striking medals as it’s gilded and is quite different than the ubiquitous cross patee. In this case, the cross is a 35mm bronze gilt cross with the tips of the straight arms curving slightly outwards (Figure 25). The obverse has a five-arched crown over the stylized A for Ftirst Adolf* in the center intersection of the four arms with FOR on the top arm, and TREUE DIENST bracketing the central A, and with 1914 on the bottom arm. The seriffed inscription, FI)R/TREUE DIENST, translates as "For Faithful Service." The reverse is plain but polished. It is suspended from a 39mm cornflower-blue ribbon with three 4.5ram white stripes; one in the center and two inset lmm from the edge. The non-combatant ribbon is white with three red stripes with light-blue edges. Figure 26: Full-size Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen traditional modified medal bar with the Honor Cross *Note: World War I issues do not carry the royal cipher replaced with the World War I Veteran’s Organization of Prince Adolf-Georg but of Prince Adolf. Medal (Deutscher Reichskreigerbund Kyffhiiuser- DRKB), which should have a black and white ribbon. Waldeck The Principality of Waldeck had existed since 1625 and was tiny with an area of 411 square miles. It had a population of only 63,000 citizens in 1914. The Princely Waldeck Merit Medal, 4th Class with Swords was only awarded 4,205 times making it scarce to find on a medal bar (Figure 27). It was instituted in March 1915 and eventually the silver-minted medals were made of a silvered alloy, which are thicker than the original silver medals. The obverse has the three-arch-crowned Gothic initials FB centered (for Friedrich who was the Prince Figure 25: Full-size Schaumburg-Lippe traditional of Waldeck and Pyrmont and Bathildis who was the modified medal bar. princess). The reverse consists of the centered inscription F~R/VERDIENST in gothic letters. Schwarzburg The Principality of Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen became a German state in 1697 and by 1914 only had a popula- tion of just 93,000. The Silver Medal for Merit in War was originally instituted for the Franco-Prussian War but re-instituted on August 21, 1914 for Sergeant Maj ors (Feldwebels) and enlisted men. The obverse of the 40mm medal is the cypher of two intertwined Gs with a three- arched crown above and 1914 below (Figure 26). The two Gs represent the two sons of Count Giinther when he divided his realm into two states in 1552.The reverse has Figure 27: Full-size Waldeck traditional medal bar. a laurel wreath with VERDIENST/IM/KRIEG, or "Merit in War," centered in the middle. It is suspended from a It was not always awarded with swords and those that striking 28ram dark blue ribbon with three 3mm yellow were have the swords suspended by a ring attached to stripes. For non-combatants, the ribbon had two 3mm the center of two crossed-swords that are suspended yellow stripes set .5mm from the edge, while auxiliaries from a white 26mm wide ribbon with black, red/ had a plain dark-blue ribbon. The medal was originally orange and yellow 2mm side stripes inset lmm from minted in silver but was struck later in silvered bronze, the edge. The black, red/orange and yellow stripes are iron or zinc. the same color as the current German flag. 14 JOMSA Wiirttemberg The obverse shows the right profile of the King of Wiirttemberg with the inscription, WILHELM II The Kingdom of Wtirttemberg was one of the earlier KOENIG VON WUERTEMBERG ("Wilhelm II King German states having been founded in 1083, and by 1914 of Wtirttemberg"). The reverse consists of the inscription it had a population of 2.5 million. The Silver Military in seriffed capitals DEM/VERDIENSTE surrounded by Merit Medal was originally instituted in 1892 but on a wreath of laurel leaves. Below the inscription is a tiny September 25, 1914 the ribbon was changed to that in Star of David. As mentioned the ribbon was changed to Figure 28. a 26ram yellow ribbon with two 4ram black side stripes inset 2mm from the edge. References Danner, Dave. "German States EK2 Equivalents." www. Wehrmacht- Awards.com. Feb. 2001. Dorling, Taprell H. and Alec A. Purves Ed.. Ribbons and Medals. London: Osprey Pub. Co.,1983. Lumsden, Robin. Medals and Decorations of Hitler’s Germany. Osceola: MBI Pub. Co. 2011. Nimmergut, Jorg. Deutsche Orden Und Ehrenzeichen 1800 - 1945. Regenstauf: Battenberg, 2008. Previtera, Stephen T. The Iron Time: A History of the Iron Cross. Richmond: Winidore Press, 2007. Purves, Alec A. The Medals and Decorations of the Great War 1914- Figure 28: Full-size Wi~rttemberg traditional medal bar. 1918. London: J.B. Hayward & Son, 1975. Robinson, Janet and Joe Robinson. Handbook ofImperial Germany. Bloomington: Author House, 2009. Yanacek, Thomas M. Parade Medals Bars of the Third Reich. Atglen: Schiffer Military History, 2008. BOOK REVIEW Lest We Forget: Masterpieces of Patriotic Jewelry that expand upon the role that the items played and Military Decorations by Judith Price. Taylor in commemorating the history of war and peace. Trade Publishing, 2011. Hardcover, 160 pages with numerous color illustrations. ISBN: 978-1589796867. Some of the items discussed and illustrated in the $29.95 (to be published 11 November 2011). "War" section are: Lafayette’s Cross of the Order of Saint-Louis; nine Civil War Corps badges; Fabergd This book by Judith Price, the President of the National Eagle trays from 1914 and items of military jewelry Jewelry Institute, commemorates the Institute’s fifteenth by Tiffany & Co. Items in the "Valor" section include: exhibition related to jewelry: "War and Peace: a Capture of Andrd; two Medals of Honor; French Masterpieces of Patriotic Jewelry and Decorations." Marshal Alphonse Juin’s Distinguished Service Medal, It features 150 items of military jewelry and military numerous foreign decorations awarded to British Field medals, orders and decorations loaned to the exhibition Marshal Edmund Allenby; and a number of marshals’ by some of the most important military museums in batons. The "Memories" section includes the 1861 Fort the United States, Britain and France, including the Sumter decoration awarded to Major Robert Anderson; British Museum, the West Point Museum, the Imperial and numerous sweetheart pins, brooches, and badges War Museum, the British Museum, the National Army from various wars. Items in the "Peace" section include: Museum, the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor a George Washington Peace Medal, c. 1776; Indian and the Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Library. peace medals awarded by presidents from Washington to Harrison; and numerous pieces of patriotic jewelry The book is divided into four sections: "War, .... Valor," to commemorate the end of the two world wars. "Memories" and "Peace." Each section describes orders, decorations, medals and military jewelry appropriate While this book contains items other than medals, the to that section with excellent color illustrations. excellent color photos and the interesting text will In addition, each section includes interviews with provide an excellent "read" for any medal collector. experts from several of the above-named institutions, Vol. 62, No. 6 (November-December 2011) 15 MEDALS HONORING THE ITALIAN IRREDENTISTS DANIEL E. SPEIR The polyglot empire that was Austria-Hungary contained conspired to assassinate Franz Josef during an upcoming a great many ethnic non-German and non-Magyar citizens visit to that city.4 On September 16, 1882, Oberdan within its borders. During the rise of nationalism in the crossed the border from Italy into Austria-Hungary with last half of the nineteenth century, a significant number two "Orsini" bombs,s He had been betrayed, however, of the empire’s ethnic Italian citizens became dedicated and Austrian police quickly arrested him with the bombs irredentists, in that they renounced the jurisdiction of in his possession. Oberdan was tried and convicted by Austria-Hungary, and anticipated the day when Italian- court-martial in Trieste for desertion and conspiracy to speaking telTitories within the empire would become part kill the emperor, and subsequently sentenced to death. of Italy. It fact, the term "irredentist" originated from the Oberdan’s reported last words before being hanged on Italian word irredenta, meaning "unredeemed.’’~ Most December 20, 1882, were, "Long live Italy! Long live Italian irredentists resided in what today consists of the free Trieste! Out with the foreigners!" in short order, northeastern Italian regions of Veneto, Fruili, Venezia, Oberdan’s martyrdom inspired the creation of no less that Guili and Trentino. 49 irredentist "Oberdan societies" in Italy and Austria.~ During the revolutionary turmoil of 1848-1849, Italian In 1915, when Italy entered the First World War on nationalists and irredentists made their first concentrated the side of the Allies, many irredentists welcomed the efforts to wrest ethnic Italian provinces from the opportunity to fight the detested Austrians. Damian Austrians. Lombardy and Venezia, taking advantage of Chiesa was born an Austro-Hungarian subject in Trento in the revolutions throughout the empire, revolted. After 1894, but rejected Austrian authority at an early age. As a regaining its military composure, Austria sent an army to young man he attended the School of Naval Engineering crush the Italian rebels. Fighting was bitter, but eventually in Genoa and when Italy entered the war, Chiesa enlisted the superior numbers, equipment and training of the in the Italian Army under the pseudonym of "Mario Austrians prevailed. It was not until the conclusion of Angelotti." Subsequently commissioned as a lieutenant the Franco-Austrian war of 1859 that most of Lombardy in the 9th Infantry Regiment, Chiesa and his men were was finally ceded to Italy (i.e. the kingdom of Piedmont- tasked with constructing a gun emplacement on Mount Sardinia) by way of France.