IMPERIAL GERMAN militaria
    In imperial Germany medals were issued for every possible occasion.  The government felt such a need for the things that a portion of the production was outsourced to private manufacturers.  They considered the armed forces to be an essential and preiminent expression of the state and the embodiment of its honour.  Army, army everywhere.

GERMANY, 26mm bronze, helmeted bust R, WILHELM II  DEUTSCHER KAISER / ERRINERUNG AN DAS KAISER MANÖVER 1891, corrosion, F $12.50
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GERMANY, 23mm brass, bust R, WILHELM I DEUTSCHER KAISER / Prussian eagle R, 25 JÄHR FEIER D. THRONBESTEIGUNG 1861-1886, by Lauer, XF-AU $24.00
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GERMANY, medals of the states and empire
    The German empire that was formed in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War and was destroyed in World War I was technically an amalgamation of independent states led by Prussia.  Various governmental functions remained with the states.  Amongst those functions were the raising and maintenance of troops.  The issue of awards was part of that package.

HESSE-DARMSTADT, Bravery Medal, WWI, no ribbon, aXF $33.00 sold
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WUERTTEMBERG, Bravery & Merit Medal, silver, XF $45.00 sold
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GERMANY, KAISERREICH, Centenary of birth of Wilhelm I 1897, old handmade hanger with yellow ribbon, small flaw, edge nicks, VF $40.00 sold 1/31/2014
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GERMANY, private medals
    Imperial Germany being a state that held the military in very high regard, and medals having become a fixture of military life in the 19th century, a bloom of civic and religious medals took place.  Anything became an occasion for a medal.  When was the last time you saw anyone get a medal for, say, schoolwork?  Now its more likely to be coupons for fast food, right?

GERMANY, 36x31 brass oval, looped, Roman soldier stg 1/4 L, HEIL. QUIRINUS BITTE FÜR UNS! / church, ANDENKEN AN DIE ST. QUIRINUS JUBILAUM NEUSS 6.-13. MAI 1900., spots, VF $9.00
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GERMANY, 30x41mm football shaped brass pinback, lamb with cross & banner bleading into cup, XX INTERNAT EVCHARISTISCHER KONGRESS COELN 1909, enamelled red, white, blue, by L. CHR. LAUER NUERNBERG & ZWEIGF. BERLIN S.W. RITTERSTR. 46, XF $46.00 sold 9/13/2016
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GERMANY, World War I propaganda
    Propaganda began to be employed as a tool of government in the 18th century, when it began to be necessary to have a substantial portion of the "subjects" on the side of the government.  World War I was the first war of near total mobilization, and propaganda was lavishly employed on all sides.

GFP2) GERMANY, postcard, young soldier with flag, "Ich bin ein Deutscher... (poem), feldpost, 1915 cancel, edge faults, VF $9.50 sold
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GERMANY, World War I paperwork
    Armies run on paperwork.  If I'm not mistaken serious recordkeeping began with Alexander, who learned it from Aristotle.  Before that the basic tactic was "Charge," quartermastering was pillage, records were stories told around campfires.  Certainly this assertion is mere blowhardism on my part.  The Babylonians didn't keep records?

GFGB1) GERMANY, Field Prisoner Manual for Chaplains, 1897, pocket size paperback, F $24.00
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