Avitas

Next up we have a pic of the 1933 Party Rally, in Nuremburg, a fairly important event. This is a nice panorama shot of a historic event, and of the giant flags. Cheers, Pat

...the reverse of the Reichsparteitag 1935 standartes photo-book picture. Here again is the summary and copyright information of Hoffmann. Cheers, Pat

The next of the 5 x 7's is this pic of Hitler's speech at Reichsparteitag 1935, showing the standartes of the NSDAP. Pat

Here is the back of the tank pic, with official numbering and credit to official photographer Heinrich Hoffmann. Any help on the translation of the back is great on this one. These first pics are all 5" x 7" size. Cheers, Pat

Hello club, I finally got a chance to scan a few interesting items that I have had for a while (before heading out to wedding number 3 of the summer! It's been a vagabond year), some official party pictures that were used in propaganda books for the civilians. These books were kind of like the "sticker books" of today when you bought the books of say sports or toys, and then collect the individual stickers and attach them to your book. The gentleman I bought these from had the entire "Deutschland Erwache!" book with every photo attached. and I may be able to purchase it if the price is fair. All of my photos come from volume 8, "Deutschland Erwache" and volume 15, "Adolf Hitler." The pictures all have a detailed write up of the picture and are very thorough. I will do my best to get the main idea of each pic but if anyone can add something I may have missed, please help out. Also, if anyone has more to add on this type of book please do! The first photo I will show is my favourite with what I think are Panzer 1's, very small tanks, but they do look fun to drive. Cheers, Pat

Here is an example of the content of the pocket book, a pretty interesting read from what broken German I can actually understand , but I'm learning it steadily. Cheers, and please leave your comments! Pat

Of note as well is that there is a Christmas tree song at the very end, so maybe this was a yearly book? or maybe the Yuletide edition. Here is the back cover, with a quaint ad for some fine German cognac, Cheers Pat

Hello ladies and gents, I've had this neat little pocket magazine for quite a while and decided to post it for your viewing. It has many pictures of soldiers, songs and advertisements for cigarrettes and liquor amongst others. I couldn't find any dates on it but maybe someone can recognize the date from the price and markings on the front cover. I reckon it was a common magazine that the soldiers of ww1 Germany would take with them to provide entertainment in the trenches. Here are some pics, and I eagerly await your opinions and info on this little magazine. Cheers, Pat

Finally, a pic of the markings for further reference on copies. I look forward to your ideas and examples! Cheers, Pat

Here is the reverse, with the deliberate? wear on the finish and maker markings. Pat

Hello all, I got this DKiG repro (I assume from its no enamel finish and lack of real gold and details) and ws wondering about the wear on it. Would someone have deliberately aged this one to look older or is it a possiblility that it is just a really old fake with natural wear. It is a fairly heavy piece and a casting I believe. I would also like to see your repros to give a heads up to collectors of what is out there on the fakes market so we can avoid them. I got this one for 20 bucks to hold a spot in my collection, as I don't see myself being able to afford a real one anytime soon. It is marked "Ges. Gesch" and some sort of triangle mm that I can't make out. Any comments and examples of other copies of the Deutsche Kreuz are welcome, Cheers, Pat

Thanks Bob, your contributions to the forum are a great help and glad to have you here! It also is very "limp" so that just adds a bit more to it, and I am happy to know it is indeed a good one. I talked to Walter (the dealer) and he gave me some more info on the Ordensburgen. It turns out my example is machine woven in black, and was the 1st pattern authorized in 1937 and was used until it was changed to silver and tan in colour. Ordensburgen (Order Castles) are the highest level of political education for young members who were destined to become the political elite. Boys or girls were selected from other organizations, BDM , Hitler Youth etc, and attended one of 24 National Political Training Institutes(Napola) but there were only 4 Ordensburgen with 1000 students each. Duration of 1 year of training at each castle. I haven't heard much more about this organization, and apparently the cuff-title was the only form of identification insignia for the organization. If anyone else has one, please post it! Cheers, Pat

and the reverse, with minimal tarnish... Later, Pat

Here is my best one of my two picked up at the local Kelowna flea market, a fairly good source of good stuff (and bad stuff ). I hope to pick up a cased example whenever I can find one for an affordable price. Cheers, Pat

You have some very nice examples of the Mutterkreuz with the case Darrell! Did you get your new find today in Canada? (If so, maybe you could let me in on your secret sources) The condition of the one you just got is absolutely pristine (the cross that is), it must have been stored with care and not brought out in the open for a long, long time. Nice find! Cheers, Pat

Wow! Nice array of pennants and such Dan It really does look good to get a bunch of pieces together for a group family shot, instead of individual portraits all the time. As for the Kreis, I really am no expert but it looks well made and to be in really good shape. The white on the swastika is exceptionally white, which would be my only concern, but it could be in just really great condition. Hopefully an expert can help out a little more, but nice collection! (I especially like the RLB armband, very nice!) Cheers, Pat

and the front of the repro RAD medal to compare with Kevins Westwall's manufacturing. Pretty close, any other thoughts on this? Cheers, Pat

Hi Kevin, nice bronzer, but I have doubts on the one with no finish. It has holes that are probably from casting on the surface and it is very similar in construction and material to a repro RAD women's medal I have. Here it is for comparison, it is almost exact in the characteristics of manufacture. Of course, I could be wrong but it doesn't look like your silver coloured West Wall ever had another finish, and like the RAD medal of mine was created in that colour. I hope that helps a bit, Cheers, Pat P.S. my apologies on the wrong ribbon on the RAD (old scan), that ribbon is actually now the same ribbon that is correctly on the second (no packet) bronze West Wall I posted.

This is a unique little set Dan I don't imagine there are many of these lying around, and it is an interesting piece. The letterhead is especially detailed and impressive looking. Where did you find this one? Cheers, Pat

Thanks for clarifying Rob, and I'll say it again, nice Coastal Artillery buckle! (the blue one that is!) But seriously, your collection of buckles must be pretty complete, as you have shown some nice buckles that illustrate the different types very well, and how to tell if it is kriegsmarine or not. For us beginners, even what may be considered basic knowledge to the "old-timers" is still news to alot of us, as good reference books have been out of print for many years, and harder to find still nowadays. Great info and keep those buckles coming! Cheers, Pat

I like the well used ones way more than the so-called "mint" ones anyways, so no apologies are necesary Daniel If a belt buckle doesn't have a lot of wear to it just doesn't pack the same punch as a good infantry units buckle that was on the front for a while. Nice ww1 buckle! Cheers, Pat

Hello again, I am talking to the dealer that sold me this tomorrow and I was wondering if anyone sees anything wrong with it, as I can still return it if it is bad. Again, I don't have any reason to believe it is fake, but any help is really great. I will also get some more info on this cuff title and the Ordensburgen organization from him tomorrow as he said he had some more info on it. Thanks in advance for any advice on this nice cuff title, and I hope it checks out, but I understand it is a pretty obscure little corner of TR militaria so it is pretty hard to tell by pics alone. Cheers, Pat

Nice variations of the R.S. badges Greg So is mine the more common style catch then? Do you know which variations were more abundant, and maybe what time frame they are from? I know these are detailed questions but you seem to be the expert on these IAB's, and if anyone would know they would be on this forum. I like the detail on these and the zinc seems to have held out on your examples as well. If anyone has any more R.S. IAB variations please feel free to contribute as well, Thanks again for showing Greg, Pat

That's what I thought because they weren't visible in the second picture, but it never hurts to confirm. Very nice badge with nice finish left. Cheers, Pat

Are those casting lines visible in the first picture on the areas around the eagle? It's probably just the way the light is but I thought I would ask. Cheers, Pat