This photograph group depicts a soldier of the Wehrmacht Heer (German Army) with a distinctive detail on his uniform: a sewn-in ribbon bar of the Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class. These photographs, in postcard size, document a fascinating phenomenon of German military history between the two World Wars and during the Second World War.

The Iron Cross was instituted in 1813 by Prussian King Frederick William III during the Wars of Liberation and was renewed for subsequent German wars. During World War I (1914-1918), it was awarded extensively, with the 2nd Class being the most common grade. Approximately five million Iron Crosses 2nd Class were awarded during World War I, making this decoration one of the most widely distributed German valor awards.

The Iron Cross 2nd Class was worn on a ribbon threaded through the second buttonhole of the uniform tunic. However, after an initial wearing period, it became customary to wear only the black and white ribbon, while the actual cross decoration was reserved for special occasions. This ribbon consisted of the Prussian colors black and white and was approximately one centimeter wide.

The particularity of these photographs lies in the fact that the depicted soldier wears the ribbon of a World War I decoration during the Wehrmacht era (1935-1945). According to the uniform regulations of the Wehrmacht dated July 4, 1935, it was explicitly permitted to wear former Imperial decorations on the new Wehrmacht uniform. This applied especially to the Iron Cross, which was renewed by Adolf Hitler in 1939 for World War II.

Veterans of World War I who entered or were reactivated in the Wehrmacht were allowed to continue wearing their old decorations. This was not merely a matter of military pride but also a practical sign of combat experience. The visible presence of the 1914 ribbon bar signaled to comrades and superiors that this soldier already possessed front-line experience from the previous conflict.

To distinguish decorations from different periods, a clasp was introduced in 1939. Holders of the 1914 Iron Cross who earned the same decoration again in World War II received a clasp bearing the year “1939” to be attached to the ribbon. This made it possible to differentiate between the original award and the re-award.

Photographs like these held great significance during wartime. They served as personal mementos for the soldiers themselves and as an important connection to their families at home. The postcard format size was particularly practical, as these images could be easily mailed. Many soldiers had themselves photographed by professional photographers in uniform, often shortly after receiving a decoration or before departing for the front.

Uniform photography developed into its own genre of military photography. Studios in garrison towns and near military installations specialized in such portraits. The photographs typically showed soldiers in their best uniform, with all visible decorations and insignia, reflecting military pride and personal honor.

The wearing of World War I decorations in the Wehrmacht era was not merely a matter of honor. It also reflected the demographic reality of the German armed forces, especially in the later war years. Many older age cohorts were conscripted or reactivated, men who had already fought in World War I. Their experience was valuable, especially in leadership positions or specialized units.

The preservation of such photographs offers important insights into the social history of the German military today. They document not only the uniforms and decorations but also the faces and personalities of the men who wore these uniforms. Each such photograph tells an individual story within the larger historical context.

The condition of this photograph group (2-) indicates good preservation, with possibly minor signs of wear. This is remarkable considering that such personal items often survived difficult circumstances – the turmoil of war, evacuations, and the many decades since their creation.

For military historians and collectors, such photographic groups represent valuable primary sources. They provide visual documentation of uniform regulations, decoration practices, and the personal dimension of military service. The sewn-in ribbon bar visible in these images exemplifies the continuity between Imperial Germany and the Third Reich, while also highlighting the individual military biography of the wearer who served his country in two world wars.