The Nasjonal Samling Party Badge.

October 10, 2013, 1:13 pm

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The Nasjonal Samling Party Badge. Rikshird, Unghird, Guttehird.  
Instituted on –

Rarity – Rare.

Known Makers – KIAAKSO

 

The Nasjonal Samling Party Badge - Youth grade - Obverse.

 

The Nasjonal Samling Party Badge - Youth grade - Reverse.

 

The Party Badge was circular with a diameter of 25 mm and comprises of the ‘Sun Eagle’ symbol of the Nasjonal Samling, being a circular gilt-edged red enamel disc bearing a gold cross with a double edged sword on either side of the central arm, this was given to theRikshird who were 18 years and older.The youth badge in silver was given to theUnghird 14 to18 years old. The child’s badge in bronze was given to the Guttehird 14 years and under. The reverse was flat with at the top the member’s number engraved. At the centre was a screw post which had a circular button for attaching to the uniform. At the base was stamped in three lines, KIAAKSO, 925 S, and R.P.These badges were awarded to members of the Nasjonal Samling party who were very active. The badges were accompanied by a citation.

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The Police Decoration.

October 13, 2013, 4:17 am

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The Police Decoration.

Instituted on.
Rarity– Very Rare.
Known Makers– Unmarked, (K. Laakso – Oslo)

 

 The Police Decoration - Obverse.

 

Police Decoration - Revers.

 

Police Decoration - Revers. Variant pin.

The design of the award comprise of a Latin cross that measure 39 mm across with out-turned ends to the arms, which is described officially as “bronze“ but in fact is bluish – steel coloured. Through the arms of the cross runs a 1 mm wire circle that has a diameter of 27 mm. Onto the centre of the cross is placed the emblem of the Nasjonal Samling party which was the sun cross of St. Olaf, the fields of which were in filled with red opaque enamel and is silver in colour with a diameter of 14 mm. The reverse is flat with a central rivet that securers the sun cross of St. Olaf. It has a horizontal pin hinge and hook. Two forms have been encountered, a thin wire that raps round the hinge and has a rolling catch and a similar pin attached to the hinge and a “C “form catch. The cross in most cases made by the firm K. Laakso in Oslo.

The Police Decoration Is in one class only, and was given to those who served in the 1st or 2nd Police Company in Finland. It was awarded to those members of these 2 units who had displayed service that could be deemed,” For special endeavour in the struggle against Bolshevism”. It was to be worn on the left breast pocket of the tunic.

There also exists a version suspended from the upper arm by a ribbon that is an orange red that measures 44 mm. Onto the centre is machine sewn on top a piece of yellow ribbon tape that measures 12 mm. this award is called the National Police Honour cross and was only awarded to police men in Norway.

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel

October 28, 2013, 4:16 am

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Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel – Silver, Gold Class.

Institutedon. 15th July1944

Numbers awarded were;
Rarity – Very Rare, Extremely Rare
Known Makers. Unmarked

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel - Silver - Obverse.





 Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel - Silver - Reverse.

 

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel - Gold - Obverse.

This award was instituted on 15th July1944. It consists of a pair of crossed swords, which have double-edged blades that widen to the tip.  They have plain hilts with rounded pommels and thick plain cross-guards.  The blade has a raised central spine.  They measure 54 mm from pommel to tip.  At the centre is superimposed a vertical fasces with a swastika superimposed on to it.  From either side of the fasces is a single oak leaf with an elongated stalk protruding from beneath the lower edges of the blades of the swords.  The outline of the leaves is pierced.

 

The reverse of the badge is plain with a horizontal safety pin type of attachment.  This is secured to the reverse by a round plate in the example used for this description, but other methods were employed.  The overall colour is of patinated silver.  The Gold form is also artificially patinated.  One cautionary note to collectors is that this badge has been heavily copied, mainly in aluminium and great care has to be exercised in the purchase of this rare badge.     

Many Italian units that did not accept the armistice went on to fight on the German side. This created on 9th September 1943 the new Republican Army. The Official foundation of the Armed Forces of the "Repubblica Sociale Italiana (RSI)" was on 28th October 1943. Four Infantry Divisions were formed, namely the "Italia,""Littorio,""San Marco" and "Monterosa" Divisions. The badge was to recognise those Italians who underwent military training in Germany and was rendered to those soldiers of the four RSI Divisions and their German instructors. In accordance to the Italian Decree, Circular no. 160:"Giornale Militare Ufficiale" dated 1944: "In order to cement more and more comradeship ties with the allied army, the Duce has authorized a special badge to be issued to the soldiers of the Divisions under training and to their instructors." The badge was to be given to NCOs and privates in silver with Officers in Gold. The exact criteria for the award of the badge are unknown but it is believed that it was for three months instruction and was for young volunteers who underwent their basic training at the special training schools, and successfully completed the course, which is believed to have encompasses infantry, motorised armoured infantry and, in some cases, heavy armoured training.  It is presumed to equate to the other training school badges and loosely to the Germanic SS proficiency runes, bronze and silver. 

 

The badge has also been called the, 'San Marco Badge'.  An entry in the pay book of an Italian in the Germany Army described the badge as, 'Truppenabzeichen der Zweiten Italienen Divission San Marco in Silber'.  The award was worn above the right breast pocket.

 

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel - Citation.

 

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel in wear.

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel in wear.

 



 

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel in wear.

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel in wear.

 

 

 

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel - Silver - Obverse - Fake.

 

 

 

Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel - Silver - Reverse - Fake.

War Victory Cross Order

November 13, 2013, 5:25 am

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War Victory Cross Order

 

The War Victory Cross Order ranks third in precedence among Slovak orders. It was instituted on the 11^th September 1939, but went through a number of modifications and alterations during the course of its existence. The basic badge of the order is the characteristic twin armed patriarchial cross. Originally there were four grades:

1^stClass with Star.
1^stClass without Star.
2^ndClass.
3^rdClass.

The 1^st Class with Star.

Institutedon.
Rarity – Extremely Rare
Known Makers –

 

War Victory Cross Order - 1st Class with Star Obverse.

 

War Victory Cross Order - 1st Class with Star Reverse.

This was the equivalent of a Grand Cross and consists of a silver breast star who’s horizontal and vertical ray’s measure 82mm and whose diagonal rays measure 72mm. In the centre is the badge of the Order in red and gold the centre is transparent red enamel. This measures 25mm high by 18mm wide. The reverse is scalloped and at the centre are two ball rivets. It has a massive hinge with a semi-circular pin, on to which is stamped the raised makers mark K in a recessed circle; this is followed by the raised silver mark 987 in a recessed oblong box.at the base is a massive “C” hook.

 

War Victory Cross Order - 1st Class with Star - Neck Badge Obverse.



War Victory Cross Order - 1st Class with Star - Neck Badge Reverse.

At the throat a patriarchial cross measuring 52mm high and 36mm wide was worn from a suspension devise in the shape of an open winged, gilt eagle which has on its chest the red/white/blue enamelled badge of Slovakia and in its talons is grasping the fasces. Beneath this is a “v” through which is a circular oues that is attached to the upper arm of the cross. The frame of this neck decoration and the rays between its arms are gilt, the centre is transparent red enamel through which as on the breast star can be seen a pattern of linden leaves. The reverse is flat with two small marks one on either of the upper protrusion, that on the left the silver gradethe raised silver mark 987 in a recessed oblong box and that on the right the makers markthe raised makers mark K in a recessed circle The ribbon of the neck decoration is coral red with yellow woven linden leaves which face alternate ways and have, alternately, three and two buds each. The width of this ribbon is 37mm.

 

This award shown was awarded to General Avramescu.

 

General Avramescu.

 

 

General Avramescu  - 1941-Crimeea-Kerson.

 

The 1^st Class without Star.

Institutedon.
Rarity – Rare.
Known Makers –

This is the neck decoration as found with the 1st Class with Star.

The 2^nd Class.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

This is a similar neck decoration but with silver replacing gold, and blue enamel replacing red enamel in the centre again it is transparent. The ribbon from which this decoration hangs is blue instead of red but it has the same alternately facing linden leaves woven in yellow; it has also two 3mm broad red stripes narrowly outlined in white, one on either side of the linden leaves.

The 3^rd Class.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

This is a plain bronze patrical cross, without the rays between the arms. Its centre is brown transparent enamel through which can be seen a pattern of linden leaves. The ribbon is 36mm wide and is red with ornamental edges in roughly triangular patterns of red, yellow, white and blue “dots” between white strips. This “folk-art” type of ribbon is unique among Slovak ribbons and is impossible to describe precisely in words.

The grade awarded depended on the rank of the recipient. The highest grade was given only to Generals, the 3^rd Class only to Lieutenant-Colonels and Majors.

This configuration of steps in the Order was adequate enough for a military force not actually engaged in fighting an enemy, but after June 1941, and Slovakia’s fatal involvement in Hitler’s war against Russia, it proved necessary to revise and expand the grading of the Order.

Grand Cross.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

This was similar to the former 1st Class with Star.

Grand Cross with Swords.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

This was similar to the former 1st Class with Star, but with silver swords along the diagonal arms of the breast star. The neck decoration was replaced by a “collar” in the form of a double row of looped links; each link being a miniature of the patriarchial cross with rays between the arms, the size was 15mm by 7mm which were finely made in silver gilt. From the centre loop is suspended a small eight-pointed star. This “collar” was only worn in this grade.

The 1^st Class.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

A neck decoration that was exactly like the previous 1^st Class but with a new ribbon, the band was red with two yellow centre strips.

The 1^st Class with Swords.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

As the 1^st Class but with silver crossed swords between the arms of the cross.

The 2^nd Class.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

Similar to the 1^st Class but with silver replacing the gilt. The cross is still red transparent red enamel.

The 2^nd Class with Swords.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

As the 2^nd class with swords added between the arms of the cross.

The 3^rd Class.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

It is a patriarchial cross in silver with blue transparent enamel centre with silver rays between the arms. It is pin backed and worn on the left breast pocket.

The 3^rd Class with Swords.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

The same as the 3^rd Class with gilt swords added between the arms of the cross.

The 4^th Class.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

A bronze cross with a brown transparent enamel centre and “folk- art” ribbon exactly the same as for the previous 3^rd Class. On this ribbon was worn a metal emblem in the form of the gilt eagle of Slovakia with the red/white/blue enamel shield on its chest and grasping in its claws a fasces.

The 4^th Class with Swords.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

A bronze cross but with a white enamel centre. In this case the enamel is opaque, thus the linden leaf pattern which normally appears behind the transparent enamel is worked into the enamel itself. The ribbon is the same “folk-art” type as before but the metal eagle worn in the centre of the ribbon now grasps in its claws a pair of crossed swords.

In 1943 a medal was added to other revised grades, in three grades 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th each having the addition of swords. These were to be awarded to, in the case of the 5^th Class, Subalterns; the 6^th and 7^th Classes went only to non-commissioned ranks.

The 5^th Class.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

This is a round medal with a diameter of 36mm. it is gilt with on the obverse a facsimile of the patriarchial cross with rays between the arms. The reverse has the words in raised capital letters, ZA ZASLUHY, which translates to For Merit. Above and below is a cluster of three linden leaves. The suspension is a gilt bar of linden leaves bound in the centre and at either end. The ribbon is 36mm wide, and is red with two 4mm wide yellow stripes in the centre.

The 5^th Class with Swords.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

The obverse and reverse are the same as the 5th Class. The suspension is a round wreath of linden leaves upon which are crossed swords this being attached to the ribbon by a plain gilt bar. The ribbon is the same as the 5^thClass.

The 6^th Class.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

Similar to the 5^th Class, but silver.

The 6^th Class with Swords.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

Similar to the 5^th Class with swords but in silver.

The 7^th Class.

Institutedon.
Rarity –
Known Makers –

Similar to the 5^th Class but in bronze.

 

 

The 7^th Class with Swords.

Institutedon.

Rarity – Rare.

Known Makers –

 

War Victory Cross Order - 7th Class with Swords Obveres.

Similar to the 5^th Class with swords but in bronze.

 

The decorations were made in Slovakia at the State Mint at Kremnice, approximately twice as many were made as were actually awarded, including 122 breast stars.

 

 

 

War Victory Cross Order - 6th Class in wear.

 

 

On the 14^th March 1944, the fifth anniversary of the foundation of the Slovak Republic, all members of the Slovak armed forces who had served continuously for four years received an award of the War Victory Cross in the grade commensurate with their currently held rank. This involved the presentation of 2270 decorations.

In all, 3769 awards of the Slovak War Victory Cross were made in the course of the War. Of these, 630 went to non-Slovak citizens, not surprisingly the largest share 437 went to Germans, the next largest 142 to Rumanians.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order of Prince Pribina.

November 29, 2013, 6:30 am

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Order of Prince Pribina.

 

Order of Prince Pribina. - Special Grade. A collar with breast star and sash.

Instituted on.

Rarity –Extremely Rare
Known Makers –

 

Order of Prince Pribina. - Grand Cross.

Instituted on.

Rarity –Extremely Rare
Known Makers –

  

Order of Prince Pribina. - Grand Cross. - Obverse.

 

Order of Prince Pribina. - Grand Cross.- Sash and Badge. Obverse.

 

 



Order of Prince Pribina. - Grand Cross. - With swords.

Instituted on.

Rarity –Extremely Rare
Known Makers –

  

Order of Prince Pribina. - Grand Officer.

Instituted on.

Rarity –Extremely Rare
Known Makers –

  

Order of Prince Pribina. - Grand Officer. - With swords.

Instituted on.

Rarity –Extremely Rare
Known Makers –

 

Order of Prince Pribina. - Officer.

Instituted on.

Rarity – Rare
Known Makers –  

 

 

Order of Prince Pribina. - Knight. - Obverse.

Order of Prince Pribina. - Officer. - With swords.

Instituted on.

Rarity – Rare
Known Makers –  

 

Order of Prince Pribina. - Knight.

Instituted on.

Rarity – Rare
Known Makers –

 

Order of Prince Pribina. - Knight. - With swords.

Instituted on.

Rarity – Rare
Known Makers –   

Honour Badge of the DNSAP, Front-Line Soldiers Badge.

March 21, 2014, 6:12 am

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Honour Badge of the DNSAP, Front-Line Soldiers Badge.

Instituted on:

Known Makers - Unmarked
Rarity – Extremely Rare

 

 

 

 

 

NSDAP Long Service Cross - 25 years.

April 13, 2014, 4:06 am

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NSDAP Long Service Cross - 25 years.

Instituted–
Rarity – Extremely Rare.
Known Makers– 19.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sports Badge of Honour of the N.S.J.V.

October 19, 2014, 9:59 am

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Sports Badge of Honour of the N.S.J.V. - Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Instituted on: October 1942.

Known Makers–  Unmarked

Rarity– Rare, Very Rare, Extremely Rare.
 

Sports Badge of Honour of the N.S.J.V. - Gold Class - Obverse 

 

Sports Badge of Honour of the N.S.J.V. - Silver Class - Obverse

 

Sports Badge of Honour of the N.S.J.V. - Gold Class - Reverse

The award was reported in the issue of “De Jonge Nationaalsocialist” of October 1942 and described it as a “Tyr rune” in an oval with “N.S.J.V” at the top and the words “Lichamelijke” Physical on the left and “Opvoeding” Training on the right. It comprises of a red oval with gold lettering and gold outline the “Tyr rune” is in the colour of the class, Bronze, Silver or Gold.

Sports Badge of Honour of the N.S.J.V. in wear.

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Ailsby Books which are available in e-book form on Amazon Kindle Store as a Kindle Editions.

October 24, 2014, 8:55 am

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Ailsby Books which are available in e-book form on Amazon Kindle Store as a Kindle Editions.

 

LUFTWAFFE A Pictorial History of the German Air Force of WW II.

Hitler's Sky Warriors.

SS Hell on the Eastern Front.

 

An exciting new title to be added:

 

 

 

Hitler's Satellite States. The Axis Powers and the Third Reich - a History as depicted through their Medals, Badges, Decorations and Emblems; including Fakes and Reproductions.

 

Description:

 

It will cover in Chapter 1 -Awards of The Third Reich, Chapter 2 - Award of Danzig, Chapter 3 - Award of the Sudetenland, Chapter 4 - Award of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Chapter 5 - Spanish Awards, Chapter 6 - Award of Soviet Union, Chapter 7 - Award of Italy, Chapter 8 - Awards of Hungary, Chapter 9 - Awards of Free India movement, Chapter 10 - Award of Slovakia, Chapter 11 - Award of Flanders (Belgium), Chapter 12 - Award of Wallonie (Belgium), Chapter 13 - Award of Denmark, Chapter 14 - Award of Holland, Chapter 15 - Award of Norway.

 

It will be available in the near future. A book that I hope the collector will find interesting and useful in an area that has not been explored fully before. Pictures of the awards in wear together with lists of those who received them.

 

 

 

 

LUFTWAFFE A Pictorial History of the German Air Force of WW II.

Description:

 

The Luftwaffe played an integral part in Hitler’s Blitzkrieg strategy in the early years of the Second World War, and in later years fought a valiant but ultimately hopeless campaign to prevent Allied aircraft bombing German factories and cities, and wreaking havoc on German forces on the ground.

Luftwaffe is a stunning pictorial record of the Third Reich’s air arm from its establishment in the 1930’s to its war service between 1939 and 1945. With 400 black and white and coloured photographs together with drawing and paintings, the book tells the full, dramatic story of the German Air Force during the Second World War.

This book also includes a brief look at the birth of flight from its inception to its coming of age in the First World War. A glimpse of the Luftwaffe first blooding with rare images of German military aircraft and personnel perfecting the art of Blitzkrieg while fighting for the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War, just prior to the Second World War.

The biggest campaign of the Second World War was fought in Russia, and Luftwaffe devotes several chapters to the aerial battles on the Eastern Front, showing German aircrews and their aircraft taking part in Operation “Barbarossa” the invasion of Russia in June 1941, when the Luftwaffe destroyed most of the Red Air Force on the ground on the first day. But after the swaggering victories of the first summer in Russia came the reality of a long hard struggle in the East. Luftwaffe shows how the German Air Force tried to achieve the two aims of keeping the skies clear of enemy aircraft and supplying troops, such as those trapped around Stalingrad with food, fuel and ammunition.

Finally considering the fact “too little too late”, the desperate measures employed to halt the Allied waves of Arial bombardment. The advanced technology that if it had been perfected and implemented could have changed the outcome of the War.

 

Hitler's Sky Warriors.

Description.

During World War II the German Fallschirmjäger – paratroopers- carried out many successful and daring operations, such as the capture of the Belgian fortress of Eben Emael in 1940 and the invasion of Crete in 1941. Hitler’s Sky Warriors is a detailed example of all the battles and campaigns of the Third Reich’s airborne forces, illustrated throughout by many previously unpublished photographs.

Beginning with an examination of the origins of airborne forces in Germany and Europe during and after World War I, Hitler’s Sky Warriors goes on to look at how the concept of airborne assault was developed by the Nazis in the 1930’s, leading to the creation of the 7th Flieger Division. The first two years of World War II illustrated the effectiveness of the Fallschirmjäger, as German airborne forces won a string of victories in Norway, Belgium, Holland, mainland Greece and Crete. And though the invasion of Crete was to be the last large-scale German airborne operation of the war, the Fallschirmjäger would continue to see heavy fighting in the élite infantry role. From the scorching sands of North Africa to the frozen wastes of Russia, paratrooper units fought with courage and skill to win the respect of friend and foe alike. Hitler’s Sky Warriors includes detailed accounts of all the ground campaigns of the parachute divisions, especially in Italy, where their epic defence of Monte Cassino entered military legend.

As well as being a comprehensive account of Fallschirmjäger battles and campaigns, Hitler’s Sky Warriors includes information on the specialist weapons and equipment developed for Germany’s airborne forces. These include the paratrooper helmet, the FG 42 automatic rifle, the so-called “gravity knife”, the different jump smocks, parachutes and harnesses, transport aircraft, and gliders.

Hitler’s Sky Warriors also contains biographical details on all the main parachute commanders, such as Kurt Student, Bernhard Hermann Ramcke and Richard Heidrich, and includes appendices that contain information about divisional orders of battle and Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross winners. In this way Hitler’s Sky Warriors builds into an extensive and exciting account of one of the élite formations of military history. This is a book that fills an important niche in the World War II library.

 

SS Hell on the Eastern Front.

Description.

The Easter Front was the scene of the most decisive campaign of World War II. Hitler’s élite soldiers, the Waffen – SS, fought in the East from the beginning of the Russian campaign in 1941 to the fall of Berlin in May 1945, and the SS’s development and military professionalism is bound up with the war in the Soviet Union. As the war in Russia progressed, the formations of the Waffen – SS distinguished themselves in the most demanding theatre of World War II. and the premier Waffen – SS formations, the SS – Leibstandarte – Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Totenkopf and Wiking Divisions, showed themselves to be masters of mechanised warfare and the all – arms battle. SS: Hell on the Eastern Front is a detailed account, enhanced by more than 100 exciting black and white photographs, of every aspect of the Waffen – SS’s war on the Eastern Front: its battles, its organisation, tactics and equipment.

Read what it was like to take part in Operation “Barbarossa”, THE OPENING ASSAULT AGAINST Russia in the summer of 1941, when the Waffen – SS fought its way to the very gates of Moscow; the first dreadful winter in Russia, during which temperatures dropped to 40 degrees below zero; the clash of massed armour at Kursk; and other epic encounters of the war in the East. However, this book is more than an account of the battles and campaigns of the Waffen – SS in the East: it also examines the recruitment and organisation of those foreign legions of the SS that fought on the Eastern Front.

Also covered in full is every aspect of the Waffen – SS’s war – away from the battlefield – against Soviet partisans. In addition, the book examines the military consequences of Waffen – SS soldiers being ideologically indoctrinated, their concept of hardness and disregard for life, which often resulted in atrocities and murder of civilians and prisoners. Above all, SS: Hell on The Eastern Front provides an insight into how Waffen – SS individuals and units met and often mastered their Red Army adversaries, first during the offensive campaigns of 1941 – 43, but most strikingly during the great defensive actions of the last two years of the war. With detailed appendices covering the order of battle of the Waffen – SS in the East, plus rank and award tables, SS: Hell On The Eastern Front is a most detailed study of the Waffen – SS’s war in Russia.

 

Badge for 25 years’ service in the Economy of the Province Pfalz.

June 25, 2015, 4:29 am

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Badge for 25 years’ service in the Economy of the Province Pfalz.

Instituted on:1933/34

Rarity–Very Rare.
Known Makers– Unmarked

 

 

Although only a sub-division of Bavaria, Pfalz, The Palatinate, awarded, possibly around 1933 – 1934, a silver badge for 25 years’ service in the economy of the province. The award consisted of a 31mm circular silver badge, with an outer edge that is lightly grained, which is artificially patinated with a light grey smoked effect.  Round the badge is a 4mm boarder onto which is placed a legend in recessed black capital lettering, “25 Jahre im Dienste der Pfälzischen Wirtschaft” – 25 years in the service of the Paltinate economy.  On either side of the “25 Jahre”, which is at the top of the badge, is a swastika. The central field is dished with, at the centre a raised design consisting of three symbolic figures: a man with a hammer, symbolic of heavy industry, a female figure, symbolic of agriculture, and a second man with a Mercury staff, symbolic of commerce. Beneath the left foot of the central female figure is the raised monogram of the designer, a capital M surmounting a capital H

The reverse is plain with a horizontal pin hinge and hook.

It was presented in a square box that had a light blue simulated leather covering. The recessed central board was covered in mouse grey velvet that had a recessed slot for the pin. The inner lid lining was of off white silk.

 

There is also a large circular table medal which takes the central design of the award, thus without the inscription. On the reverse in raised capital letters in 5 lines is the inscription, “Für Langjähre, Ge. Dienste. Der, Pfälzischen, Wirtschaft.” Centrally above and below the legend is a raised swastika.

It was contained in a similar box to the award.

 

 



NSFK Radio Operator's Badge

August 14, 2015, 4:55 am

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NSFK Radio Operator's Badge

Instituted on - 1941

Rarity – Very Rare.
Known Makers– Unmarked.

 

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Obverse.

 

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Reverse.

The badge comprises of a light blue cloth inverted triangle with rounded corners, machine woven on blue-grey wool backing. The insignia measures approximately 53mm high and 85 mm wide, which has a darker blue edge line. At the centre is a woven pair of white wings on a blue-grey field, with a black Latin “B” encircled in a black ring.From the circle are four lightning flashes, oneprojecting at each diagonal. The wings, central circle and flashes are in white, while the outlines of the wings, together with its fletching, and flashes are black.The capital 'B' is for Bordfunker and the lightning flashes symbolise the wireless. 

The award was introduced in 1941, however the illustration which accompanied the introduction of this badge shows a Gothic B, but this may have been only the artist’s impression.

It was awarded to students following demonstrated proficiency in practical tests and written examination involving electronics and physics. Although radio training was conducted in the classroom, flying experience was obligatory before the badge was awarded. The student was required to have earned the International Glider proficiency badge in at least the B Level – two gulls.The badge was worn on the lower left arm of the service tunic and HJ uniform.

The student had a Proficiency Book, which contained his photograph and personal details. This book had the test undertaken and duly stamped. A certificate was also issued for the award.

 

HJ Students undergoing lectures and training for the NSFK Radio Operator's qualification.

 

The badge can be seen on the left arm of the HJ Student in the fore ground.

 

 

 

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Qualification certificate.

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Qualification Book.

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Qualification Book - Inner page.

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Qualification Book - Page 1.

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Qualification Book -

 Page  2 - 3.

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Qualification Book -

 Page 4 - 5.

 

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Qualification Book -

Page 6 - 7.

 

 

 

NSFK Radio Operator's Badge - Qualification Book -

Page 10 - 11.

 

Wehr Helmut

 

The International Glider proficiency badge "A" can be seen on his lapel together with his HJ Proficiency miniature badge.

 

 

Civil Gliding Proficiency Badge. A, B, C Certificate.

 

These three awards are basically the same and can be found in three varieties.  A cloth badge measuring approximately 50 mm, produced in either silver-grey thread or silver bullion wire on a blue-grey Melton backing.  The badges consist of an embroidered circle that measures approximately 40 mm with one, two or three gulls to represent the grade of the award.  The third variety is a smaller metal badge with a raised outer edge line.  The relevant gull or gulls have a similar raised line and the resultant fields are in filled with blue and white opaque enamel.

 

A Certificate.

  30-second free flight with no manoeuvres required.

B Certificate.

  60-second free flight with 'S' turn manoeuvre.  This also    

  Qualified the recipient for the German Glider Permit.

C Certificate.

  It was necessary to make a 5-minute flight without losing height

  and pass an aural examination.  This qualified the recipient for

  the official Soaring Licence.

Achievement C Certificate.

This badge was referred to as the Leistungsprüfung C, as well as the Leistungsabzeichen.  This is assumed to have been awarded for long duration flights with a much higher standard aeronautical skills being required with flights in excess of five hours.  It has been stated that two types of badge were employed for the higher awards and these are the silver badge, which had three gulls enclosed in a silver wreath of oak leaves and the golden badge, which had three gulls in a gilt wreath.  It has also been reported that this grade has been encountered in an A Certificate, which has one gull surrounded by an oak leaf wreath and a B Certificate with two gulls surrounded by an oak leaf wreath.  These were all supposedly for long duration flights.  In January 1942 the silver badge was replaced by the NSFK Large Glider Pilots Badge.

These badges were instituted by the International Aeronautical Federation, F‚d‚ration A‚ronautique Internationale before the second world war and, it must be stressed, are still in use today.  They were for varying degrees of proficiency in gliding.  As the Versailles Treaty forbade a German air force, this left gliding as the only alternative of learning the art of civilian flying for commercial or private purposes.  Because of the cost of motor driven aircraft, Germans turned to the sport of gliding and soaring which proved to be an excellent cover for training future pilots of the clandestine Luftwaffe.  Fledgling pilots had to be tested and were judged under the rules of the International Aeronautical Federation.  Qualified pilots were authorised to wear the badges on their respective uniforms on the left breast pocket.  Germany and Italy are believed to be the only countries to allow such badges to be worn on their service uniforms. The metal badges were to be worn on the left lapel of civilian clothing.

 

 

International Glider proficiency badge A Level – one gulls. - Bullion - Obverse. 

 

 

International Glider proficiency badge B Level – two gulls. - Bullion - Obverse.

 

International Glider proficiency badge C Level – three gulls. - Bullion - Obverse.

20 July 1944 Wound badge

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Wound Badge "20 July 1944" - Black Class, Silver Class , Gold Class.

Known Makers: : L/12, 2.

Rarity: Extremely Rare, Extremely Rare, Extremely Rare.

       

 

On 20th July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Hitler by Colonel Count Claus Schenk von Stauffenberge at the Wolf's lair at Rastenburge, Hitler's H.Q. in the east.  This was unsuccessful but led Hitler and the 24 occupants of the room to suffer varying degrees of wounds.  The most serious being the loss of life of Colonel Brant and Herr Berger, who died immediately, and Generalleutnant Schmundt and General Korten dying subsequently from wounds they received.  The remaining twenty suffered superficial wounds and shock, save for General Buhle and Generalmajor Scherff, who were more seriously injured.

 

Hitler, to commemorate this attempt on his life and his escape, introduced a special wound badge which he awarded to the 24 occupants, or dependents in the case of the dead.  He declined to award himself one of these medals.  The first awards of this medal were made on 20th August 1944.

THE RECIPIENTS OF THE MEDAL were;-

 

1]	Generalfeldmarschall	Wilhelm Keitel	Black Award
2]	Generaloberst	Alfred Jodl	Black Award
3]	General der Artillerie	Walter Warlimont	Black Award
4]	Konteradmiral	Jesko von Puttkamer	Black Award
5]	Kapitan Z See	Heinz Assmann	Black Award
6]	Oberst	Nicolaus von Below	Black Award
7]	Konteradmiral	Hans-Erich Voss	Black Award
8]	S.S.-Hauptsturmfuhrer	Otto Gunsche	Black Award
9]	S.S.-Gruppenfuhrer	Hermann Fegelein	Silver Award
10]	Generalleutnant	Adolf Heusinger	Silver Award
11]	Oberstleutnant	G. Borgman	Silver Award
12]	General der Flieger	Karl Bodenschatz	Gold Award
13]	General der Infanterie	Walter Buhle	Gold Award
14]	Generalmajor	Walter Scherff	Gold Award
15]	General der Flieger	Gunter Korten	Gold Award Post.
16]	Oberst	Heinz Brant	Gold Award Post
17]	Civilian	Berger	Gold Award Post.
18]	Generalleutnant	Rudolf Schmundt	Gold Award Post.
19]	Oberstleutnant	von John	Not known - presumed Black
20]	Oberstleutnant	Weizenegger	Not known - presumed Black
21]	Civilian	Walter Hewell	Not known - presumed Black
22]	Hauptman	von Schimanski	Not known - presumed Black
23]		Buchs	Not known - presumed Black
24]		Hagan	Not known - presumed Black

 

The quality of these badges is very high and each example is hand finished.  This is illustrated by very fine file marks round the edges of the badge.  The badge was produced by the firm of C.E. Junker of Berlin and it is estimated that the firm produced 100 badges.  It took the form of the ordinary wound badge with a very finely formed wreath with a bow at the base and three laurel berries or dots at the apex.  The helmet is nearer the apex and the sword hilts are two bundles of laurel leaves up the wreath from the base, and the upper edge of the hilt of each sword touches the front and back of the helmet respectively.  Beneath the helmet is the date and Hitler's signature.  The date and signature are raised and polished.  The field is hand pebbled and matt finished.  The reverse is flat and bears minute scratches, which epitomise hand finishing. 

The hinge is of the "on it's edge" type with a hook at the bottom.  The pin is hand drawn and slightly curled up at the bottom where it fastens into the hook.  On the reverse beneath the pin are the maker's mark L/12 and the silver content .800.  At this point it is interesting to note that each recipient received two badges, the award one as described and a Dress Copy which had L/12 .800 and a small 2 to denote that this was the wear copy or second version.  No other difference exists between the two types save for this small number. 

The black version had the wreath, helmet and swords artificially blackened.  The Swastika was less darkened while the date and signature were highly polished and the field was matt silver.  The reverse to include the pin, hook and hinge was also artificially blackened.  The silver version is silver all over, with the signature and date highly polished as before, while the field is again matt silver.  The gold version has a gold or gilt wreath helmet and swords, with again the Swastika slightly lightened, the date and signature are highly polished silver, while the reverse and pin etc., are matt gold. 

Criteria for The Award were;-

1] 1 - 2 wounds  -  Black award

2] 3 - 5 wounds  -  Silver award

3] 1 wound resulting in the loss of hand, foot, eye or deafness - Silver award.

4] 5 or more wounds - Gold award

5]1wound resulting in total disability, permanent blindness or loss of manhood -Gold award.

 

The only illness or disease the badge could be awarded for was that of cases of frostbite.

 

It is assumed that when the recipient was wounded again he received the higher grade of the badge in this form. 

The badge was awarded with a Citation that was produced on Vellum paper with a large gilt eagle at its top.  The name and grade of the badge was individually entered on to the Citation.  At the base was Hitler's signature in ink and official seal.  The badge came in a black box with black velvet base and silk lid lining.

 

 

 

Jodl wearing their 20th July 1944 wound badge.

 

The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross.

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The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross.

Instituted on

Rarity –  Very Rare.
Known Makers – Unmarked.

 

 

The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross - Obverse.

 

 

The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross - Reverse.

 

 

This decoration is in the form of a 45 mm aluminium cross that is superimposed over a shield.  The outer edge of the cross and shield has a raised edge line.  At the centre of the cross is a circular boss with similar raised edge line.  Round the arms of the cross and within the boss, are thinner lines producing a tramline effect.  The field of the tramlines are infilled with black paint.  The resultant fields of the arms of the cross and the boss are stippled and left plain.  On to the field of the upper arm of the cross is superimposed the numeral '5' with raised outer line.  The field is filled with black paint.  The lower field has, in two lines, in similar construction, '28 X  1941.'  The left-hand field, in cyrillic characters, has, 'K O H O', and on the right, 'H O B', in similar construction.  All are infilled with black paint.  The significance of the numerals is the regimental number and the date of the foundation of the regiment.  The cyrillic characters translate to the name of its commander, Kononov.  The field of the central boss has a swastika, again with raised edge and black paint infill.  Through this and superimposed across the shield are crossed Shashkas or Cossack swords, with their hilts breaking the outer edge of the shield in the lower quadrants of the cross, and their tips the outer edge of the shield in the upper quadrants of the cross.  The panels produced adjacent to the vertical arms of the cross are infilled with red paint and those next to the horizontal ones are infilled with blue paint, representing the red and blue shield of the Don Cossacks.

The reverse is flat with a single raised line that represents the outline of the obverse.  The centre has a flat smooth circle that corresponds to the obverse's central boss.  The upper and lower arms have a protrusion with a central slit that has a steel 'safety pin' inserted into it.  This is then pressed over by the protrusions.  The whole of the reverse is finely pebbled.  It was worn on the left pocket of the uniform.

The 5th Don Cossack Regiment and the 2nd Siberian Cossacks Regiment both had their own regimental crosses.  These are not decoration per se but rather items of dress.  The wearing on the breast pocket of regimental crosses, enamelled badges or other emblems to distinguish a unit or training establishment is common to many continental countries, particularly Poland.  However, these crosses were unique in the German armed forces and took on the resemblance of a campaign award or tradition badge for, in October 1941 an entire Cossack regiment with all its officers, including its commander Colonel Kononov, deserted from the Red Army and offered their services to the Germans.

The 5th Don Cossack Cavalry Regiment was the first completely Russian unit, with its own officers, to fight for the Germans.  Kononov, by the end of the war, had been promoted to Major General and given command of all the Cossack formations in the German Army.  The German officer most closely associated with the Cossacks was Oberstleutnant Helmuth von Pannwitz.  He had struck up a close friendship with Nikolai Kulakov, the clan chief or Ataman of the Terik Cossacks, who promised the active co-operation of his people in the struggle against Stalinist Communism.  Pannwitz broached the matter to the Chief of the General Staff, General Zeitzler, suggesting that it could be possible to raise a regiment of Terik Cossacks.  Zeitzler approved and promised that Pannwitz would command such a regiment if it were ever raised.  However, when Pannwitz asked the poignant question, where were the troops he was to command the General ruefully answered, “You'll have to find them for yourself”.  The resourceful Pannwitz proceeded to tour the front in his Fieserler Storck 'plane, resorting to methods which cannot be described as entirely orthodox.  He managed to 'find' about 1000 men and six tanks.  The Pannwitz cavalry unit proved its worth in combat and convinced of their value as a fighting force, he urged the creation of a Cossack Cavalry Division.  The horrific losses in the east made the Army welcome any reinforcements of its overstretched manpower.  The raising of such a division was approved and in April and May 1943 the first Cossack Cavalry Division was formed at Kherson in the Ukraine, comprising of Don, Terik and Kuban Cossacks.  The Army also sent a regiment of Kalmuks to Kherson, who had traditionally formed part of the Don Cossack Army and subsequently over 12000 men were assembled.  They were then moved to Malwa, north of Warsaw.  It must be assumed that by this time the Germans had discovered the distinction between Cossacks and Kalmuks, since the latter did not accompany the others to Malwa.

More than half of the new division consisted of men recruited directly from the Cossack areas.  The rest were volunteers from the POW camps or from among the Ostarbeiters in Germany.  The troops at Malwa included the German commanded Jungschulz, Lehmann and Wolff Regiments, as well as Major Kononov's Kos. Abt. 600.  The volunteers were then grouped into two brigades of three regiments each. 

1st Brigade.

1st Don Cossack Cavalry Reg.  Commanded by  Oberstleutnant  Graf zu Dohna.

2nd Siberian Cossack Cavalry Reg.  Commanded by  Major Freiherr von Nolcken.

4th Kuban    Cossack Cavalry Reg.  Commanded by  Oberstleutnant Freiherr von Wolff.

2nd Brigade.

3rd Kuban    Cossack Cavalry Reg.  Commanded by  Oberstleutnant Jungschulz.

5th Don      Cossack Cavalry Reg.  Commanded by  Oberstleutnant Kononov.

6th Terik    Cossack Cavalry Reg.  Commanded by  Major H-D von Kalben.

 Of the six regimental commanders Kononov was the only non German.  From this brief background of the history of the Cossacks it is possible to conclude that due to the rarity of the badge and the lack of photograph evidence of wear of the cross, it was possible that the cross was to recognise original members of the 5th Don Cossack Cavalry Regiment who deserted in 1941.  But it must be asserted that this theory is purely supposition.

 

 

Fake.

 

These were produced in the late 1970's and were sold by the UK Dealer T B Oliver. They were sold as copies and the price was in the region of 10 Shillings. The main point of variance is the tail of the 9 in the lower arm of the cross.

 

 

 

The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross - Obverse - Fake.

 

 

 

The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross - Reverse- Fake.

 

 

The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross - Commemorative Restrike.

 

 

These are thought to have been made as a commemorative piece in the late for former members of the Brigade. They are hard to come by. 

 

 

The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross - Commemorative Restrike - Obverse.

 

 The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross - Commemorative Restrike - Reverse.

War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver with Swords.

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War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver with Swords.

Institutedon 19 August 1940
Rarity – Extremely Rare
Known Makers - 1, L/13

 

 

 

 

 

This award takes the basic design of the War Merit Cross Second Class with Swords but is larger, measuring 54 mm across the arms and the oak leaf wreath measures 18 mm.  The width of the arms of the cross is 3 mm. This cross was identical to its non-combatants counterpart, save that it had the swords added as was its date of institution 19 August 1940.  It was usually produced in genuine silver, with the silver grade ranging from .800 through to .950 which can be found punched into the edge of the lower arm of the cross in the recess of the V. Sometimes the maker's mark is situated on the lower arm of the cross in the recess of the V, as in the former described position. But in some examples the cross is produced in a base metal that silver-plated and these examples just have the maker's number on the lower arm.    

The upper arm has an inverted V attached to it, with three lines on each arm and with an eyelet at its apex.  Through this eyelet is a ribbed hanger which supports the cross on the neck ribbon.  As with all Knights Crosses it was worn around the neck.  The ribbon comprises of a 46 mm band formed from stripes of 4 mm red, 4 mm white, 22 mm broad black, 4 mm white and 4 mm red.  For the examples of the cross that were awarded, the ends of the ribbon were turned over into a triangle with a length of minute ribbon at each end to act as ties to secure the ribbon around the neck of the recipient.  

This order was intended for award to military, administrative personnel and civilians who had served bravely in combat or in the direction of the war but not where an award of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross would be warranted.  It was necessary for the recipient to have been awarded the War Merit Cross with Swords First and Second Class.  The award ranked in precedence over the German Cross in Silver but below the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.

It is estimated that 211 of these Knights Crosses were awarded during the period of the Second World War.  However, not all recipients of the award were gazetted.  This was to protect the anonymity of the recipient and the work in which they were engaged.  Such was the case of Dr. - Ing Ernst Blaicher, who was awarded the cross on 15 November 1943 for his work in tank production.  A further bestowal which was not gazetted is to Oberstleutnant Othmar Wolfan who was on the staff of 'Kommandierender General der Deutschen Luftwaffe in Finland, who was recalled from Finland in the closing days of the war to Berlin to receive an important post and decoration.  His niece asserted that he received the award and then went into Russian captivity for his troubles. 

It was presented in a blue box, with an inside black velvet base, which has a round recess into which the cross and hanger fit.  The upper part of the box above this recess is indented to accommodate the neck ribbon.

Oberstleutnant Othmar Wolfan.

Otto Stapf - General der Infanterie, Chef Wehrwirtschaftsstab Ost . War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver with Swords 9 September 1944. He also has the Cross, Knights Cross  of the Iron Cross.

War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver with Swords Recipients.

 

BOETTICHER, Friedrich von- 27 May 1942

GABLENZ, Carl August Freiherr von - 25 August 1942
LEFFLER, Kurt - 4 October 1942
RITTER, Ernst - 4 October 1942
WITZELL, Karl - 5 October 1942
RÜDEL, Günter - 17 October 1942
LIEBEL, Willy - 27 November 1942
REMY, Karl - 7 December 1942
UNRUH, Walter von - 1943
PLIEGER, Paul - 10 May 1943
DORSCH, Xaver - 13 May 1943
BRUGMANN, Walter - 14 May 1943
JACOB, Alfred - 4 June 1943
HINKEROHE, Joseph - 5 June 1943
SCHMID, Karl - 5 June 1944
GEHRCKE, Rudolf - 27 July 1943
WAHLE, Carl - 3 August 1943
DALUEGE, Kurt - 6 September 1943
NEUBACHER, Hermann - 7 September 1943
BENOIT, Wilhelm - 13 September 1943
SEXTEL, Anton - 13 September 1943
GANZENMÜLLER, Albert - 19 September 1943
HANDLOSER, Siegfried - 23 September 1943
HEINEMANN, Erich - 23 September 1943
KUBE, Wilhelm-Richard Paul - 27 September 1943
KÖRNER, Helmuth - 3 October 1943
REINHARDT, Fritz - 3 October 1943
RITTER, Julius - 6 October 1943
BLAICHER, Ernst - 15 November 1943
KÜHL, Bernhardt - 16 November 1943
ENNSBERGER, Alois - 28 November 1943
GOUDEFROY, Erich - 7 December 1943
BIERSCHENK, Ernst - 7 December 1943
HELLENTHAL, Remigius - 7 December 1943
KINDERVATER, August - 7 December 1943
RABITZ, Friedrich - 14 December 1943
WEISE, Erich - 16 November 1943
HENRICI, Hans - 1944
KURZ, Eugen - 1944
MARTINI, Wolfgang - 1944
RIEDEL, Walter - 1944
THIEL, Walter - 1944
SCHRADER, Rudolf - January 1944
KLASING, Ernst - 28 January 1944
HELLDORF, Wolf Heinrich Graf von - 01 February 1944
SCHACH, Gerhard - 10 February 1944
HOELCK, Klaus - 21 February 1944
NAGEL, Jakob - 21 February 1944
WOLF, Karl -21 February 1944
SCHULZE, Wilhelm - 25 February 1944
WAGNER, Hermann - 25 February 1944
MÜLLER, Ernst - 28 February 1944
IBROM, Rochus - 7 April 1944
POGGEMEIER, Friedrich - 7 April 1944
POLZIUS, Wilhelm - 7 April 1944
MERKER, Otto - 28 April 1944
FINCKH, Eberhard - 11 May 1944
NEUBERT, Georg - 28 April 1944
LANDSKRON, Franz - 11 May 1944
SCHULZE, Kurt - 15 May 1944
DENNIS, - 16 May 1944
FISCHER, Richard - 22 May 1944
FRYDAG, Karl - 22 May 1944
HEYNE, Hane - 22 May 1944
KESSLER, Philipp - 22 May 1944
LAGENOHL, Max - 22 May 1944
LÜSCHEN, Friedrich - 22 May 1944
GEBHARDT, Karl Franz - 31 May 1944
BACMEISTER, Adolf - 31 May 1944
GUTZEIT - 31 May 1944
TÖNNIS - 31 May 1944
GEILENBERG, Edmund - 1 June 1944
TIZ, Arthur - 1 June 1944
HENNE, Willi - 2 June 1944
KITTEL, Walter - 4 June 1944
RÖMER, Wolfgang - 4 June 1944
SCHLEGEL, Hans - 4 June 1944
FRESSE, Karl de - 9 June 1944
LEEB, Emil - 14 June 1944
NIKOLAUS, known as Claus Selzer - 20 June 1944
BÖHMCKER, Johann-Heinrich - 21 June 1944
ERDMANN, Kurt - 24 June 1944
LEYERS, Hans - 24 June 1944
SCHINDLER, Max - 24 June 1944
STUDT, Erich - 24 June 1944
BECK, Emil - 11 July 1944
DORPMÜLLER, Julius - 24 July 1944
KNEPPER, Gustav Heinrich - 26 June 1944
REIFFERSCHEIDT, Franz - July 1944
SCHÜRER, Friedrich - 24 July 1944
OTTE, Carlo - 9 August 1944
DOHRN Hermann - 10 August 1944
SCHÜTTE, Ernst-Wilhelm - 10 August 1944
BRAUWEILER, Max - 12 August 1944
PAPEN, Franz von - 15 August 1944
VOLKMANN, Reinhardt - 17 August 1944
VORWALD, Wolfgang - 17 August 1944
WEISS, Karl - 22 August 1944
SEIDEL, Hans Georg von - 31 August 1944
WEBER, Friedrich - September 1944
RIEDEL, Klaus - September 1944
STAPF, Otto - 9 September 1944
KEHRL, Hans - 23 September 1944
KREUZ, Lothar - 24 September 1944
RIESE, Walter - 25 September 1944
BRUMMENBAUM, Albrecht - 1 October 1944
PEHLE, Heinrich - 1 October 1944
MÜLLER, Josef - 12 September 1944
BOCHRINGER, Gustav - 6 October 1944
WALTER, Paul - 6 October 1944
BASTIAN, Max - 12 October 1944
BRAUN, Werner von - 28 October 1944
DORNBERGER, Walter - 28 October 1944
DEGENKOLB, Gerhard - 29 October 1944
ROHLAND, Walter - 29 October 1944
SAUR, Karl Otto - 29 October 1944
SCHIEBER, Walter - 29 October 1944
VEESENMAYER, Edmund - 29 October 1944
JÜTTNER, Hans - 30 October 1944
OHNESORGE, Karl-Wilhelm - 1 November 1944
SCHMERBECK - 1 November 1944
WERNER, Rudolf - 1 November 1944
COLSMANN, Erwin - 4 November 1944
KÖSTRING, Ernst-August - 4 November 1944
NAGEL, Wilhelm - 4 November 1944
OSTERKAMP, Herbert - 7 November 1944
HUSS, Fritz - 10 November 1944
ENGEL, Johannes - 11 November 1944
BERGER, Gottlob-Christian - 15 November 1944
KALTENBRUNNER, Ernst - 15 November 1944
MÜLLER, Heinrich - 15 November 1944
POHL, Oswald - 16 November 1944
URSTER, Eugen - 17 November 1944
PREIßLER, Fritz - 18 November 1944
CHRISTIANSEN, Carl - 19 November 1944
PFAUSER, Anton - 20 November 1944
KEHRL, Hans - 27 November 1944
WAEGER, Kurt - 27 November 1944
GERWIG, Heinrich - 28 November 1944
SCHAEDE, Hans-Joachim - 28 November 1944
BEKURTS, Karl - 5 December 1944
KELCHNER - 5 December 1944
MALZACHER, Hans - 5 December 1944
WEISSENBORN, K. - 5 December 1944
BÜRGER, Walter - 7 December 1944
GRIES, Wilhelm - 7 December 1944
MAUTERER, Arthur - 7 December 1944
WIENS, Günther - 7 December 1944
WOLFF, Albert - 7 December 1944
HOFFMANN, - 7 December 1944
HÖLZER, Peter - 7 December 1944
KIDERZATER, August - 7 December 1944
KOMP, Karl - 7 December 1944
KOSER, Johann - 7 December 1944
LAMMERTZ, Maximilian - 7 December 1944
MALDAKER, Gustav - 7 December 1944
RÖCHLING, Hermann - 17 December 1944
HINRICHS, Hermann - 20 December 1944
KISSING - 20 December 1944
HANEKEN, Hermann von - 21 December 1944
PFROGNER, Anton - 21 December 1944
SCHMEIDLER, Herbert - 21 December 1944
THOLENS, Hermann - 21 December 1944
WINKELMANN, Otto - 21 December 1944
LOIBL, Ludwig - 23 December 1944
BERTRAM, Richard Wolfgang Paul - 26 December 1944
EWERT, Walter - 26 December 1944
FUCHS, Werner - December 1944
KORTE, Hermann - 31 December 1944
SCHÄFFER, Emil - 31 December 1944
GOHRBANDT, E. - 1945
De la CAMP Bürkle - 1945
KAMMLER, Hans - 1945
SCHRÖDER - 1945
SCHWARZ - 1945
WASSNER - 19 January 1945
LINDAU, Erwin - 1 January 1945
BACKENKÖHLER, Otto - 3 January 1945
FRIEDEBIURG, Hans Georg von - 17 January 1945
WENNEKER, Paul Werner - 17 January 1945
MAßNER - 19 January 1945
MARZECHA, Walter - 25 January 1945
KOEPKE, Jacob - 28 January 1945
WACHTEL, Max - 31 January 1945
EISENBECK, Martin - 2 February 1945
KRÄMER, - February 1945
MALSI, Georg - 1 February 1945
WALTER, Helmuth - 6 February 1945
MÖCKEL, Helmut - 11 February 1945
WARLIMONT, Walter - 15 February 1945
KIRSCH, Ludwig - 20 February 1945
METZGER, Julius - 20 February 1945
SCHOLL, Wilhelm - 20 February 1945
ZECHMANN, Heinrich - 20 February 1945
AGARTZ, Friedrich - 21 February 1945
ENGELHARDT, Conrad - 24 February 1945
KORRENG, August - 25 February 1945
WEIGELT, Johannes-Kurt - 25 February 1945
KOHNLHAUER, Erich - March 1945
DETMERING, Rolf - 16 March 1945
REUSCHEL, - 28 March 1945
KETTLER, Kurt - April 1945
GREUL, Emil - 20 April 1945
HAMBERGER, Wilhelm - 20 April 1945
KUNZE, Heinz - 20 April 1945
STREIT, Bernhardt - 20 April 1945
SCHWARZ, Friedrich - 28 April 1945
FANGER, Paul - 30 April 1945
KÜPFMULLER, Karl - 30 April 1945
BÜRKNER , Leopold - 2 May 1945
SALMAN, Otto - 2 May 1945

 

 

War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver without Swords.

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War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver without Swords.

Institutedon 19 August 1940

Rarity – Extremely Rare
Known Makers - 1, L/13

Ribbed Suspender.

 

Plain Suspender.

This award takes the basic design of the War Merit Cross Second Class but is larger, measuring 54 mm across the arms and the oak leaf wreath measures 18 mm.  The widths of the arms of the cross are 3 mm.   It was usually produced in genuine silver, with the silver grade ranging from .800 through to .950 but in some examples the cross is but silver-plated and these examples just have the maker's number on the lower arm.  The upper arm has an inverted V attached to it, with three lines on each arm and with an eyelet at its apex.  It is very important at this point to expel a theory that has been in existence for some time that this version came with only a plain hanger.  It is, in fact, found with both ribbed and plain varieties, not only that, they are not all as long as one another.  Also, in the case of the plain type the inverted 'V' is also plain to match the hanger.  Through this eyelet is a ribbed hanger which supports the cross on the neck ribbon.  As with all Knights Crosses it was worn around the neck.  The ribbon comprises of a 46 mm band formed from stripes of 4 mm red, 4 mm white, 22 mm broad black, 4 mm white and 4 mm red.  For the examples of the cross that were awarded, the ends of the ribbon were turned over into a triangle with a length of minute ribbon at each end to act as ties to secure the ribbon around the neck of the recipient.   This is a new and very interesting point.  If one had a short neck, one required a shorter hanger for comfort.  If one had a number of neck decorations, General Otto Stapf for example had both the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross and the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords, the hangers had to be adjusted for the comfort of the wearer, for there was no undress version for wear for either of these orders.  This was also the case of the earlier Pour le Mérite, which a number of staff officers had won in the first world war and had to wear with their second world war counterparts.

     Criteria for the Award were;

It was a prerequisite for a recipient to already hold the War Merit Cross First and Second Class.  Recommendation had to be forwarded through the OKW or state minister to the Reichschancellery where it was personally approved by Hitler.

On 19 August 1940 this cross was introduced to reward the high achievements of the civilian population, civil service and political formations, to encompass military personnel and was for outstanding service in the furtherance of the war effort but not directly connected to combat.   Great ceremony was employed with the award of the Knights Cross decorations and the recipient was usually accompanied at the ceremony by a Knights Cross winner.  The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross ranked above the German Cross in Silver but below the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.  Only 48 awards were rendered of this decoration, which made it very prestigious in the eyes of the Nazi hierarchy.  Hitler in fact, circulated a letter from his headquarters on 27 August 1943, outlining the criteria for award and the philosophy surrounding it and directed that 'prominent party comrades' were not to be honoured with this decoration.  A definite jibe at Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring who had coveted the award of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords.  David Littlejohn premises that this statement, 'prominent party comrades not to be honoured with this decoration', was made because Hitler had The German Order in mind for the 'top brass' of the party.  We know from Albert Speer that Hitler wanted to reward Himmler with something but could not make up his mind just what.  Speer threw out hints that he himself would not be unappreciative of a decoration!  He thinks Hitler intended to see just what each of the top people had contributed to victory, once Hitler had won the war and then starts giving out the German Order in various grades.  The dead had already made their contribution, which is why, Littlejohn suggests, it was mainly dead party comrades who received the rare Order, thus the recommendations for the awards proposed for Gauleiter Koch and Stadtsminister Backe were refused or, more politely, withdrawn.  In one case the cross was awarded in both forms to Reichsverkehrsminister Julius Dortmüller, who received it on 19 September 1943 and was awarded the cross with swords on 24 July 1944.  Conjoined with the award was often a secondary prize as was the case with Dr. Theo Morell who held the post as Hitler's personal physician.  He received Germany's only electron microscope in conjunction with his award.

It has been believed that 118 awards of the cross without swords were rendered.  However, the actual number is 48, as shown by the list of recipients.  Not only that but not all the recipients have been officially recognised in the form of gazetting.  This non public announcing was to ensure the anonymity of the recipient and the work in which he was involved.  This was also common in the awarding of British decorations, thus other awards may come to light.

It was presented in a blue box, with an inside black velvet base, which has a round recess into which the cross and hanger fit.  The upper part of the box above this recess is indented to accommodate the neck ribbon.

 Preliminary Document.     MORELL, Theodor - 24 February 1944 .

 

 

MORELL, Theodor - 24 February 1944 being awarded the Preliminary Document.

War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver without Swords Recipients;

 

HAHNE, Franz - 20 May 1942

THOMSEN, Hans - 25 May 1942

DAVIDSHÖFER, Christian - 5 June 1943

HOLTMAYER, Johannes - 5 June 1943

KRAUCH, Carl - 5 June 1943

ROHLAND, Walter - 5 June 1943

SAUR, Karl Otto - 5 June 1943

SAWATZKI, Albin - 5 June 1943

WERNER, William - 5 June 1943

RAHN, Rudolf - 22 June 1943

DORPMÜLLER, Julius - 19 September 1943

DEGENKOLB, Gerhard - 20 September 1943

PIER, Mattias - 20 September 1943

SCHIEBER, Walter - 20 September 1943

ZSCHIRNT, Kurt - 3 October 1943

SAUERBRUCH, Ferdinand-Ernst -

WOLF, Ludwig - 21 October 1943

GRIMM, Fritz-Wilhelm - 7 December 1943

AMBROS, Otto - 1944

BÜTEFISCH, Heinrich - 1944

RICKHEY, Georg Johannes - 1944

WURSTER, Karl - 1944

MORELL, Theodor - 24 February 1944

DOHRN, Hermann - 10 August 1944

HASSENPFLUG, Werner - 12 August 1944

HILDEBRANDT, Hubert - 12 August 1944

PEUCKERT, Rudi Werner - 12 August 1944

TIMM, Max - 12 August 1944

DILLI, Gustav - 14 August 1944

HAYLER, Franz - 16 August 1944

ARPS, Willi - 24 August 1944

ESAU, Abraham - 22 September 1944

KOHNERT, Hans-Joachim - 30 September 1944

BEHRENS, Gustav - 1 October 1944

BLOEDORN, Wilhelm - 1 October 1944

HECHT, Kurt - 1 October 1944

HUBER, Reinhold - 1 October 1944

PFLAUMBAUM, Walter - 1 October 1944

GANZER, Karl-Richard - 15 September 1944

ZSCHIRNT, Kurt - 3 October 1944 (accredited with the award twice)

LINNEMEYER, Werner - 12 October 1944

LIPPISCH, Alexander - 12 October 1944

MESSERSCHMITT, Willy - 12 October 1944

ECKHARDT, Alfred - 7 December 1944

BERTRAM, Richard Wolfgang Paul - 26 December 1944

DARGEL, Paul - 15 January 1945

SCHELP, Fritz - 20 February 1945

BOHRMANN, Otto - 21 February 1945

 

 

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Luftwaffe - Glider Pilots Badge - First Type.

July 21, 2016, 5:59 am

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Glider Pilots Badge - First Type.

Instituted on. 16^th December 1940

Rarity– Very Rare    
Known Makers.C.E.JUNCKER

 

Glider Pilots Badge - Obverse.

Glider Pilots Badges - Obverse.



Glider Pilots Badges - Reverse.



On 8^thJuly 1940 the firm of Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus submitted their design for this badge.  It was approved on 16^thDecember 1940 and was produced by the firm of C.E. Juncker of Berlin.  It consists of a wreath of oak leaves made up of eight bunches of three leaves on either side, the edges of the leaves forming the inner and outer edges of the wreath.  They meet tip to tip at the apex with a swastika at the base.  There are the two forms of swastika.  The fields between the arms of the swastika are either solid or voided.  The height of the wreath can vary between 55 mm and 57 mm with the width of the badge being 42 mm.  The wreath is finished in a silver wash with the highlights being polished.

 

On the wreath is a soaring eagle, flying from left to right, which is finished in oxidised old silver colour.  The design of the eagle is very elegant with a well-defined head positioned over the forward thrusting wing.  There are subtle differences in the eagle the most significant being in the wings' fletching and the line of the trailing wing.  The width of the wings is 53 mm and the depth of the body from claw tips to the top of the wings varies from 15 mm to 16 mm.

The reverse is flat and the eagle is held on to the wreath by two ball rivets, one through each wing tip.  The rivets can also be a small, flat type.  At the apex is a hinge, which can be either a barrel or ball type.  The latter has a needle pin countersunk.  The former has a needle pin with a shepherd's crook bend.  At the base is a 'C' form hook.  The reverse of the eagle is flat with a matt finish that is oxidised from light grey to nearly black.

However, as the war progressed the quality of the badge deteriorated, not so much in the stamping of the individual wreath and eagle but the eagle is sweated on to the wreath.  The badge is made in nickel silver or aluminium and then zinc, pot or monkey metal.  The badge was awarded on completion of a glider pilots training and was issued with a citation and pilots licence.

It was presented in a blue box, with blue satin liner and velvet base, with the name stencilled in silver on the lid.

The cloth versions of this badge were produced for both officers and NCOs, taking the form of the metal badge but embroidered in relief.  For Officers the wreath is worked in silver, the eagle in oxidised silver, and the swastika in dull aluminium thread on a blue grey melton backing.  The NCOs version is identical but expedited in cotton thread.  The badge for officers has yet to be observed. The NCO’s version can be found with the wreath embroidered in of white cotton thread while the eagle is executed in a buff grey thread on a tan cotton backing.

 

Glider Pilots Badges - Cloth Grey backing - Obverse.

 

Glider Pilots Badges - Cloth Tan backing - Obverse.

 

 

 

  Glider Pilots Badges - Case.

 Fulda Wilhelm, later Fallschirmjäger.Rgt.2, RK 14th June 1941. Wearing the Glider Pilots Badge.

Glider Pilots Badges - 1957.

 

 

Glider Pilots Badges - 1957 - Obverse.

 

 

Glider Pilots Badges - 1957 - Reverse.

 

Luftwaffe - Combined Pilots and Observers Badge

July 22, 2016, 6:46 am

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Combined Pilots and Observers Badge.

Instituted on. 26^thMarch 1936

Rarity– Rare
Known Makers. A, B & NL, B.W.S. (within club emblem), C.E.JUNCKER,

                            CEJ (in rectangular frame), JME, JMME, W.DEUMER, L/64

              

Combined Pilots and Observers Badge Obverse.

 

On 26^thMarch 1936 this badge was introduced to replace the older Aircrew Badge and takes the format of, an oval, slightly convex, gilded wreath, the right half of laurel and the left half of oak leaves. The raised surfaces of the wreath are highly polished.  At the base of the wreath there is a three-band tie and, on the viewer's right, nine bunches of three oak leaves overlapping one another.  At each joint are two acorns, one on either side.  On the opposite side are nine bunches of three laurel leaves with two berries at the joint, one on either side of the central leaf's point.  The wreath is 53 mm by 42 mm with a width of 8 mm.  It has an eagle in flight mounted upon it, oxidised and matt silver-plated, clutching a swastika in its claws.  The wings are finely detailed, as are the head and body.  Normally, the gap between the legs is solid but in the case of the badges produced in aluminium, this area is generally voided.  Occasionally, the portion between the legs is voided on the early nickel silver versions as well.  The wingspan of the eagle can vary between 64 mm and 67 mm, due to the form of manufacture as well as the individual producer.  On the reverse the eagle is riveted to the wreath on each side by two small ball rivets, which change in style with the different methods of manufacture.  There is a vertical hinged pin, which is soldered on.  The quality of these badges varies widely from a purely silvered and gilded Pilots Badge, to a super struck and silver-plated and gilt plated example. This badge was found in nickel silver or aluminium and as the war progressed, pot metal or monkey metal. 

The badge was awarded on completion of both the pilots and observers courses and was presented with licence and certificate.  On 31th July 1944 regulations prescribed that the award could be rendered providing that the intended recipient had held the Pilot Observers qualification certificates for a minimum of one year.

In special cases the badge was authorised to be awarded to foreigners in recognition of special services rendered to the Luftwaffe.  An honorary presentation of this badge was normally made to foreign attachés upon their return to their home duty station.

The cloth version was again identical to the pilots form but with the colours conforming to the metal badge.  The officer’s version was again executed in silver and gold bullion while the NCOs version was in cotton. 

The badge was to be worn on the left breast pocket and after 1936 could be worn on the political uniform as well as the military one.

The box is blue with blue silk lining and blue velvet base with the title stencilled on to the top in gold lettering.

 

 

Combined Pilots and Observers Badge - Case.

 

 

Combined Pilots and Observers Badge - Cloth - Bullion.

 

Combined Pilots and Observers Badge - Cloth - Cotton.

 

 

Kupfer Ernst Dr. - Oberst.

Luftwaffe - Pilots Badge

July 23, 2016, 4:48 am

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Pilots Badge.

Instituted on. 27^th May 1935
Rarity– Scarce
Known Makers.A, B & NL, B.W.S. (within club emblem), C.E.JUNCKER,

               CEJ (in rectangular frame), JME, JMME, W.DEUMER

 

 

 Pilots Badge -  Obverse.

 

 

Pilots Badge - Reverse.

The original instruction for this badge came on 27^th May 1935, although Göring did not bring the badge into being until 12^th August 1935.  On 27^th November 1935 the regulations publishing the exact specification for the badge were made public and were, an oval, slightly convex, silver-plated wreath, the right half of laurel and the left half of oak leaves.  This is the opposite of the Aircrew Badge.  The raised surfaces of the wreath are highly polished.  At the base of the wreath there is a three-band tie and, on the viewer's right, nine bunches of three oak leaves overlapping one another.  At each joint are two acorns, one on either side.  On the opposite side are nine bunches of three laurel leaves with two berries at the joint, one on either side of the central leaf's point.  The wreath is 53 mm by 42 mm with a width of 8 mm.  It has an eagle in flight mounted upon it, oxidised and old silver-plated, clutching a swastika in its claws.  The wings are finely detailed, as are the head and body.  Normally, the gap between the legs is solid but in the case of the badges produced in aluminium, this area is generally voided.  Occasionally, the portion between the legs is voided on the early nickel silver versions as well.  The wingspan of the eagle can vary between 64 mm and 67 mm, due to the form of manufacture as well as the individual producer.  On the reverse the eagle is riveted to the wreath on each side by two small ball rivets, which change in style with the different methods of manufacture.  There is a vertical hinged pin, which is soldered on.  This badge was found in nickel silver or aluminium and as the war progressed, pot metal or monkey metal.  I consider the most desirable badges of this type to be the thin wreath, nickel silver and aluminium types produced by CE Juncker.

 

 

Pilots Badge - Aluminium - Obverse.

 

 

Pilots Badge - Aluminium -  Reverse.

The badge was awarded upon completion of the flying training and when the pilot received his flying licence and citation. 

 Dr. Heinrich Doehle gave the institution of the badge as 26^th March 1936 and this has been widely considered as the official date of introduction.  This poses the intriguing question, 'What was the design of the Pilots Badge from 12^th August 1935 to 26^thMarch 1936?' There are two versions of the cloth badge, which correspond to the officers and NCOs, taking the form of the metal badge but embroidered in relief.  The wreath is worked in silver, the eagle in oxidised silver, and the swastika in dull aluminium thread.  The NCOs version is identical but expedited in cotton thread.  The badge was worn on the left upper pocket of the service uniform or flying jacket.  It was issued in a blue box with the badge designation stencilled in gold block letters on its lid. 

 

 

Pilots Badge - Case -   Obverse.

Pilots Badge - Bullion -  Obverse.

 

Pilots Badge - Cotton -   Obverse.

 

Pilots Badge - Cotton -   Obverse (2).

 

 

Pilots Badge in wear.

 

 

 

 

Pilots Badge in wear on a Waffen - SS officers tunic. He was a Pilot in the Bavarian Air force in the First World War.

Luftwaffe Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge

December 15, 2016, 7:43 am

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Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge

Instituted on. 22nd June 1942

Rarity– Scarce
Known Makers.

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Semi segmented Swastika - Obverse.

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Solid Swastika - Obverse.

This badge was instituted on the 22nd June 1942 and was constructed as an oval metal badge, which was slightly convex, and which was silver plated, and comprised the right half of laurel leaves and the left of oak leaves.  In the centre of the wreath, at the bottom, was a Swastika.  This is found in three forms of Swastika cut-out, that is to say;

"a" Fully segmented

"b" Semi segmented     
"c" Unsegmented

The early, or first version, which we could nominate as type "a" has a fully segmented Swastika.  The second, which can be nominated "b" a semi segmented Swastika, and the last version to be nominated "c" being a totally unsegmented Swastika.  These three types hold true for all the badges, which were of this wreath design.

In the centre of the wreath is an eagle in flight.  The eagle is flying from right to left of the badge, in a downward direction.  The projecting areas of the badge are highly polished and the reverse is flat, with a vertical pin the eagle being held on to the wreath by two rivets, one coming from each wing tip.  Again, the changes through a, b and c change with the period of construction.  The badge initially was found in nickel silver, or aluminium and later in monkey or pot metal.

A cloth version of the badge was instituted for officers in silver bullion and for N.C.O.'s in cotton thread in colours to correspond to those found in the metal badge.

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Cloth - Blue Grey backing - Obverse.

The qualification criteria for the badge were the same as for Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge and it was awarded with a Citation and flying book, in a blue box with blue silk lining and blue velvet base.  The name again was stencilled on to the lid of the box in silver block capitals. 

Luftwaffe Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge

December 15, 2016, 7:55 am

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Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge.

Instituted on. 27 November 1935
Rarity– Scarce
Known Makers.

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge  - Segmented Swastika - Obverse. 

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge  - Solid Swastika - Obverse.

On the 27th November 1935 the regulations for this badge were published as an oval metal badge, which was to be slightly convex, and which was silver plated, and comprised the right half of laurel leaves and the left of oak leaves.  In the centre of the wreath, at the bottom, was a Swastika. 

At this stage, it is interesting to note and to point out, that there are three distinct designs and is marked by changes in the Swastika.  The early, or first version, which we could nominate as type "a" has a fully segmented Swastika.  The second, which can be nominated "b" a semi segmented Swastika, and the last version to be nominated "c" being a totally unsegmented Swastika.  These three types hold true for all the badges, which were of this wreath design.

In the centre of the wreath is an eagle in flight, clutching in its claws a pair of arrow headed bolts of lightning.  The eagle is flying from right to left of the badge, in a downward direction.  The projecting areas of the badge are highly polished and the reverse is flat, with a vertical pin the eagle being held on to the wreath by two rivets, one coming from each wing tip.  Again, the changes through a, b and c change with the period of construction.  The badge initially was found in nickel silver, or aluminium and later in monkey or pot metal.  A cloth version of the badge was instituted for officers in silver bullion and for N.C.O.'s in cotton thread in colours to correspond to those found in the metal badge.

To qualify for this badge the recipient had to have successfully completed two months training, or to have participated in one of the positions in a minimum of five operational flights.  The badge could be awarded sooner should the recipient have been wounded on an operational flight. 

Again this badge was first introduced on the 26th March 1936, and was awarded with a Citation and a flying book.  The badge was presented in a blue box with a blue silk lining, and blue velvet base while the badge's identification was stencilled in silver block letters on the lid.

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge - Cloth Bullion - Obverse.

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge - Cloth  - Obverse.

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge - Cloth Tan Backing - Obverse.