BACKGROUND: The wear of Awards, Medal Bars and Ribbon Bars were addressed in regulations of April 28^TH 1937 and followed the established directives that had been previously laid down. When an Award was instituted the introductory orders would prescribe the proper form of wear with most of the awards being permitted to be grouped together on a medal or ribbon bar. The medal bars were intended for wear on the walking-out dress and formal uniforms while the ribbon bars were intended for all other forms of dress. Strict regulations listed the required order in which ribbons awards were authorized to be worn on the ribbon bar. On March 16^TH 1936, one year after the reintroduction of military conscription, Adolf Hitler instituted the Armed Forces Long Service Awards to reward military personnel, in all branches of service, for loyal long service. The awards were established in four grades for four, twelve, eighteen and twenty-five years service respectively. Of Note: On March 10^TH 1939, another grade was instituted for forty years long service by the addition of a golden oak-leaf cypher to the ribbon of the twenty-five year service award.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 5/8" tall, 1 1/8" long, single place ribbon bar with a horizontally ribbed, cornflower blue, moire, rayon ribbon with a silver washed, die struck, alloy, early "droop-tailed", pattern Luftwaffe eagle cypher with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in it’s talons. The silver wash to the Luftwaffe eagle cypher is retained about 70% and indicates the award was for either for four or eighteen years service. The ribbon is mounted on a magnetic sheet metal base plate with a horizontal pin and catch assembly intact. The reverse of the base plate has the stamped manufacturer’s initials. "TZ", indicating an unknown manufacturer. The ribbon bar is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $28.00