The medals on this bar in order of seniority from
left to right are-
Hamburg Hanseatic Cross
German Legion of Honour Medal
German Lion Order, for non-combatants
The original owner of this medal bar may have
been a naval veteran of the First World War.
The Hanseatic Cross was instituted in 1915 and as
well as being awarded to troops from Hamburg was often awarded to naval
personnel based in Hamburg's port.
The German Honour Medal for the World War Legion
of Honour ("Ehrendenkmünze des Weltkrieges der
Deutschen Ehrenlegion") was a semi-official medal instituted in 1921
by the "Verband national gesinnter Soldaten“ veterans organisation for
purchase by war veterans. This ribbon has no wreath and sword on the ribbon for
frontline fighters, though the ribbon has two holes where a wreath may have
previously been. The Lion Order
The Lion Order ("Löwenorden" or more
correctly the "Kolonialauszeichnung") was instituted by the German
Colonial Veterans League ("Deutschen Kolonialkriegerbund") in 1922. This
is a bronze award for Germans who had done valuable work for the colonies back
home. Whereas the first class of the Lion Order was worn as a white metal breast
badge, the second class for non-combatants as seen here was worn as a bronze
medal on a ribbon.
Both the Legion of Honour and the Lion Order were
not officially recognised awards and in 1934 when the Honour Cross was
instituted, these unofficial awards were banned. This clearly dates this bar
between 1922-34.
Rear of the Bar