Andy H

Hi Uwe I am sorry, you are correct. the doc related to a DSB award. Best Andy

Hi Burgerhaus The European Studies Review is an academic journal with the volume I discovered the RDK info in being from 1979(I think). Jill Stephenson is now a Professor of Modern History at the University of Edinburgh. She has produced other work which is valuable to the collecter including the Nazi Organisation of Women and most recently in 2006 a regional study of Wurtttemburg under the Nazis which is entitled Hitlers Home Front. Her work offers a useful insght into organisational developments and as such includes membership numbers and priorities which can help to make sense of the grades of badges and the numbers which may have been produced by the regime. Best of luck Andy

Hi Uwe Thought that this may help with the award numbers. Award Book is for a female 1966 edition. Tried to post image but failed .Number for gold award issued Hamburg on 8 Dec 1966 was 3023 Best Regards Andy

A useful history of the RdK is outlined by Jill Stephenson entitled Reichsbund der Kinderreichen, The league of Large Families in the Population Policy of Nazi Germany-European Studies Review Vol9 pp351-75 The RdK was not the creation of the Nazis but emerged in 1923 as a pronatalist organisation which concerned itself with campaigning to promote marriage at a time when the birth rate was falling and established religious organisations were concerned about permissiveness and a move away from parents having large families. After 1933,the Nazis supported the organisation and despite political wrangling by Frick and Hess it developed calling upon all parents with 4 or more children,and widows with at least three,to join the Rdk. However, only families which were racially and hereditarily sound were admitted.Honour books were issued{200 initially in Dec 37} In April 1940 the Rdk became the RDF [Reichsbund Deutsche Familie]One of its main tasks being to act as a so called Letter Centre co-ordinating letter writing as a means of promoting relationships during wartime. The organisational detail may help establish the significance of the coloured badges.I have an Honour book which I will try to post if this helps further your insight into this fascinating area. Andy

Have now discovered a little more about the SS Gruppenfuhrer who won this award. Born 29.04.1896 NSDAP-Nr 402 019 SS-Nr 36 226 promotions SS Gruf; 9.11.42, Brigf 30.01.39, SS Oberf 13.08.34 SS Staf 1.12.33 It appears that he also received the Goldenes Parteiabzeichen Ehrendegen des RF SS/ Totenkopfring der SS I believe that he worked closely with Gauleiter Karl Kaufmann (Hamburg) and had a number of responsibilities in administering the city. Can anyone tell me the fate of Ahrens? Do any photos of this individual exist? Ive got my fingers crossed Cheers Andy

Fascinating threat because so little seems known to the collecting community. To help Bob thread 12, I came across these membership figures in a biogaphy of Bundesfuhrer Von Epp. Josef Krumbach Ein Leben Fur Deutschland 1939 -1 October 36 200,000 -1 January 37 372,282 -1 January 38 856141 1 August 38 they claimed 1 million members

Great condition, the badge comes to life with the docs.The female booklets appear harder to find,and as is often the case, lower numbers of awards appears to be the pattern. Darrell do you have any of the blue document booklets for females?

[Avitas Can I suggest that you consider collecting the award booklets, which offer an excellent insight into the criteria for awards. Of particular interest is an opportunity to see how each individual qualified for his or her award. These booklets remain very reasonably priced at the moment. Best of luck building your collection.

Hi Christian Dealers in your own country would ask around 40e for the DSB.

Chaiman There is an excellent article in the journal Central European History Vol 15 1982 which details the Womens labor service in Nazi Germany.It is written by Jill Stephenson. The Deutscher Frauenarbeitsdienst, DFAD was established in 1934. The organisation was expanded in 1936 to become the more familiar RADwj. The numbering on the badges has always fascinated me because the organisation remained small with perhaps around 10,000 17-25 year olds in 400 camps. I have several badges with a range of numbers, often way beyond the 10,000 figure.Perhaps because the period of service was short, around 20 weeks, they simply kept issuing badges to new participants? Hope that this helps a little. Best regards Andy

Christian The Aurich made badge on the left is to the Deutscher Siedlerbund. An organisation committed to promoting Germanic housing programmes in the pursuit of the Volksgemeinschaft. No idea on the other at the moment! Andy

Nice item, is the certificate still inside the lid to the award?

I agree.The variant Flak document which displays several of the characteristics of the example you have posted can be seen on page 280 Emilie Caldwell Stewart German Military award Documents 1939-1945 (1991)

Jacques I also have some docs for the Spanien Kreuz. Considering that they were all awarded on the 6.Juni 1939, why would the wording on the document vary across the different grades of the awards? Could it be to do with the status/rank of the recipient? Could it be related to whether the individual was a volunteer {freiwilliger} as this word is present on some award docs and not on others? A real mystery to me wondered whether you or other collectors could help. Regards Andy

Hi Pete Struggling with this one.Reminds me of the insignia for the DAF Festanzug {festival} capbadge. Could it be a similar device for the NS Deutscher Marine Bund or KDF related? See you soon Andy

Rick Only come across the larger docs to date.Those I have were awarded to railway staff. Andy

[attachmentid=40990]An interesting doc awarded to SS Gruppenfuhrer Ahrens.I believe that he may have received this award for his reassuring broadcasts on Hamburg radio as the air raids were devastating the city.The document is pen signed by Goring.Any additional background or a photograph would be fascinating. Thanks Andy

[attachmentid=40986]Heinz Knierim was a pilot in an Aufklarer unit

The EK1 is signed by Hans Geisler RK 4.5.40. An interesting group.

Looks fine to me.I agree Bey signed the doc. Regards Andy