Chris Boonzaier

I had to pay through my nose for this.... but worth every penny. I have looked for a Leib Regt Haubde for about 10 years now.... I remember Kube on the German "Kunst und Krempel" show viewieng a Prussian 1 Garde zu Fuss stamped Other Ranks Haube. (I think that would be the equiv of the ILR as far as regiments go) . Kube said he had had a number of officers Helmets to the Regt over the years, but never, ever a tamped Other ranks one in superb condition... he valued it at EUR4000... of course, that was over the top... but it says something for the rearity... unfortunately no name, but 1910 made Kammerstück....

Hi, Oelhafen unfortunately turns out to be a stamped signature. Some time ago RickL identified a Berlin Document I had signed by another really nasty SS policeman... i JUST CAN NOT FIND THE THREAD SHOWING WHICH ONE IT WAS .-8

I must check when i get home. It would be a bit of a relief, I did not want it to spoil the price of the group.

Have said it once, have said it twice, have said it 3 times.... the Ehrenkreuz documents sometimes have fantastic gems hidden on them....

I was trying to figure out what price I needed for this Bavarian Heavy Cavalry group... then saw the signature on the Ehrenkreuz document... Otto Von Oelhafen. Which may make the Ehrenkreuz document be worth more than the group itself?

A number of Years ago I advanced the theory that the official order to issue Preliminary EK docs came at the beginning of 1916, anything done up until then was at unit initiative. My theory was that like after the 1870 war, post war official documents were planned This was based on the observation of many hundreds of documents and issue dates and the order in 1918 that all documents handed out to date were now to be considered the official document. This was poo pooed as there was no proof... then Wernitz published the order from 1916 saying that units should issue preliminary documents.... So my theory was confirmed... Now this!!!! I think it is the missing link....

I never expected to see that added to an "ugly" :-)

Wow... that is pretty sexy... :-)

The 4th Foreign Legion Regiment was very active in Morocco in the 20s, I just picked up the following for my mini collection...... I am just trying to figure out if this was a CM or EM ? Mounted Company, or General Staff?

Welcome Martin, I must admit, i did not realise these were being faked that much???

Very nice... call me insanely jealous!!! I cannot help with the maker ...

I think it is leather, I have that on a couple of combat knives from WW1

Can you post the whole thing? Are you sure it is WW1?

A silly question... why does the bavarian Red Cross cross on the left hand side not have a crown? Is it postwar?

Thanks Dave. I must admit that I was surprised when I realised that the Saxons were there in Ypres that early.

The one set is sewn down, the other stiffend with working buttons... I assume that is very unusual??

I have a really soft spot for the 12th Infantry... and the 12th Field artillery happened by chance....

This is an interesting little group... a man who served in one of the divisions that were volunteered in August 1914 as untrained soldiers and were already fighting 6 weeks later. He was wounded at Zonnebeke on the 5th of May 1915 and his war was over.... the most interesting part is the EK doc, sent from the regiment to him after he was invalided out.... The "Diese Mitteilung gilt zugleich als ausweis!" means "this notifications doubles as your award document"... it is also a Generic document which can be used for any award from any state, but is a special print for the regiment...

I am guessing POWs had everything "souveniered" when captured ;-)

Ahhhh... thanks Karsten, that had confused me for some time...

That is interesting! I assume they could simply not be worn together. I read that only one MVO/MVK could be worn, but Ritter von Epp seems to wear half a dozen at the same time!

Hi thats him :-) I think the ring was given to all soldiers in the III A.K. area who lost their wedding rings incaptivity... I think maybe very many lost gold rings in captivity.

I think the French stole his wedding ring when he was captured... when he got back the Abwicklungs Stelle of the III b. A.K. replaced it with a steel wedding band.... I wonder what nice medals this guy got.... :-)

A nice jeweller addition to an ugly KO... :-)

This is the bar belonging to Doctor Fritz Erbse, He was a native of Rudolstadt, .... The order is of course crazy, but seems professionally and period mounted? He was born in 1875, so would have been over 60 when this was mounted, and no longer serving in any capacity... so the military control of how they are mounted would not have existed... but there must have been some kind of rhyme or reason behind it. I do not know the origins of the bar, it is however a unique combination and the previous owner was able to identify it quite easily. I am not a diehard "believe the piece, not the story"... and I am pretty convinced that no collector would ever, ever, ever have made such errors if they had mounted it for some "faker" purpose, it is simply totally way out there.... but after examining it, I think it is mounted as worn.... obviously not on an army uniform... maybe redcross... Any thoughts welcome..... Here is his Iron Cross