The Red Eagle Order knows
definitely the most different combinations within its
different grades. Not only having swords to show ones
merit for war service, there are oak leafs, bows, swords
on the ring, jubilee numbers, crowns, enamel ribbons and
of course ribbons with different meanings. One of the
rare combinations is found among the war merit
combinations - the crown and swords. The crown was
issued in 1892, so that only the last model could have
been awarded with this addition as a symbol for
outrageous merit. Looking at the 3rd class of
the Red eagle order only the following awards are
recorded:
Hermann
von Wissmann
03.09.1894
Decoration in gold
Crown
to the REO3 with Swords
Oberst
Friedrich von Scholl
1895
Decoration in gold
Swords
to the REO3 with Crown
Oberst Pavel
Cameroon 1902
Decoration in gold
Manfred von Richthofen
Hauptmann Franke
South West
Africa 1904
Decoration in gold
Kapitän zur See Pohl
East Asia 1905
Decoration in gold
Oberst Müller
Cameroon 1905
Decoration in gold
Oberstleutnant von
Estorff
South West Africa
1905
Decoration in gold
Rittmeister von
Richthofen
World War I
Probably decoration
in silver gilt
Georg
Kronprinz v.Griechenland
1913
Decoration in gold
REO3
with Crown and Swords
Maercker,
Oberstleutnant z.D.
16.11.18
Probably decoration
in silver gilt
Crown
and Swords to the REO3 with Bow
Due to the fact that there
was no Iron Cross issued for the Colonial most Red Eagle
Orders for war merit were awarded during this historical
period. The I. World War on the other hand did bear the
signature of the Iron Crosses and the Pour le Mérite's.
Manfred von Richthofen did receive the high order of the
Pour le Mérite in the end of WWI. After continuing his
career, he was suggested for the oak leaf to the Pour le
Mérite. Since however the oak leaf was given only for
won battles, which he didn’t achieved, he was “only”
awarded with the Red Eagle Order with Crown and swords.
This might help to understand, what value the so-called
house orders did have during this period of time.
a real golden
example made by Wagner
A silver gilt example with the proper "W938" marking
Following the picture of a Red Eagle order 3rd class with crown and swords worn on the medal bar of the later Generalmajor Müller. Born on September 7, 1850, he served in the “Schutztruppe” in Deutsch-Süd-West Afrika (German-South-West Africa) in between 1895 – 1898 and became commander of the “Schutztruppe” in Cameroon in 1903, were he served until 1908.
General Franz Ludwig Wilhelm Mueller
The following decoration is made from gold with silver gilt crown. This replacement piece shows the makers mark “G” for Godet in Berlin and stemmed from Generalmajor Müller.
Medal Bar of Generalmajor Franz Ludwig Wilhelm Müller followed below by his "Große Feldschnalle" ribbon bar
No surviving medal bar is known for the next three recipient of this extremely rare decoration, but there are at least a picture of them with the decoration in wear
Kapitän z. See Pohl accompanied troupes in Asia
Hermann Wilhelm Leopold Ludwig Wissmann, after 1890 Hermann von Wissmann, was a German explorer and administrator in Africa
Erich Victor Carl August Franke was a German military officer and last commander of the Schutztruppe in German South West Africa
von
Scholl, hier als Generalkapitän der Schloss und
