Italian States, Grand Duchy Of Tuscany. An Order Of Military Merit, Commander By Rothe In Gold, C. 1910 Hold RAF records state Essen was

RAF records state Essen was second only to the capital city of Berlin in terms of total allied bomb tonage dropped during the war

"our thoughts were filled with anything but 'peace and goodwill' towards our goose-stepping friends across the way

The Flak Helper unfit for service note with transcript is dated to Stade on December 21

and another Armorer

Italian States, Grand Duchy Of Tuscany. An Order Of Military Merit, Commander By Rothe In Gold, C. 1910 Hold RAF records state Essen was(Ordine Militare d'Italia). Instituted on December 19, 1853 by Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany. A suberb 14kt Gold badge of Austrian manufacture, consisting of a white enamelled five arm cross with segments of a delicately crafted oak leaf wreath in each quadrant joined by a ribbon at 6 oclock, the obverse center medallion presents a white enamel field with LII (Leopold II), surrounded in a blue enamel surround inscribed MERITO MILITARE (Military