The medals on this bar in order of
seniority from left to right are-
Prussian 1914 Iron Cross, for non-combatants
Prussian Warriors Merit Medal
worn back
to front
Prussian Merit
Cross for War Aid
Prussian Other Ranks Long Service Award, first class for 21
years service
Prussian Other Ranks Long Service Award, second class for 15
years service
1900-01 China Campaign Medal for
combatants with clasp for "PEITANG-FORTS"
Silesian Eagle, second class
The original owner of this medal bar was
a non-Prussian NCO who saw action in the Boxer Rebellion but was
in a non-combatant position during the First World War and in the
Freikorps conflict in Silesia shortly after the war.
Note the reversed colours on the Iron
Cross ribbon denoting non-combatant status and the Prussian Warriors
Merit Medal awarded to non-Prussian Germans.
The Peitang Forts were captured during
the Boxer Rebellion by soldiers of the German East Asian
Expeditionary Corps (alongside their Russian, French and Austrian
allies) on 20th September 1900. The clasp for
"PEITANG-FORTS"
was an officially recognised one and like other China Medal clasps
was available for private purchase to veterans of that action.
Most
curiously this bar has two Prussian Other Ranks Long Service Awards,
one third class and one second class. Usually the latest award
replaced the previous medal (except if the two awards were of
different status for example a regualr and Landwehr award but both
of these are for regular other ranks service).
The
Silesian Eagle ("Schleischer
Adler") was created on 16th June 1919
by Generalleutnant
Von Friedenburg for service in the Freikorps campaign against Polish
nationalists in Silesia. The first class award was for six months
service and was worn as a breast badge. The second class (as seen
here) was for three months service and was worn as a medal on the
bar. Unlike most semi-official awards created after 1918 the
Silesian Eagle was not banned in the regulations of 1934.