Germany. Medal bar with the 1914 Iron Cross, War Merit, Honour Cross, and Faithful Service

This ribbon bar brings together four German decorations reflecting participation in the First World War, military service and recognition of loyalty in state service during the National Socialist period.

The bar includes the following decorations:

• Iron Cross 2nd Class, 1914 (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse), a military decoration reinstated by the German Empire at the beginning of the First World War.
• War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern), instituted in 1939 to recognise merit connected with the war effort; the version with swords was associated with services linked to military operations.
• Honour Cross for Frontline Combatants of 1914–1918 (Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer), instituted in 1934 for veterans who had served at the front during the First World War.
• Faithful Service Decoration to the State, 2nd Class, for 25 Years (Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen 2. Stufe für 25 Jahre), awarded in recognition of 25 years of loyal service in public administration.

German four-decoration military and service ribbon bar, original to the Third Reich period.