Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine and extremely well-documented Great War 1918 Iron Cross First Class group of six awarded to Captain R. S. Ehrensberger, 1st Bavarian Reserve Division

Germany, Bavaria, Military Merit Order, Fourth Class, with Swords, silver, gold appliqué, and enamel, with embossed case of issue; Prussia, Iron Cross 1914, First Class breast badge, silver with iron centre, the reverse stamped ‘KO’ for Königliches Münzamt Order, Berlin), in black presentation case with silver Iron Cross on lid; Iron Cross 1914, Second Class breast badge, silver with iron centre; Germany, Cross of Honour 1914-18, combatant’s issue with swords, bronze, reverse stamped ‘L. N.B.G.’ on top arm; Third Reich, Faithful Service Decoration, Second Class, silvered and enamel, Bavaria, Prince Regent Luitpold Medal 1905, no crown, bronze, the group mounted German-style as worn; together with a number of additional medals, medallions, and badges, comprising:
Iron Cross 1914, First Class breast badge, silver (.800) with iron centre, vaulted type, retaining pin marked ‘F. Sedlatzek, Berlin’, in brown presentation case, this was probably a privately commissioned piece by Ehrensberger sometime after the War; Iron Cross 1914, Second Class breast badge, silver with iron centre; Cross of Honour 1914-18, combatant’s issue with swords, bronze, reverse stamped ‘D.S.M.’ on lower arm; Prince Regent Luitpold Medal 1905, no crown, bronze, in presentation box with riband; King Ludwig III of Bavaria Golden Wedding Anniversary Medal, iron; Kyffhauser War Veterans Commemorative Medal 1914-18, gilt bronze; Great War Commemorative Medal of the German Legion of Honour, bronze; Verein Ehemaliger Angehöriger D.K.B. 4. F.A.R. König München badge on rosette; Royal Bavarian Service Badge, silver, on riband, in card box of issue; Bavarian Veterans’ Shield, silver, with riband tassels; Bavarian oval lapel badge, silver and enamel; and a Franco-Prussian War Medal 1870-71, bronze, the last presumably awarded to the recipient’s father, nearly extremely fine (lot) £700-900

Rudolf Sigmund Ehrensberger was born on 18 November 1883, and was commissioned Leutnant (Lieutenant) in the 4th Field Artillery Regiment on 10 January 1911. He served during the Great War and was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class on 7 October 1914, and the Bavarian Military Merit Order, Fourth Class, on 12 December of that year. He was promoted Oberleutnant (Captain) on 13 October 1915; was wounded; and was awarded the Iron Cross First Class on 30 June 1918, the citation reading:
‘Since June 1917, after recovery from severe injuries and again serving with the 6/Bavarian Reserve, Field Artillery Regiment, Captain of Reservists Rodulf Ehrenberger has distinguished himself as Battery Commander in the Battle of Armentiéres through excellent measures in defensive fire and especially when, on 14 April 1918 at Pierre au Beure, he stopped the enemy by effective firing and supported the Infantry strongly.’
Following the cessation of hostilities Ehrensberger pursued a legal career and was also an active member of a number of Veterans’ Societies. He died in Munich on 18 January 1962.

Sold together with the recipient’s riband bar; oval identity tag, this engraved ‘4 Baÿr. Feld Rgt. Ehrensberger. Ob. Ltd. R.’; and the following original documents:
Commission Document appointing the recipient a Leutnant; Commission Document appoint the recipient an Oberleutnant; Bestowal Document of the Prince Regent Luitpold Medal in Bronze on the riband of the Jubilee Medal; Bestowal Document for the Bavarian Military Merit Order, Fourth Class; Temporary Award Document for the Iron Cross Second Class; Temporary Award Document for the Iron Cross First Class; a 4 page document of the 1st Bayer Reserve-Division, dated 1 July 1918, which includes the citation for the Iron Cross First Class; a small photograph of the recipient; and various copied research.