Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well-illustrated German Iron Cross group of five awarded to Hauptwachtmeister F. Martlage, 2nd Guard Ulanen Regiment, an accomplished horseman and veteran of both World Wars

Germany, Prussia, Iron Cross 1914, Second Class breast badge, silver with iron centre; Germany, Empire, Cross of Honour 1914-18, bronze, combatants’ issue, with swords; German Honour Medal 1914-18, bronze; ‘Kyffäuser’ War Veterans Medal 1914-18, bronze; Germany, Third Reich, War Merit Cross, Second Class, with swords, bronze; together with a German Horseman’s Badge, bronze, with replacement pin suspension, with related miniature stick-pin; German Horse Driver’s Badge, bronze, with related miniature stick-pin; Jugend Reiter-Abzeichen Badge, bronze, with related miniature award, generally good very fine (8) £400-500

Fritz Martlage was born in Westphalia on 25 February 1895, and served during the Great War with the 2nd Guard Ulanen Regiment, being awarded the Iron Cross Second Class on 4 April 1918. He subsequently served in the Second World War, and was awarded his Horse Driver’s Badge on 29 July 1942, and his Horseman’s Badge on 13 March 1944.

Sold together with the recipient’s Great War identity disc; whistle; and the following documentation:
Award Document for the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, dated 30 January 1944; the recipient’s Soldiers’ Book; and two extensive photograph albums containing approximately 175 photographs from the Second World War, including a significant number of the recipient mounted or with his horse.