Does any have a photo they can e-mail me of The Order of Franz
Josef...medal and badge....Commander Level?  This would be from the
Imperial period of Austria-Hungary. Help!!

---

Request for Question Clarification by blazius-ga on 14 Jan 2005 00:26 PST

Hello,

I have found pictures of an Franz Joseph Order, but unfortunately I am
unable get information about which level it belongs to.  The medal is
a red cross with a red silk band, the cross bears a white circle with
the letters "FJ" in gold.  Is this what you are looking for?

---

Request for Question Clarification by blazius-ga on 14 Jan 2005 00:27 PST

There is also some other Franz Josef medals that was awarded for
military merit or bravery.  I have found pictures of the bronze and
silver versions of those.

Dear imperialdan,

The Commander Level of the Franz Joseph Order (full official name:
Kaiserlich-Österreischischer Franz-Joseph-Orden) was called "Komtur".
Komtur is an old German synonym for Kommandeur [Commander], dating
back to medieval times.

A decoration set for the Franz-Joseph-Orden, Komtur or Commander
Level, consisted of these items:

- The medal, called "Komturkreuz" [Commander's Cross]

- The star-shaped order [Stern], to be worn on the breast, as an
additional decoration

This image [1] shows both the Komturkreuz and the star of the Franz-Joseph-Orden:
http://austro-hungary.iatp.org.ua/awords/orders/fjo4.gif

Here is a larger image [2] of a Komturkreuz:
http://www.sammlerecke.at/orden/images/ord20.jpg

Here is a larger image [2] of the Star of the Commander's Cross:
http://www.sammlerecke.at/orden/images/3.jpg

This image [2] shows the Star as awarded during World War I, with
swords as additional war decoration:
http://www.sammlerecke.at/orden/images/4.jpg



Sources:

[1] History of the Habsburg State: Oesterreichischer Franz
Joseph-Orden - Komturkreuz mit dem Sterne
http://austro-hungary.iatp.org.ua/awords/orders/fjo4.html

[2] Sammlerecke.at: Orden und Ehrenzeichen d. Monarchie
http://www.sammlerecke.at/orden/ordenmona.html

Austro-Hungarian Land Forces 1848-1918: The Imperial Austrian Franz
Joseph Order 1914-1918
http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/franjord.htm

Medals of the World: Austro-Hungarian Empire - The Order of Franz Joseph
http://www.medals.org.uk/austria/austria-empire/austria-empire-008.htm

Search terms used:
"franz joseph orden"
http://images.google.de/images?q=%22franz%20joseph%20orden%22&hl=de&lr=&newwindow=1&c2coff=1&sa=N&tab=wi
"franz joseph orden"
://www.google.de/search?q=%22franz%20joseph%20orden%22&hl=de&lr=&newwindow=1&c2coff=1&sa=N&tab=iw
"franz joseph orden" komtur
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&newwindow=1&c2coff=1&q=%22franz+joseph+orden%22+komtur&btnG=Suche&meta=
"franz joseph order" 
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&q=%22franz+joseph+order%22&btnG=Google-Suche&meta=
komturkreuz "franz joseph orden"
://www.google.de/search?q=komturkreuz+%22franz+joseph+orden%22&hl=de&lr=&newwindow=1&c2coff=1&start=10&sa=N


Hope this is what you were looking for!
Regards,
Scriptor

There is a webpage with detailed information about the "Franz Joseph
Order" including a picture of the Commanders' Cross. Would this be of
any help?