John Burchell

The award case top cover with national emblem:

Reverse:

GPB small:

Reverse:

Reviving this thread and posting my matching numbered pair (71642) for viewing and opinions. No idea who this party member was, but he or she obviously wore them regularly, which is normal. As I understand it, the smaller one is by Fuess and the larger, of course, by Deschler. Interesting are the seldom-seen, brooch-type attachment pins on the reverse. The case in which I keep this matching pair was acquired separately. All period originals...I hope! Thanks for viewing and any feedback. Regards, John Large GPB:

OK, guys...here's another one. Had to dig deep into my collection to find it, but here it is in all it's glory. Cheers, John

Close-up of the reverse crossguard and Eickhorn logo:

Close-up of the crossguard & etched RK/EK:

Thought I would revive and refresh this excellent thread by posting my only mini-dagger: a Heer produced by Eickhorn with the squirrel proofmark logo used from 1941-1944 etched onto the reverse side of the blade. The detail is quite nice, with all of the silvering present. The overall length is approcimately 19.5 cm. Interesting is that the grip is made from a sort of translucent-type of material that I have not seen before. Even more interesting is the 1939 Knight's Cross/Iron Cross etched into the obverse top of the blade, which leads me to think that the original recipient/owner may have been a KC recipient, perhaps? Unfortunately, there is no way to know for sure, unless one of the dagger experts out there has some knowledge of this kind of marking on miniature Third Reich miniature daggers. Comments and feedback will be appreciated. Regards, John

As these two items were indeed acquired separately they are, as you suggest, not a genuine pair in the sense of having been awarded coincidently. I put them together in a sort of marriage of convenience, so they are a pair in that sense only. The document is dated 1942 and the "43" in the suspension loop stamping presumably indicates the year of production of this particular order, so at least, not too far apart. Regards, John

Wow! Once again, I sincerely thank you. I do not read Romanian, so appreciate the translation. In fact, I do not collect Romanian awards...Third Reich being my focus. I acquired this Order to go with the TR document. The details which you have provided above add considerably to the pair.

Thank you very much for your correction and clarifications, "Carol I". It is most helpful that you added this accurate information.

Document:

Reverse close-up:

Obverse close-up:

Here is a Commander Cross, Type II, wartime civilian version of this order, ie. no crown between the cross order and with the civilian neck ribbon. The neck ribbon does not have the golden stripes on the edges, which would only be awarded to military personel. Crosses of the civil division are not as frequently seen as the military division ones. This order bears markings on the reverse side of the suspension ring ("silber" and "CFZ" for the firm of C.F.Zimmermann, Pforzheim); and also stampings on the side of the suspension loop (a "crown" symbol, followed by "958" followed by another symbol and "43"). Also attached are scans of a scarce Reichs Chancellery document dated 1942 which grants permission to a prominent German public servant to accept this award. The document, measuring approximately 21cm. x 29.5cm., bears a facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler and the hand-signed, ink signature of Meissner of the Reich Chancellery. In the lower left corner is the Great Seal of the Reich. The actual document grants permission for the wartime Mayor of Duisburg, Germany (Theodor Ellgering), to accept this civilian award of the Commander's Cross of the Order of the Romanian Crown. Theodor Ellgering was also German envoy/legate (Gesandter) in Bukarest during WWII. These two items were acquired separately. I hope that they are of interest to forum members. Regards, John

...and "PaKu" (with umlaut) Paul Kuest, Berlin - combatant:

...and "R.V. 26 Pforzheim" combatant:

Here's a "G2" non-combatant:

Hello "hipnos": As I understand it, the markings on the rim of your medal under reference are normally found on original specimens of this particular medal. The "835" denotes silver content, and "PR. M. BLN" stands for something like the Prussian State Mint (Munzamt) of the Chancellery located in Berlin, which is where it would have been produced. John

Close-up of case maker mark:

Full view of the case open:

The deluxe, leatherette award case:

Close-up of the raised maker's mark, and also the clipping:

Full view of reverse: