Scowen

I'll start off with the DRK members badge 1st pattern. This badge only lasted about a year (1933 - 1934) & is only 17mm in diameter.

Hi Jim,

The DRK is another of my interest areas, there isn't a lot out there reference wise. Angolia's work "In the Service of the Reich" is the only real work that covers the organisation as a whole. However, if like me, you are into their enamel badges, JR Cone's booklet "One People, One Reich; Enameled Organizational Badges of Germany 1918 - 1945" is the best work available & covers these very well.

The above two badges are firstly the DRK Honour Pin, given for meritorious service that was not quite within the scope to earn the medal. It is available in both pinback & stickpin forms. In use between 1939 - 1945.

The other badges are the Senior Helper's badge (known as the type 3 pattern), which was for nursing helpers that had proven themselves over a period of time. The helpers in this sense were not nursing staff as such, but somewhere in between a licensed nurse & a nurses aid.

I'll post some more DRK badges as time permits.

Cheers

Don

Reverse

Jim,

Not a stupid question at all.

As Jon has said, the FM Organisation was composed of civilians who gave monetary aid to the SS, which had been authorized by Hitler to seek additional financial help. FM Members were recruited at Sturm levels and pledged to monthly amounts of as little at RM 1,00. A membership book without photo, numbered to an FM badge were issued. The standard pins are found in both stickpin & pin back types.

In 1935, a special hallmarked silver honour FM badge with oakleaves and additional inscription on the obverse was authorized for the first 30,000 members; this was expanded to the oldest 60,000 a short time later. When the member ceased payments, the badge/book had to be returned to the Sturm and would be reissued as with my one at the top.

Jon,

Yes, the SS/FM Organisation is of particular interest to me. An honour pin in a decent condition can reach about ?300 the last time I saw a good one.

Be very cautious when buying any SS/FM pins, they have been heavily faked. The first thing to check is that there is no RZM markings on them, none of the SS enamel pins were marked with an RZM code.

Here is my standard members pin.

Cheers

Don

Jim's not the only one that likes them!!...very nice Don. Are they maker marked?

Dave

←

Yes Dave, the KVK is 62 & the EK1 is a 65.

Cheers

Don

Reverse.

This one had been reissued to another supporter, the original number has been milled off & a new one hand engraved.

Cheers

Don

We usually see the standard SS/FM membership pin. We rarely see the honour version.

Cheers

Don

Reverse

Nice Senior Helper's badge John, mine hasn't got the blow hole.

Cheers

Don

Here's mine.

Cheers

Don

Here's a couple that Panzerman likes

Cheers

Don

Hi Jim,

Just found my way over here. Good to see you & other names.

Cheers

Don

Reverse

My first post here. I recognise some names on the list, so this is where you've all been hiding lately :food-smiley-004:

Here's the DRK Honour pin, the stickpin version.

Cheers

Don