Legion Condor, Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

The typical medal bar with decorations of a Non-Commissioned Officer in World War I and civil servant in the Third Reich. 5 decorations: Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class. Prussian Service Award for XV Years. Honor Cross for Front Fighters 1914-18. Faithful Service Honor Decoration in Silver. Spanish Cross for Next of Kin, bronze-plated base metal. Reverse with black cloth backing. Lightly worn, condition 2.
With only 315 awards, very few recipients of the Spanish Cross for Next of Kin actually wore it. Extremely rare!

Bronze-plated non-ferrous metal. Worn condition.

Bronze-plated non-ferrous metal, reverse marked “L/15”, in new! case, case is reproduction.

Hollow-embossed metal star on golden-yellow cloth backing, reverse with attachment split pin. Worn piece in good condition, very rare.
The rank insignia was worn on the uniform above the left breast pocket as well as on the overseas cap.

Bevo metal-thread woven construction, length 36 cm. Heavily worn and very fragile, condition 3-4.

This cuff band was introduced in 1939 for the permanent personnel of the Panzer-Lehrregiment and the Nachrichten-Lehrabteilung as tradition units of the “Imker” (Beekeeper) components of the Legion Condor.

This is a piece manufactured circa 1939. Privately purchased piece, silver-plated base metal. Slightly convex, reverse with pin assembly. Lightly worn, condition 2.

This is a Spanish manufacture, circa 1938. Hollow-worked silver plate, diameter 25 cm, with fine engraving “1./K. 88. Legion Condor 24-2-39 bis 21-7-38”, below which are the facsimile signatures of Hauptmann & Staffelkapitän Schulz and the officers Hoffmann, Langguth, Sass, Brandt, Langguth, Hirschberg, Stein, Staarke etc., reverse with silver hallmarks “Alvarez” 916/000, condition 2. A decorative piece.

awarded piece in silver, marked 835 on reverse, in lightly worn condition.

Tombac hollow riveted and silver-plated.

Bronze-plated non-ferrous metal.

This is one of the awarded pieces, manufactured by the firm C.E. Juncker Berlin in silver-gilt, hallmarked “900” silver on the reverse, the gilding still 85% intact. Condition 2.
The Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords was awarded only 1,126 times.

Tombac hollow swaged and silver-plated.

German manufacture by Meybauer Berlin, the center red enameled. Reverse with wide pin bar, without maker’s mark. Lightly worn, condition 2.
The Spanish combined Pilot and Observer Badge was awarded exclusively to members of the Legion Condor. Spanish pilots did not hold this dual qualification.

Manufactured by Meybauer of Berlin, with applied swords. Silver-plated base metal, silvering only partially preserved. 

This is a silver example manufactured by C.E. Juncker Berlin. Slightly convex form, reverse marked with maker's mark CEJ and silver purity hallmark 900. In virtually unworn condition with fine patina.

Bevo metal thread woven version, length 37.5 cm. Lightly worn, condition 2.

This cuff title was introduced in 1939 for the permanent personnel of the Panzer-Lehrregiment and the Nachrichten-Lehrabteilung as traditional successor units of the “Imker” components of the Legion Condor.

the medal with die engraver “EGANA”, on ribbon with suspension bar, the wrapping paper and the cardboard box. 

Bronze-plated base metal. Worn condition.

Base metal with die cutter mark “AM”, on ribbon with suspension bar, the ribbon with green edges.

the medal with die-sinker “EGANA”, on ribbon with suspension bar. 

Awarded version in silver, reverse with silver hallmark micro “900”. Only lightly worn, condition 2.

This is one of the awarded pieces, manufactured by the firm C.E. Juncker Berlin in gilt silver, hallmarked “900” silver on reverse. Clearly worn, the gilding still preserved at approximately 85%, the pin catch was repaired on the reverse during the war, condition 2-.
The Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords was awarded only 1,126 times.

Awarded example in silver, reverse with silver hallmark micro “900”. Only lightly worn, condition 2.

The Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords was awarded approximately 8,300 times and is considerably rarer than a German Cross in Gold.

German manufacture by Meybauer Berlin with coat of arms hallmark, the center red enameled. Reverse with thin pin bar.

The Spanish Combined Pilot and Observer Badge was awarded exclusively to members of the Legion Condor. Spanish pilots did not possess this dual qualification.

Hollow tombac crimped and silver-plated. 

This is of Spanish manufacture. The applied eagle with silver star for balloon observer and below with gold star for aircraft observer. Reverse with engraved wearer number "1001", the pin is missing, but the retaining loops are present. Lightly worn, in good condition. Lightly worn, condition 2. Very rare, no other example is known to us.
The wearer is the Spanish officer Augusto Lerdo de Tejada, a hero of the Siege of Alcázar 1936. He is depicted in the special edition of the Spanish magazine "Horizonte" from 1939, about Count Ciano's visit to Alcázar, in the photos accompanied by General Moscardó (in the center of the photo) and Lerdo (right).

Typical Spanish manufacture, heavy gold-plated execution, finely engraved, background blued, all decorations hand-engraved. In center the Spanish eagle with inscription "Artilleria Toledo". Light signs of wear, condition 2.
A typical souvenir for members of the Legion Condor, circa 1938/39. Many other pieces exist in this type of manufacture, e.g. finger rings, cufflinks, lapel pins, miniature daggers, etc.

without maker's mark, in very fine condition

silver-plated plaque, embossed in relief: Luftwaffe eagle above attacking aircraft in front of map of Spain, flanked by standing bombs inscribed “Espana una grande libre” and “Arriba Espana!”, below “Vernichtung des Weltfeindes No. 1 in Spanien 1936-37-38”, mounted on wooden base, height 16.5 cm. In good condition.

Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords, awarded version in silver, reverse stamped “835” silver. Heavily worn, the pin mechanism was repaired during the war, condition 2-. Together with the large award certificate, dated Berlin, 6 July 1939, somewhat stained, condition 2-.
Spanish Red Cross for Military Merit “Cruz roja del Mérito Militar” on ribbon with wear bar with the large colored award certificate, issued 4 May 1939.
Medalla de la Campana on ribbon with wear bar with the large colored award certificate, issued 4 May 1939.
Medal bar with 5 awards: Medal for the Winter Battle in the East, Medal in Commemoration of 1 October 1938, Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4 Years, Spanish Medalla de la Campana and Red Cross for Military Merit. Additionally Spanish souvenirs from the Spanish Civil War: commemorative wall pennant, embroidered at top “Legion Condor 1/LN-88 Sargento Walter Bethof Espana 1937-38”, below the flags of Spain, the Spanish Falange, Italy, Germany, Morocco and Portugal, height with fringe approx. 57 cm, with crossbar.
Another commemorative wall pennant, hand-painted on white silk: “Walter Bethof Legion Condor 1LN 88” below in 4 fields the German Luftwaffe eagle, the emblem of the Spanish Army “Espana 1937-38”, the Spanish flag and the emblem of the Falange. Height approx. 55 cm, with crossbar.
Additionally a small Spanish pendant with the emblem of the Falange and the flags of the Falange and Spain.

The estate comes directly from a private household.

Bevo metal thread woven construction, length 36 cm. Heavily worn, tear on the left side, condition 3.

This cuff title was introduced in 1939 for the permanent personnel of the Panzer-Lehrregiment and the Nachrichten-Lehrabteilung as tradition units of the “Imker” troops of the Legion Condor.

of silver-plated non-ferrous sheet metal, embossed in relief: “Legion Condor” above Luftwaffe eagle, 8.8 cm Flak gun in front of map of Spain, below “Im Kampf gegen den Bolschewismus 1936 - 1938 Spanien” (In the Fight Against Bolshevism 1936 - 1938 Spain). Maker: Otto B. Lödig-Cartagena. Without wooden frame, 16 x 20.5 cm. Somewhat tarnished. Condition 2-.

the medal with die-cutter “EGANA”, on ribbon with suspension bar and the slightly damaged cardboard box. 

Pin-back badge, gilt brass and enamel, approx. 53x12 mm, depicting the Portuguese cross and “Viriatos”.
The name Viriatos, named after the Lusitanian leader Viriathus, was the designation for the approximately 2,000 Portuguese volunteers who fought with the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War.

German manufacture by Meybauer Berlin. The applied eagle without star or propeller for standard aircrew members, the center red enameled. Reverse with pin attachment.

Breast star, silver, the applied elements partially gilt, the medallion in colored enamel with motto “Al Merito en Campana”. Condition 2-3

German manufacture by Meybauer firm, circa 1938. Base metal, center red enameled. On the medallion the gilded star for observers, reverse with the maker's mark of Meybauer, with horizontal pin bar. Only lightly worn, condition 2.

the medal with die engraver “EGANA”.

Silver, the swastika gilt and polished, approximately 61 mm, reverse with pin and safety catch.

Manufactured by Otto Schickle. Silver-plated base metal, with dark patina.
These unmarked pieces by Otto Schickle were distributed by other firms after the revocation of the LDO license in 1941.

Toned bronze medal, reverse engraved with recipient “Heinrich Kaufmann” on ribbon, condition 2