The "wavy WW1 German Occupation ribbon

[Tom Nier]

Here is one variety of the scarce "wavy" ribbon for the WW1 German Occupation medal. The medal was authorized 11-21-1941, but medal production began much later with the first contract to Whitehead & Hoag on 6 September 1945. On 5-31-1942 however, the War Department issued a press release describing the outer blue stripe of the ribbon having a scalloped pattern. This wavy pattern did not survive the war, probably due to complications in production. See Extract D5 on page 69 of "The Gleim Medal Letters" for more background.

 

The illustrated 3 place ribbon bar has an Occupation ribbon whose pattern resembles the "mortise & tenon" joints noted on antique furniture. I have seen two other wartime Occupation ribbons (both twin mounted with WW1 Victory ribbons) that did have a true sinusoidal, wavy pattern.

Do the Forum members have other, possibly attributed examples of this scarce WW2 ribbon?

Tom Nier, OMSA 1096

[collectsmedals]

Here is one in my collection, but it is not an attributed example.

[collectsmedals]

Note that it is the wide Navy / Marine Corps style ribbon.

[11-Bull]

I do not know how long they originally made the "wavy" edge version of the ribbon, but somebody was making versions of this much later. Here is an example I have had in my collection for a while. The stamping on brass back plate is D22.

[Tom Nier]

I do not know how long they originally made the "wavy" edge version of the ribbon, but somebody was making versions of this much later. Here is an example I have had in my collection for a while. The stamping on brass back plate is D22.

 

This very interesting wavy ribbon is well woven, and the D22 hallmark was assigned to Denmark's Military Equipment Corp. of New York City. The Army's Institute of Heraldry set up this 1 letter & 2 digit system about 1964. The IOH's previous hallmark system of about 1953 used 1 digit & 1 letter (Denmark then used 6D). I don't know if this was an officially ordered production of wavy ribbon, or a private production run for the collectors' market. Tom Nier

[11-Bull]

Tom, this ribbon originally came in a lot I bought from an Army/ Navy store in Cleveland, Ohio in the late 1970s (no jokes needed, the Browns are a bigger joke than any of you guys can come up with!) The guy who owned the store was a real pr!ck. He had the ribbons in those cabinets with clear plastic drawers that you store nuts and bolts in. Some had labels, most did not. He would not let you look through them, he would demand "what ribbon do you want?". Tired of this I told him give me one of each style you have in stock. He looked at me like I was crazy, but was happy to sell about 100 ribbons at 50 cents apiece. They ran the gamut from Wolf Brown plastic coated, thin brass crimped on backing, and current styles. Spanish American war to current (at the time) Vietnam ribbons. Just wanted to give you some further background on this example. Dave

[bulldog06]

Here is one variety of the scarce "wavy" ribbon for the WW1 German Occupation medal. The medal was authorized 11-21-1941, but medal production began much later with the first contract to Whitehead & Hoag on 6 September 1945. On 5-31-1942 however, the War Department issued a press release describing the outer blue stripe of the ribbon having a scalloped pattern. This wavy pattern did not survive the war, probably due to complications in production. See Extract D5 on page 69 of "The Gleim Medal Letters" for more background.

 

The illustrated 3 place ribbon bar has an Occupation ribbon whose pattern resembles the "mortise & tenon" joints noted on antique furniture. I have seen two other wartime Occupation ribbons (both twin mounted with WW1 Victory ribbons) that did have a true sinusoidal, wavy pattern.

Do the Forum members have other, possibly attributed examples of this scarce WW2 ribbon?

Tom Nier, OMSA 1096

 

Tom,

I've seen an attributed wavy ribbon in my wife's grandfather's shadow box. His name was Harris M. Findlay. I do not have the ribbon bar so cannot post a picture. The ribbon bar has the Mexican border service ribbon, WWI Victory, WWI Occ with wavy ribbon and American Defense ribbon. He evidently wore the 4 place bar until his non-combat death in 1943. His shadow box also contains the Mexican border service medal numbered to LTC Findlay as a PVT and a round lug WWI Victory Medal. He did not have the actual medals for WWI Occ or American Defense which were authorized after his death.

 

Sorry I cannot post pictures.

 

Mike

[FrankEaton01]

Hi Tom,

 

I believe the "mortise & tenon" joint variation is a case where someone simply sewed the ribbon onto the bar backwards. A few years ago, I obtained a length of original 1940's production 1st style WWI Occupation ribbon in an estate grouping, and there is definately a "front" and a "back" to the ribbon, as a result of weaving the scalloped pattern.

[Tom Nier]

Many thanks Frank, for providing the final answer to the "mortise & tenon" variety of the Occupation ribbon. As is often the case, the simplest explanation is the correct one. 

[gpspartans]

I have a wavy ribbon with standard clasp (no marks).

 

see photo