Medals and Military Decorations

Various medals and military decorations awarded to members of the family

Fred Schmalensee, Jr., United States of America, Air Force (WWII)
Kingdom of Prussia, Knightly Order of St. John of the Hospital of Jerusalem (Ritterlicher Orden Sankt Johannis vom Spital zu Jerusalem), also called the Order of St. John (Johanniter-Orden), refounded on 15.10.1852, pin belonging to Knight Hospitaller Friedrich Franz Ludwig von Schmalensee

Military decorations and medals of Friedrich Philipp v. Schmalensee (14.7.1777 – 21.11.1853), earned in the Battle at Lüneburg on April 2, 1813, when the Prussian and Russian troops joined forces against Napoleon’s armies

1-2. The Iron Cross 2nd Class on a so-called combatant ribbon (Kämpferband) (black with a white border), established on 10.3.1813 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III, bestowed for proven bravery in the face of the enemy from 1813 to 1815. During the wars of liberation, the king and the royal princes wore exclusively the cross of the 2nd class (worn on a ribbon through a buttonhole). The cross could be earned by anyone from the highest general to the simplest man, something previously unheard of. 3. War Votive medal “1813” (Kriegs-Denkmünze “1813”) (some were also embossed with the dates “1813-1814”, “1814”, “1813-1815”) – the ribbon onto which this one is attached does not belong to this medal.

Distinction awarded to Friedrich Philipp von Schmalensee (14.7.1777 – 21.11.1853), earned in the Battle of Lüneburg on April 2, 1813, when the Prussian and Russian troops joined forces against Napoleon’s armies.

Order of Saint Vladimir (Orden des Heiligen Wladimir), established September 22, 1782 by Catharine the Great on the 20th anniversary of her reign (here shown is the 4th class medal). Extremely rare!

France, 1st Empire 1804 – 1814

on December 2, 1804 Napoleon crowned himself and his wife Josephine Beauharnais in the church of Notre Dame in Paris, after unction from Pope Pious VII

Napoleon had already established the Cross of the Legion of Honour (Légion d’honneur) for military and civilian achievements. Five classes: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight, on a red ribbon.
Legend: NAPOLEON EMP(EMPEREUR) DES FRANCAIS
Reverse HONNEUR ET PATRIE

An extremely rare piece, most likely a war souvenir taken by Prussian troops from the year 1813.

The colors of the ribbons pertain to the medal under which they run.
Read from top to bottom
Kingdom of Prussia: the so-called combatant ribbon (Kämpferband) of the Iron Cross, on top of which is a miniature of the Iron Cross.
Kingdom of Prussia: the ribbon of the War Votive Medal “1813” (Kriegs-Denkmünze “1813”), on top of which is a miniature of the votive medal.
Russian Empire: the ribbon of the Order of Saint Vladimir (Orden des Heiligen Wladimir), on top of which is a miniature of the medal.
(Sadly, these miniatures are extremely damaged.)

Order of the St. John’s Lodge of the Three Crowns of the Orient (Orden der Johannis-Loge Zu den Drei Kronen im Orient), J = denotes Königsberg/East Prussia, where Friedrich von Schmalensee married Blanka von Studnitz. This was worn traditionally on a long green band or sash.
Order of the St. John’s Lodge of the Three Crowns of the Orient (Orden der Johannis-Loge Zu den Drei Kronen im Orient), N = denotes Hamburg. This was also worn traditionally on a long green band or sash.
Friedrich Philipp von Schmalensee, awarded the 1813 Votive Medal, Iron Cross 2nd class, as well as the Order of Saint Vladimir, had this brooch made. All 3 of these medals are incorporated into the family crest, seen suspended on 3 ribbons. This was customary in the 19th century.