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WorldWar2.ro Forum > Awards & Badges > Clasps of the WWI Commemorative Cross

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 10:02 pm

Seeing the interest in the clasps of the Crusade against Bolshevism medal, I thought it would be useful to open a similar thread on the clasps of the WWI Commemorative Cross.

The cross itself (with the full name 'Commemorative Cross of the 1916-1918 War') has been established through Royal Decree 1744 of 8 July 1918 and has been awarded to the civilians and the military personnel that participated to WWI. The cross was a Byzantine cross with the cypher of King Ferdinand on the obverse and the years 1916-1918 on the reverse.

user posted image

Source: http://www.marksmedals.com/romanian_medals_files/ww1_cross.html

The participants to the 1919 campaign received a different version of the cross that had the years 1916-1919 on the reverse.

Participation to particular battles was marked through the addition of metal clasps to the ribbon of the medal. According to the Safta et al book on Romanian war decorations, the following clasps were issued: ARDEAL, BUCUREŞTI, CARPAŢI, CERNA, DOBROGEA, JIU, MĂRĂŞEŞTI, MĂRĂŞTI, OITUZ, TG. OCNA and TURTUCAIA. The same book mentions as a late addition (1927) the ITALIA clasp awarded to the members of the Romanian Legion in Italy.

The Catone et al book on Romanian decorations mentions a further clasp, DUNĂREA. And I also remember seeing references to the 1919 clasp for the 1919 campaign.

Please post here images of the various clasps of this medal.

Posted by: dragos03 November 11, 2005 10:21 pm

Here is one with Ardeal, Dobrogea, Carpati, Bucuresti and Marasti.

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: dragos03 November 11, 2005 10:30 pm

In addition to the clasps already mentioned by Carol I, i also saw a "1918" clasp.

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 11:00 pm

QUOTE (dragos03 @ Nov 11 2005, 11:30 PM)

In addition to the clasps already mentioned by Carol I, i also saw a "1918" clasp.

I think I also remember seeing that one. What was it supposed to mark, the participation to the campaign after 10 November 1918?

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 11:13 pm

Bar with the WWI Cross with DOBROGEA, MARASTI, CERNA and 1919 clasps (from eBay).

user posted image

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 11:20 pm

Medal with ARDEAL, DUNAREA, CARPATI, BUCURESTI, MARASESTI and DOBROGEA clasps (from eBay)

user posted image

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 11:23 pm

WWI Cross with JIU and MARASTI clasps (from eBay)

user posted image

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 11:26 pm

WWI Cross with CARPATI, ARDEAL, 1918 and 1919 clasps on a medal bar from eBay

user posted image

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 11:46 pm

WWI Cross with ARDEAL, CARPATI, TARGUL-OCNA, OITUZ, 1918 and 1919 clasps on a bar (from eBay)

user posted image

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 11:50 pm

MARASTI clasp without a diamond and DOBROGIA clasp (interesting variation of the DOBROGEA clasp) beside BUCURESTI and 1919 clasps

user posted image

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 11:54 pm

Poor image of the TURTUCAIA clasp (beside others)

user posted image

Posted by: Carol I November 11, 2005 11:55 pm

The unified list of clasps built from the information posted on this thread:

1918
1919
ARDEAL
BUCUREŞTI
CARPAŢI
CERNA
DOBROGEA
DOBROGIA
DUNĂREA
ITALIA
JIU
MĂRĂŞEŞTI
MĂRĂŞTI
MĂRĂŞTI ◊
OITUZ
TÂRGUL-OCNA
TURTUCAIA

Has anyone seen the ITALIA clasp?

Posted by: boonicootza November 12, 2005 02:02 am

One that was on ebay some tine ago

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: boonicootza November 12, 2005 02:07 am

And one I had in my collection

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: Carol I November 12, 2005 10:37 am

It appears there are two versions of the ARDEAL clasp: ARDEAL and A R D E A L. Take a loog at the following images and compare the length of the ARDEAL writing with that of CARPATI.

user posted image

Posted by: Carol I November 12, 2005 10:41 am

It appears that there are two versions for the MĂRĂŞEŞTI clasp too. Here is MĂRĂŞEŞTI.

user posted image

And here is M Ă R Ă Ş E Ş T I

user posted image

Posted by: Carol I November 12, 2005 10:54 am

Based on the images posted, we can update the list of clasps for this cross.

1918
1919
ARDEAL
A R D E A L
BUCUREŞTI
CARPAŢI
CERNA
DOBROGEA
DOBROGIA
DUNĂREA
ITALIA
JIU
MĂRĂŞEŞTI
M Ă R Ă Ş E Ş T I
MĂRĂŞTI
MĂRĂŞTI ◊
OITUZ
TÂRGUL-OCNA
TURTUCAIA

Of these, the ITALIA clasp has yet to be seen.

Posted by: b737 November 12, 2005 04:11 pm

QUOTE (Carol I @ Nov 12 2005, 10:54 AM)

The "ITALIA" and "SIBERIA" clasps are extremely rare!

Posted by: REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR November 12, 2005 04:26 pm

http://imageshack.us

Here is one that is not on your list. 1916-1918 cross with bars 1916, Marasesti, 1918 bars. The 1916 bar I have not seen another example of and is unlisted in many books. I beleive that this bar was awarded to Romanian troops fighting along side the Imperial Russian Army inside Russia in 1916.

Posted by: dragos03 November 12, 2005 05:22 pm

Some years ago there was a cross for sale on E-bay with a long ribbon and all the bars (probably a piece made for a museum). I remember it also had a "Siberia" bar.

Posted by: Carol I November 12, 2005 05:32 pm

QUOTE (b737 @ Nov 12 2005, 05:11 PM)

The "ITALIA" and "SIBERIA" clasps are extremely rare!

I almost forgot about the SIBERIA clasp. I have first read about it in Traian Serendan: Mărturii despre legiunea voluntară română din Siberia [Documents on the Romanian Volunteers' Legion of Siberia] - Filatelia No. 7-8 (543-544), Jul.-Aug. 2001, pp. 14-15.

Posted by: Carol I November 12, 2005 05:33 pm

Clasps of the WWI Commemorative Cross

1916
1918
1919
ARDEAL
A R D E A L
BUCUREŞTI
CARPAŢI
CERNA
DOBROGEA
DOBROGIA
DUNĂREA
ITALIA
JIU
MĂRĂŞEŞTI
M Ă R Ă Ş E Ş T I
MĂRĂŞTI
MĂRĂŞTI ◊
OITUZ
SIBERIA
TÂRGUL-OCNA
TURTUCAIA

Posted by: dragos03 November 12, 2005 07:31 pm

I also have this one on a medal bar, with clasps CERNA, JIU, CAPRATI, MARASTI and OITUZ.

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: dragos03 November 12, 2005 07:38 pm

On this last bar, the clasps are also mounted differently compared to other bars. The sides of the clasps were bended.

The "Oituz" clasp also seems to have two variations: OITUZ (in one pic posted by boonicootza) and O I T U Z (on my bar).

Posted by: boonicootza November 13, 2005 03:12 pm

Here is a strange MARASESTI one, IIRC it was on sale on ebay.

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: Carol I November 13, 2005 03:22 pm

I have also seen claps with a 'non-standard' font. Could this be a sign for privately made clasps for medal or ribbon bars?

user posted image

Posted by: REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR November 13, 2005 06:03 pm

I beleive that there were 8-10 different manufactures of the WW1 cross. There are several variations that exist of the WW1 cross and I beleive that this also applies to the clasp bars. I do not think that it is an issue of being a private purchase piece but rather a variation between manufacturers.

Posted by: Carol I November 13, 2005 11:58 pm

QUOTE (REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR @ Nov 13 2005, 07:03 PM)

Thanks, but it appears that some fonts are considerably scarcer than others. Are some of the variations of the cross equally scarce?

Posted by: REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR November 14, 2005 01:46 am

Carol I, I do not have an answer. I would however like to know more about the Romanians in Siberia. Who knows the story ????

Posted by: Carol I November 14, 2005 07:27 am

QUOTE (REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR @ Nov 14 2005, 02:46 AM)

Carol I, I do not have an answer.

Thanks anyhow.

QUOTE (REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR @ Nov 14 2005, 02:46 AM)

I would however like to know more about the Romanians in Siberia. Who knows the story ????

I have posted a http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=1158&view=findpost&p=25733 of the Filatelia article mentioned above in the thread http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=1158.

Posted by: b737 November 14, 2005 08:39 pm

QUOTE (Carol I @ Nov 12 2005, 05:33 PM)

I think that I saw once a "BUDAPESTA" clasp, from the campain in 1919 !

Posted by: Claudiu1988 November 14, 2005 08:43 pm

I have a question. Where there two kinds of ww1 crosses because I have one that I have rarley seen It's different in collor and in weight.

http://imageshack.us

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: dragos03 November 21, 2005 09:04 pm

A Targul-Ocna clasp different from the previously posted ones (from Sammler-Cabinet):

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: Carol I November 25, 2005 08:24 am

It appears that there are at least two versions of the CARPAŢI clasp as well.

user posted image

The one in the photo above has smaller and somewhat rounder letters than the one in the photo below.

user posted image

Posted by: Claudiu1988 December 12, 2005 05:42 pm

Wath do you think about this cross.

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: Claudiu1988 December 12, 2005 05:43 pm

It's on ebay for 50$. Is it worthed

Posted by: Carol I February 25, 2006 01:57 am

TURTUCAIA clasp:

user posted image

Source: Internet auction

Posted by: Carol I February 25, 2006 02:02 am

There are two versions of the 1919 clasp as well. Here is "1919":
user posted image

And here is "1 9 1 9":
user posted image

Source: Internet auction

Posted by: Carol I February 25, 2006 02:21 am

Updated list of clasps of the WWI Commemorative Cross

1916
1918
1919
1 9 1 9
ARDEAL
A R D E A L
BUCUREŞTI
CARPAŢI
C A R P A Ţ I
CERNA
DOBROGEA
DOBROGIA
DUNĂREA
ITALIA
JIU
MĂRĂŞEŞTI
M Ă R Ă Ş E Ş T I
MĂRĂŞTI
MĂRĂŞTI ◊
OITUZ
SIBERIA
TÂRGUL-OCNA
TURTUCAIA

Posted by: New Connaught Ranger February 27, 2006 09:04 pm

Good evening to all the members of the Forum.

Can anybody give me the following information about the Romanian War Cross of WW1. (both 1916-18 and 1916 - 19.)

a, the decree date of institution.

b, the name of the designer.

c, the order in which the Battle-bars were awarded.

d, even a list of which battles were fought first to the last.

Thank you very much from Kevin in Deva. Hunedoara.

Posted by: Carol I February 28, 2006 07:54 am

QUOTE (New Connaught Ranger @ Feb 27 2006, 10:04 PM)

Can anybody give me the following information about the Romanian War Cross of WW1. (both 1916-18 and 1916 - 19.)

a, the decree date of institution.

The decree number and date are given in the first message of the thread:

QUOTE (Carol I @ Nov 11 2005, 11:02 PM)

The cross itself (with the full name 'Commemorative Cross of the 1916-1918 War') has been established through Royal Decree 1744 of 8 July 1918 and has been awarded to the civilians and the military personnel that participated to WWI.

Posted by: Carol I April 02, 2006 09:07 am

Award certificate for the WWI Commemorative Cross with 7 clasps (issued on 15 July 1923)

user posted image

Source: Internet auction

Posted by: Carol I April 08, 2006 06:33 pm

Award certificate for the WWI Commemorative Cross with 3 clasps

user posted image

Source: Internet auction

Posted by: Carol I April 16, 2006 08:19 pm

TG. OCNA clasp:

user posted image

From a http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=6162 summarising the information in this thread and in http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=2710

Posted by: Carol I April 16, 2006 08:21 pm

Posted by: Dénes May 09, 2006 05:43 pm

Here is a Commemorative Cross with four known clasps (from eBay):

user posted image

Gen. Dénes

Posted by: REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR May 29, 2006 02:09 am

http://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2placeww11yz.jpg

Interesting 2 place WW1 medal bar with bars " MARASESTI, TURTUCAIA, BUCURESTI, DOBROGEA ".

Posted by: REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR May 31, 2006 02:24 am

http://img330.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ww15bar9uv.jpg

Here is an interesting cross. It has 5 bars on it. All 5 bars are in silver with large letters. They are as follows : DUNAREA, DOBROGEA, CARPATI, 1918, 1918.

Why are the bars in silver ? And why does it have the bars 1918 on it twice ?

Posted by: New Connaught Ranger May 31, 2006 06:29 pm

QUOTE (REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR @ May 29 2006, 02:09 AM)

http://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2placeww11yz.jpg

Interesting 2 place WW1 medal bar with bars " MARASESTI, TURTUCAIA, BUCURESTI, DOBROGEA ".

Hallo

Thats a very nice 2 piece bar on a french style pin with chain, is this bar in your collection or is it on Ebay??

Kevin in Deva.

Posted by: REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR June 01, 2006 02:38 am

QUOTE (New Connaught Ranger @ May 31 2006, 06:29 PM)

QUOTE (REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR @ May 29 2006, 02:09 AM)

http://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2placeww11yz.jpg

Interesting 2 place WW1 medal bar with bars " MARASESTI, TURTUCAIA, BUCURESTI, DOBROGEA ".

Hallo

Thats a very nice 2 piece bar on a french style pin with chain, is this bar in your collection or is it on Ebay??

Kevin in Deva.

Yes. This group is in my collection. You don't see this type of WW1 mounting all too often. I usually see more of this style of mounting in period photos then in actuality. With the chain hanger, the group was suspended like a jetton off the pocket button.

Posted by: dragos03 June 02, 2006 06:21 pm

Here is a cross with many clasps, including the rare SIBERIA. This cross was probably made for display purposes and can be seen in the War Museum in Brussels.

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: New Connaught Ranger June 05, 2006 06:17 pm

Hallo dragos03

Now that is a very interesting picture, thank you for sharing it with us

Kevin in Deva.

Posted by: g_deploige June 27, 2006 01:13 pm

A little more information of this cross and some details , it has the inventory Nr 1105715 and was a gift of the Roumanian gouvernement on 28/03/1924 to the Royal Army Museum in Brussels.

See olso the collection http://www.klm-mra.be/klm-new/engels/main01.php?id=collecties/collectiebestand

and i think it can be a reference for the claps (bars) that exist for this cross

http://img482.imageshack.us/my.php?image=post65511512213241oi.jpghttp://img475.imageshack.us/my.php?image=post65511512214243vw.jpg

Posted by: boonicootza September 22, 2006 02:55 pm

Marasesti, 1918 and 1919 silvered bar, large letters

http://img108.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture261vr7.jpg

From Military Museum.

Posted by: boonicootza September 22, 2006 02:57 pm

D U N A R E A clasp on a medal bar from Military Museum in Bucharest

http://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture2641pr6.jpg

Posted by: boonicootza September 22, 2006 03:02 pm

TG. OCNA silvered clasp, large letters.

http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cr5siteafy0.jpg

The cross was for sale on eBay some time ago.

Posted by: boonicootza September 22, 2006 03:05 pm

ARDEAL, CARPATI, BUCURESTI clasps silvered large letters and 1 9 1 8 clasp.

http://s2.supload.com/free/cr.jpg/view/

Posted by: boonicootza September 22, 2006 03:12 pm

Updated list of clasps of the WWI Commemorative Cross

I added the silvered ones with bold and italic fonts.

1916
1918
1 9 1 8
1918
1919
1 9 1 9
1919
ARDEAL
A R D E A L
ARDEAL
BUCUREŞTI
BUCURESTI
CARPAŢI
C A R P A Ţ I
CARPATI
CERNA
DOBROGEA
DOBROGEA
DOBROGIA
DUNĂREA
D U N A R E A
DUNAREA
ITALIA
JIU
MĂRĂŞEŞTI
M Ă R Ă Ş E Ş T I
MARASESTI
MĂRĂŞTI
MĂRĂŞTI ◊
OITUZ
SIBERIA
TÂRGUL-OCNA
TG. OCNA
TG. OCNA
TURTUCAIA

Posted by: boonicootza September 22, 2006 04:35 pm

TRADITIE clasp and award document.

http://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?image=traditiewx8.jpg

The medal was for sale on http://www.coins-la-galerie-numismatique.com/auctions.php

Posted by: dragos03 September 23, 2006 03:39 am

QUOTE (boonicootza @ September 22, 2006 04:35 pm)

TRADITIE clasp and award document.

http://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?image=traditiewx8.jpg

The medal was for sale on http://www.coins-la-galerie-numismatique.com/auctions.php

Very interesting, it's the first time i see a "Traditie" clasp for this medal, thanks for posting it.

Posted by: dragos03 September 29, 2006 05:17 pm

Here is one cross with the "Siberia" bar:

http://imageshack.us

(Source: www.coins-la-galerie-numismatique.com)

Posted by: Claudiu1988 July 24, 2007 12:41 pm

Here is one of my crosses with "Marasesti" bar.

http://imageshack.us
Shot at 2007-07-24

Posted by: b737 October 08, 2007 02:48 pm

QUOTE (b737 @ November 14, 2005 08:39 pm)

QUOTE (Carol I @ Nov 12 2005, 05:33 PM)

I think that I saw once a "BUDAPESTA" clasp, from the campain in 1919 !

As I told....! Here is a picture from the "Budapesta"clasp !!!!

http://imageshack.us

Posted by: New Connaught Ranger October 08, 2007 04:30 pm

Hallo b737

thanks for posting this picture it looks like the BUDAPESTA & DUNAREA have been made by the same fabricant, judging by the style of the "BLOCK" Letters!

I must say, this is the first time I have seen this particular style, and I notice the edge lines at the sides are broader than the other clasps on the ribbon. It might also be slightly bigger in height compared to the others.

If possible could you measure the width and height for me?

Thank you,

Kevin in Deva.

Posted by: b737 October 08, 2007 07:23 pm

Hi NCR, sorry but it is not my medal, it was sold at Rauch 3 years ago !

Posted by: Alexei2102 March 28, 2009 01:20 pm

Hi all,

I am briniging the thread back to life with this nice citation for the Turtucaia battle.

Enjoy,

Al

user posted image

Posted by: Alexei2102 March 28, 2009 01:45 pm

Also, this guy must have seen a lot of action. Doc coming from a group of 6 citations, among three for bravery (Military Virtue, etc)

user posted image

Posted by: Alexei2102 May 01, 2010 11:38 am

edited

Posted by: Alexei2102 May 01, 2010 11:42 am

edited