Claudius

The reason I ask is that there was "sortof" a militaria show in the Badger state and would have been very surprised if you traveled this far, to see so little... HAL-2001: you have to really worry when it starts talking back to you; OPEN THE POD DOORS HAL! "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."

Hello Glenn; "lost" its pin and catch? It was shorn by deliberate hands. Someone obviously wanted it hang from the "loop" created at the top, perhaps so that both sides could be displayed. (That pin down across its face made it very annoying to read the engraving ) They had no concern that it made their EK1 look like an EK2. Pity we don't know for sure why it was stripped of its original fasteners. Research: I think you should start with the 27th IR history. From there, see what action it was involved in just BEFORE the date on the cross. It may be the battle that Sommerfeld was involved that earned him the EK1. Try posting a request on the "Military Research" forum of GMIC for the IR history. Hopefully someone will have a copy to look up. Good luck, and keep us informed of your progress!

Show? What show(s) did you visit?

Here are photos of Vince's bar. Thank you for making them available for us.

Hello VtwinVince, You can't post pictures?!?!? I, for one, would love to see this bar, front and back.

Great job Jan pulling that related item out from obscurity!

I'm not doubting or questioning the use of the "beret". I understand paratroopers or other branches of the military using a beret for regulation headgear. I just didn't fully "get it" why there was the orange beret for parades and then a dr. grey for field wear. Why not wear the dr. grey in the parades? Or why not wear the orange in the field? If the "field" is the home barracks, no problem. If the "field" is combat or near combat areas I can see why you don't want to be glowing like a firefly for snipers. But then the dr. grey would be their beret color and they would use them for parades as well. Is it that the orange beret is for wear with the dress uniform and the dr. grey for the field fatigues? If so, then it is notable that no other country does this distintion. Are there any photos of EG paratroopers, both in uniform and in field gear? Also, don't misunderstand my use of "vanity". "Vanity" might suggest an over self-indulgence on appearance. Paratroopers are hand-picked troops that have unique training. Distinguishing markings and coloration would be due to an elite group to set them off from other troops. It represents a notable and deserved pride.

Outstanding find. I looked on Craigslist in my area but all I ever found was a GI mess kit and US tanker badge. An awkward conversation ensued from there..."ah, no I am not interested in these very "rare" items for $50, but thank you for offering..."

Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Breast Star

Hmmmm. Thank you Paul for the information. It would seem an all-too-common fate during WWII.

Hello; Is there a Japanese list of non-Japanese award holders? Specifically, for Germans who were awarded the Order of the Rising Sun -6th class and above. Did the Japanese even keep such records?

Ahh...so really the orange used in parades is really a bit of vanity. The paratroopers need to be noticed and admired!

Thanks.

The berets are real...it?s the kids that are fake. They're both in their early twenties. She just took a drag of her Russian cigarette and is contemplating the boredom and hopelessness of East German barracks life. And he has a miserable excuse for a salute. ;)

Sorry, this was where I wanted to post my two officer berets. Again, orange was just for parades and dk. grey for everyday use? That was always my common understanding, but perhaps there is better information out there.

Here are two officer paratrooper berets; field grey and orange. If the orange was just for parades, was the field grey for everyday wear? Why not wear the orange every day? Is this a common segregation among paratroopers of all nations?

Wachregiment "Friedrich Engels"

Hello; I found this thread...Can I ask how you know the Japanese Rising Sun was awarded to him by a visiting delegation from Japan while he was a Hauptmann on the staff of the Field Artillery Shooting School, between 1897 and 1902? (I'm not doubting your evidence, I just want to know, how you know? Thanks Nice bar...but being able to match the bar with the photo :love:

Great facts! Thank you. "Can you tell us what you got. " Oh...sorry, http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=37240

Nice bit of research. Thank you for the map of the battle. Lt. d. R. Hamburger was MIA in Aug 27, 1918. Presumably, he was never found and presumed dead? I realize this sounds a bit blunt. I'm only asking to determine if he survived the war. If so, that leaves Lt.d.R. Frech and Lt.d.R. Rieber as remaining candidates. They at least, both received their WGMMM on the same day...presumably for meritorious bravery during the same action.

This is great! Thank you Naxos. I was looking for IR 126's major engagements and for the list of WGMMM winners. I'm looking up three individuals who won the WGMMM to learn when, and perhaps guess at for what action. I found Paul Frech and Artur Rieber on this list. Both received the Gold on August 31, 1917. The fraktur is hard to read, but this was just after the events at... I can make out "6th Army in Artois"? (pg 370) I can't find Eugen Hamburger on this list. Perhaps just a mistake that he was left off. Thank you for posting the pages!

Nevertheless, as well made kopies and as decorative/example pieces they should bring $100-$200 each. They would look quite handsome sitting on a bookshelf or a costume party.

That would be great. I am looking for their battles and notable engagements. Will the regimental history have names of award winners? WGMMM, EK2, etc.

I could see this being a "class" at a well attended medal's show. A kind of "101" on the basics of recognizing fake medals and bars with a slide show of examples; known fake medals (and why we know they're fake) and medal bar construction (and why this is not correct order/construction). As long as it doesn't teach the would-be fakers out there anything new! :shame:

danke