Large medal bar with 6 decorations, circa 1875: Prussia Iron Cross 1870 2nd Class. War Commemorative Medal 1870/871 for Combatants, awarded example made from captured gun bronze with edge engraving "Aus erobertem Geschuetz". Prussia Service Decoration Cross for Officers for 25 Years. Kingdom of Hanover Ernst-August Order Knight's Cross 1st Class, manufactured in gold, finely enameled on both sides. Kingdom of Hanover Langensalza Medal 1866, with edge engraving "C. Gade". Kingdom of Hanover Officers' Service Decoration Cross for XXV Years.
The medal bar shows only light wear, all ribbons and decorations are original and also originally sewn together, in good overall condition.
Together with the corresponding award documents: Prussia award certificate for the Iron Cross 1870 2nd Class, issued to "Major Carl Gade vom 3. Oberschlesische Infanterie-Regiment nr. 62", seconded to the combined Upper Silesian Landwehr Regiment No. 22/62, issued Berlin, 19 January 1873. Award certificate for the War Commemorative Medal for Combatants 1870/71, issued Breslau, 20 May 1871. Prussia award certificate for the Officers' Service Decoration for 25 Years, issued while still a Captain, Berlin 7 June 1869. Hanover award certificate for the Ernst-August Order First Class, issued Hanover 21 September 1866. Hanover award certificate for the Service Honor Decoration for long and faithfully rendered service (25 years), issued Hanover, 3 June 1866. The Langensalza Medal was presented without a certificate.

In the city museum in Einbeck there is a portrait photograph of Major Gade wearing the medal bar, taken in 1872. In the photograph Gade still wears the orders on the bar in the "incorrect" sequence, with the Hanoverian orders still before the Prussian service decoration. The medal bar was then altered according to regulations and the decorations of the former Kingdom of Hanover were moved to the rear.

Colonel Carl Gade, born 1 June 1825 in Garlstorf, died 4 September 1884 in Einbeck.

A fine estate of a brave Hanoverian officer, in this completeness only very rarely found today.

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Large Medal Bar and Award Documents from the Estate of Major Carl Gade, 3rd Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment Nr. 62, until 1866 in the Hanoverian Army in the 3rd Infantry Regiment

This remarkable medal bar with six decorations documents the extraordinary transition of a Hanoverian officer from service to the Kingdom of Hannover into the Prussian Army during the turbulent years of the German wars of unification. Major Carl Gade, born on 1 June 1825 in Garlstorf and died on 4 September 1884 in Einbeck, embodies the fate of those soldiers who served two monarchies and whose careers reflected the dramatic reorganization of Germany.

Gade began his military service in the 3. Hanoverian Infantry Regiment, where he served until 1866. His Hanoverian decorations testify to a long and faithful period of service: the Wilhelms-Kreuz for Officers for 25 years was awarded to him on 3 June 1866 in Hannover, after this decoration had been instituted on 2 March 1837 by King Wilhelm IV for 25 years of faithful and irreproachable service. War years counted double in this calculation.

The most dramatic moments of his Hanoverian career are manifested in the Langensalza Medal 1866, which bears the personal edge engraving “C. Gade”. This decoration was instituted on 27 June 1866 by King Georg V for all who fought bravely, though without success, in the Battle of Langensalza on 27 June 1866. It was the last battle of the Hanoverian Army. Although the Hanoverians were victorious in the battle itself, they capitulated two days later, on 29 June 1866. Approximately 16,000 of these medals were awarded.

Particularly significant is the Ernst-August-Orden Knight's Cross 1st Class, made of gold and finely enamelled on both sides. This order was instituted on 15 December 1865 by King Georg V and awarded for merit to the state, distinguished civic virtues, merit in arts and sciences, or personal recognition by the King. Gade's award certificate bears the remarkable date of 21 September 1866 – just one day after the formal annexation of Hannover by Prussia on 20 September 1866. Only approximately 200 examples of this first class of the Knight's Cross were awarded, emphasizing its rarity.

Following the annexation of Hannover, former Hanoverian soldiers were incorporated into the Prussian Army in 1867. Gade continued his service in the 3. Oberschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 62 and participated in the Franco-Prussian War 1870-71. During this war he was attached to the combined Oberschlesisches Landwehr-Regiment No. 22/62. For his bravery he received the Iron Cross 1870 2nd Class, which had been renewed by King Wilhelm I on 19 July 1870. The award certificate was issued in Berlin on 19 January 1873. Over 40,000 of this decoration were awarded.

The War Commemorative Medal 1870/71 for Combatants, instituted on 20 May 1871 by Kaiser Wilhelm I, was awarded to him on 20 May 1871 in Breslau. This awarded example made of bronze from captured cannon bears the edge inscription “Aus erobertem Geschuetz” (From captured cannon), manufactured from captured French cannons. Over 1.1 million of these bronze medals were issued to soldiers who had crossed the French border before 2 March 1871 or participated in battles and sieges.

The Prussian Long Service Award Cross for Officers for 25 Years, instituted on 18 June 1825 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III, was awarded to Gade while still a Hauptmann on 7 June 1869 in Berlin. The medal bar also demonstrates the complex regulations regarding wearing order after the Prussian takeover: a portrait photograph of Major Gade from 1872, held in the Stadtmuseum Einbeck, shows the orders initially in an “incorrect” order, with the Hanoverian awards still placed before the Prussian service cross. The medal bar was later rearranged according to regulations, with the decorations of the former Kingdom of Hannover moved to the back. Prussia recognized the Langensalza Medal by Cabinet Order in March 1867, allowing Hanoverian soldiers in Prussian service to continue wearing it.

This medal bar with its completely preserved certificates represents an exceptionally rare and complete estate of a Hanoverian officer who lived through two epochs of German military history.