These were worn on the peaked service caps of the WWI era, on the central band with the national cockade above. The following states are represented: Baden x 3 (one Landwehr); Anhalt; Reuss x 2 (one Landwehr); Prussia; Bavaria; Brunswick (Landwehr); Oldenburg; Hanseatic Towns.

This nice enamel and silver-coloured lapel badge (2.1cm diameter) by C Poellath of Schrobenhausen could be of Bavarian origin, with blue and white on one of the enamel shields, black and red on the other. It could be anything from a student fraternity badge to some veterans' union piece.

This (9cm diameter) appears to be made out of a Prussian Garde star in pressed tin with a blackened finish. However, the centre element of the star has been cut away and a German crown, possibly a ducal one, imposed thereon. I don't think this is a modern pastiche piece; I think it is a war-time example of some Garde unit for a minor German state.

The Landwehr were the first line of the reserve, the second line being the Landsturm. The concept of the Landwehr cockade dates back to the Napoleonic Wars and was always in the form of a Maltese cross. These cockades would have been worn on the front of the cap, under the national cockade in black, white and red.

Hansa cities comprised Bremen, Luebeck and Hamburg, all on the Baltic coast of Germany. These were the old free trading cities of the Middle Ages, which maintained some form of nominal independence right up until 1914. The cockade was normally on the right hand side of the pickelhaube and the national cockade would have been worn on the left.

The Duchy of Baden was one of the minor German states to survive intact the Vienna Conference of 1814 and on into the second Reich under Wilhelm II. This is the last pattern plate for the Baden picklehaube, worn throughout WW1.

This medal commemorates the summer of 1914, when Austria and Germany went to war against the world. It measures 17mm across. Beneath the image of the two emperors, Kaiser Bill and Kaiser Franz-Josef, there is the inscription 'viribus-unitis [with combined forces] // 1914'. Viribus-unitis was also the name of the famous Austrian battleship.

This medal commemorates the summer of 1914, when Austria and Germany went to war against the world. It measures 26mm across. Beneath the image of the two emperors, Kaiser Bill and Kaiser Franz-Josef, there is the inscription 'viribus-unitis [with combined forces] // 1914'. Viribus-unitis was also the name of the famous Austrian battleship.

This medal commemorates the summer of 1914, when Austria and Germany went to war against the world. It measures 25mm across. Beneath the image of the two emperors, Kaiser Bill and Kaiser Franz-Josef, there is the inscription 'viribus-unitis [with combined forces] // 1914'. Viribus-unitis was also the name of the famous Austrian battleship.

A nice example of the badge awarded to railway personnel for 25 years' service. It is in silver with Imperial hallmarks (half moon and crown). It is also marked with the maker's details, 'J. Wagner, Berlin'. The pin is steel.