I'm hoping the medal experts can help me out here, as I'm a dagger/sword collector, so this is way out of my depth...

I recently bought a Luftwaffe named dedication sword to Hauptman H Ehrich. After researching with the Budesarchiv I managed to locate his personal file, with a pic of him as well!

His photo shows him wearing a couple of EKs??? and has a 4 place medal bar. Any ideas as to what he is wearing? The file is all in German obviously, and the only parts of the file I can make out that appear to be about his medals reads: Spang.2vm.EK.2.K1 and KVK1.K1.m/schw. He was a WW1 veteran, and the pic attached was dated 1938, before he made Captain I think...

Any ideas would be graetly appreciated as I'm trying to piece as much as I can together on Major Ehrich.

Thanks, Red

Here's also a link to a thread I posed on the sword.

http://daggers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/817092573/m/6230092514

Close-up

His sword

Red, the breast cross in the lower position is in all probability a Brunswick War Merit Cross 1st class. An Imperial award some what equivalent to an EKI. There should be a crown in the upper arm, EA in the middle flanked by oak leaves and the date 1914 in the bottom arm.

Can you post a sharper image of the ribbon bar?

Do any dates accompany the award descriptions?

One award should be the Spange for the second class Iron cross. An eagle and date bar worn on the Imperial EK II ribbon. ( I do not see it in the picture). First ribbon to his right.

KVK1.KL.m/schw should be the Third Reich, Kreigs verdienst Kreuz 1st. class with swords. Also a breast award, ( not in the picture).

--dj--Joe

Thanks for the info Joe.

This pics is the best I have which is a scan made by the Bundesarchiv. He lived near Braunnschweig, and still has a surviving son still living there which I may try to contact, although I've heard there are all sorts of ethics attached to doing this.

The awards do have dates behind them:
Spang.zum.EK.2.K1 - 12/05/41
KVK.1.K1.m/schw. - 15/01/42

I don't know if there are other awards documented, I'm trying to get his 70 page file translated.

Any other ideas...

Thanks again, Red

Red, the dates prove why the awards listed do not show up on the 1938 dated photo. So from there I would guess the ribbon bar to be 1914 EKII (Iron Cross 2nd class), Next up (dark ribbon with narrow stripes, not sure), third ribbon with swords would be a Hindenburg 1914-1918 commemorative cross for combatent. Fourth ribbon with emblem (I can not make out the emblem and do not feel comfortable hazarding a wild guess) I will give these two some thought.
Perhaps someone else will recognize these awards.

--dj--Joe

I feel the forums should interact and suggest you try the GMIC forum. Contact the gentleman in the Imperial section going by the name of Rick Research. I have a feeling he can supply an answer.
He will at least definitely recognize the ribbons on the bar.

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?s=8443a225cd200c632b6bcd44ed6b29a1&showforum=71

--dj--Joe

Thanks Joe

I appreciate the help, hope I can track them down...

Red

Red, you are welcome. Please let us know what you find out.

--dj--Joe

Wow, those guys at the GMIC Forum were really helpful as well. They ID'd the medal bar as follows...

1) Preussen, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914 (Iron Cross 2nd class)
2) Braunschweig, Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse (War Merit Cross 2nd class)
3) Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Ehrenkreuz f�r Frontk�mpfer (Hindenburg Cross for Combattants)
4) �sterreich-Hungarn Kaiserreich, Milit�rverdienstkreuz 3. Klasse (Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Military Merit Cross 3rd class)

Thanks again...

Red

Red, glad you got identities on the awards and thanks for sharing the info. I wish you much luck on locating the medals and ribbons for your display!

--dj--Joe