trageweisen! Mit den besten Grüßen Sascha Wöschler - in other words, although not officially sanctioned, quite possible under the conditions I stated before. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddieq Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Here is another example of a Red Cross badge with swords 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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