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    I recently bought this badge quite cheap at a fair mainly as a gap filler. Looking at it more closely it looks pretty period. The mark is Brehmer Berlin. 3 but I can't find an example of that maker on the internet to compare. I like to know where the differences are between fake and real. I'd be grateful for any comments from the experts.

     

    Thank you.

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    The reason you can't find any reference for this maker and Para badges is that Gustav Brehmer, although a wartime producer of badges, did not supply Para badges to the Luftwaffe.

    This is a very poor attempt at faking a para badge, even down to the maker mark stating that they were based in Berlin when, in fact, they were based in Markneukirchen - Saxony.

    Brehmer was a premier manufacturer of badges, and to give you some idea how good they were.... 

     

    257820509_GustavBrehmer.thumb.jpg.ecd5a1a8e5ef40997e014434e8e9a785.jpg

     

    below are some original badges, by various makers, which will hopefully show why the fallschirmjäger wore them so proudly.

     

    para_comp_coll.thumb.jpg.c3b0b67d88ae6cb52112e650322d367a.jpg

     

     

     

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    Thank you John that was the simple answer to that. It shall therefore remain known as "the gap filler" and remind me to keep an eye open for a good one. I only paid £10 which should have told me something anyway.

    Grateful for your knowledge as usual.

    Best Regards

     

    Garry

     

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    • 4 years later...

    Im very interested in this post because I also have a badge just like this also marked Brehmer Berlin however I can state with almost complete certainty its genuine.

    It belonged to a paratrooper called Werner Ratzmann,I also have his Ground Assault badge his kit issue book,a photo of him in uniform and his iron cross.I also have documentation of his incarceration in a POW camp in Belgium,and his eventual move to another POW camp in England.

    And I actually knew the guy although I was very young at the time !

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    • 1 month later...
    On 11/09/2022 at 10:35, PaulPasquet said:

    Im very interested in this post because I also have a badge just like this also marked Brehmer Berlin however I can state with almost complete certainty its genuine.

    The problem with that is- Brehmer company operated out of Markneukirchen. And unlike some companies operating during the times out of multiple places, it was Brehmer's sole location. I am sure you can see how a piece marked 'Brehmer Berlin' could put the brakes on a story of its originality.

     

    That said, there were instances of perfectly original medals and badges defaced by spurious, post-war stamps of more desirable makers, among other reasons.

     

    Perhaps a picture of your piece would help put those objections to rest?

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    On 11/09/2022 at 17:35, PaulPasquet said:

     

    It belonged to a paratrooper called Werner Ratzmann,I also have his Ground Assault badge his kit issue book,a photo of him in uniform and his iron cross.I also have documentation of his incarceration in a POW camp in Belgium,and his eventual move to another POW camp in England.

    I am not saying that this is the case when it comes to this particular badge, but I have come across other ex POW personal effects that contain fake badges.  It would seem that it was common practice for those who had had their badges/insignia taken off them, on capture, to seek replacements post war.

    As Matthew says, a picture would help but I suspect that Ratzmann most likely fell foul to the many fakers that were about at the time.

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