Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a very impressive genuine medal bar, owned by a German soldier who fought during WWI, and looks to have been taken as a Prisoner of War. They even have a plate on the ribbons indicating the regiment they were in: FELD ART. RGT. 47, the abbreviation for the Imperial German 47th (2nd Kurhessian) Field Artillery Regiment, Garrisoned in Fulda, and part of the XI Army Corps.

The set of 6 medals offered in good condition is mounted on a metal backing board with pin and lined with green felt. The colors on the ribbons are somewhat faded, so it looks to have been worn or displayed for a while.

It measures about 6 inches in length, and consists of the following medals:

- Imperial German WWI Prussian Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class Medal
- Imperial German WWI Furs Vaterland Veteran's Medal for Combatants with Laurel & Sword
- Imperial German Eastern Front Cross 1914-1918 with Maker markings on the rear.
- Imperial German Loyal to the Regiment Commemorative Medal with 47th Field Artillery Regimental Clasp
- Imperial German WWI Prisoner of War Medal 1919-1922
- Austro-Hungarian WWI Pro Deo et Patria Military Medal 1914 1918

Below is an explanation of each medal in detail:

German WWI Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class with Ribbon:
Established by Frederick William in 1813 for gallantry in action, the decoration was revived several times for later conflicts. The bulk of the issues are divided into 1st and 2nd class versions, but a rare and superior 'Grand Cross' was also awarded for successful field commanders. During WW1 the lower decoration was freely awarded with 5½ million second class types issued. Originally, the Iron Cross was an award of the Kingdom of Prussia, however given Prussia's pre-eminent place in the German Empire formed in 1871, it became an award for all of Germany.

The basic design of the WW1 crosses is a central cross patee struck from iron and mounted in a silver frame which has a raised crenulated decorative border. The obverse of the cross bears the date 1914 under a crowned 'W' monogram. Reverse bears an oak leaf cluster with the date of the decoration’s institution, 1813 underneath - the crowned initials of Frederick William are in the top arm above the oak leaf cluster. Suspension for second-class types is by means of a ring, and frequently this ring bears a maker's stamp.

Please examine the edge seam for authentication, which is not present on reproductions. Iron crosses were commonly constructed from an iron core sandwiched in a surrounding two part silver frame, normally the seam of these two silver parts is visible around the edge of the cross as is seen on this fine example.

The Imperial German Veteran's Medal was given to WWI Veteran's after the conclusion of the war. The front of the medal shows a winged "Victory" crowning a German soldier, and the rear shows the German Iron Cross, with FÜRS VATERLAND (For the Fatherland) around it. If the recipient saw actual combat during the war, a sword and laurel wreath pin was added to the ribbon.

The Imperial German Eastern Front Cross 1914-1918 (Ostfrontkreuz 1914-1918) was awarded to soldiers who fought on the Eastern Front, which mainly involved combat against Russia. The front is marked with FÜR DEUTSCHLANDS EHRE IM OSTEN (For Germany's Honor in the East", around a German Stahlhelm. The main body of the award is a green enamel inlaid cross with crossed swords for combatants.

The Imperial German Loyal to the Regiment Commemorative Medal (Erinnerungskreuz Treu dem Regiment) was given to soldiers to Commemorate their service in specific regiments. The design is a cross with crossed swords, and has TREU DEM REGIMENT (True to the Regiment) on the front and ALLZEIT BEREIT (Always Ready) on the back. The color of the ribbon varied based on the type of regiment the award was for.

Imperial German Prison of War Medal 1919-1922
This medal shows a German soldier looking through barbed wire towards the sun, probably the sunrise or sunset. These were given to soldiers captured and held in P.O.W. camps after the war, after they were returned home. The rear reads IM FEINDESLAND GEFUNDEN IN DER HEIMAT TREU VEREINT - "Found in the Enemy's Country, Reunited in the Homeland!". These sometimes will have a clasp on the ribbon indicating the country where they were held.

Austro- Hungarian WWI Pro Deo et Patria Military Medal 1914 1918
Hungary (Austro-hungarian Empire): Hungarian WW1 Commemorative Combatant's military medal "Pro Deo et Patria" (for God and Country). Award for the participation in the Great War. The medal was instituted in 1929.