bolewts58

I'm not sure the source of the information I stated, as it's something I've known for a long time. It may have come from Robert G. L. Waite (Vanguard of Nazism) or Nigel Jones (Hitler's Heralds) or even von Salomon.

Same as the various semi-official German vet medals,

The Stahlhelm was an unofficial Freikorps reserve force in early 1919 in Berlin and served as headquarters guards for General Maercker's Freiwilligen-Schützenkorps, when they were assaulting the Neue Marstall where the Volksmarinedivision were holed up. After the arrival of several other Freikorps in Berlin in late January and early February 1919, the Stahlhelm went on the inactive reserve list and were relegated to their main status as a veteran organization.

nice document to a rare group.

Here's my suggestion for a rather long-winded title in perhaps somewhat fractured German. Es nimmt viel mehr als ein direkter Artillerie-Schlag, um mich unten zu halten.

It's interesting that they're wearing the SSOS shield as a hat badge and have "pimped out" their uniforms with different skulls.

Nice photo of Members of Selbstschutz-Bataillon Gogolin What I can make out is: Handrsin or Kandrsin (not sure), Upper Silesia, 1 July 1921, at our discharge From left to right Schäfer, Nappe, Bbr. (?) Welk from Danzig Katscher, (Gogolin), Renner Bbr. (?) Breslau

This badge is unfortunately a well-made, but well-known copy from ordensammler.com. http://www.ordensammler.com/html/grodno.htmlhttp://www.ordensammler.com/html/grodno.html The tell-tale signs are the shallowness of the stamping and soft detail on the reverse, the ghost image of the cross on the reverse and the chemically oxidized wreath. They never had this kind of finish. The wreath was silvered and then painted black. The black is usually worn away on most badges to reveal the silvered brass. These fakes turn up on eBay all the time and are available from a number of known, spurious dealers. Here is what I believe to be a genuine badge. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2012/post-12700-0-76677200-1356580616.jpg.

As far as I know, it was only worn while they served in the Freikorps. Although, given the incomplete records, maybe a photo will show up one of these days with the badge being worn as a Reichswehr "Tradition Badge" since they did form a "Tradition Eskadron" in the Preliminary Reichswehr. It's a logical assumption. There were only about 180 men and 10 officers in the Freikorps unit. So, as far as I know they didn't really operate independently, but as a mounted unit in the Iron Division. They left before the Iron Division became the Deutsche Legion and joined The Russian Westarmee. It was always a small unit and therefore this is quite a scarce badge.

I've been talking a lot, so thought I should post an interesting and rare Freikorps badge. Freiwilligen-Eskadron von Lützow/Freiwilligen-Eskadron Kürassier-Regiment 7 Sleeve Badge The uninterrupted history of the regiment stretches back to 1815 all the way through WWI, the Freikorps period and into the Reichswehr. DAS KÜRASSIER-REGIMENT VON SEYDLITZ (MAGDEBURGISHES) NR. 7 Founded 1815 Fought in the Wars of Unification from 1862-1866 FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR, 1870-71 General von Bredow’s “Death Ride” at the Battle of Mars La Tour, 1870 in which 7th Cuirassiers, 19th Dragoons and 16th Uhlans charged and overran the French guns A detachment of NCOs and enlisted men fought in Southwest Africa in 1904/05 WORLD WAR I Began on the Western Front then moved to Poland in Late 1914 Kurland and Lithuania in 1915-16 Rumania in 1917 Western Front in late 1917 Siegfried line September - October 1918 last battles in Flanders 1918 Returned to their barracks in Halberstadt in Novermber and demobilized in December 1918 FREIKORPS Remnants formed Freiwilligen-Eskadron von Lützow/Freiwilligen-Eskadron Kürassier-Regiment 7 in January 1919 and served in the Baltic campaign REICHSWEHR Formed a “Traditions-Eskadron” as part of the Vörlaufiges Reichswehr in November 1919 Together with 4 other cavalry squadrons formed Reichswehr Reiter-Regiment 10 in March 1920

It's funny. I stopped collecting Imperial orders and decorations by 1995 because at that point, I had most orders up to commander grade, so had entered the rarified world of grand cross sets, which were expensive and beginning to be reproduced quite well by the mid-90s. I was afraid that the reproductions would eventually kill the hobby and the value of my collection. When I look at the repros now, those in the 90s pale significantly. Yet, people are still collecting and the values have sky-rocketed. For example, who knew Turkish War Medals would shoot up to hundreds of dollars? 17 years ago, you could still get a Godet for well under $100 and nobody even wanted the Turkish issue ones, which could be had for $5-10.

I'm 60 year old Chris. This is my 2nd go 'round collecting. I collected from around 1958, when my Dad gave me a couple of German Breast Eagles he brought back from the war, until 1995, when I sold off the last of my Imperial German collection and all my first Freikorps collection. During that period, I also collected British and Canadian cap badges (in the 1960s), Waterloo medals and the MGSM (in the 1970s), bits and pieces of 3rd Reich stuff (up until the early 70s). In 1969 I bought an RAO 4th class for $15 and got hooked on Imperial German orders and decorations. At the same time, I bought a Silesian Eagle 2nd class for $8 and a Baltic Cross for $5 and that got me started on Freikorps. As I got more into that stuff, I dumped the 3rd Reich stuff and the Waterloos and MGSMs. I only started collecting again a couple of years ago by chance, when I found a copy of von Salomon's Freikorps book at a book fair, which peaked my interest again.

This is why I personally tend to stay away from Freikorps badges that are 'leftovers' from the Imperial period, unless there's a very reasonable amount of proof that they were actually used in the Freikorps. A major portion of the historical records of the Freikorps were destroyed in a bombing raid in 1945. Therefore, there are large gaps in the information, which leads to all kinds of fantasies appearing on the market. Although, other records have come to light and keep being discovered, the wide-open nature of the Freikorps period requires a lot of research, cross-referencing and cooperation among knowledgeable collectors and the few dealers who are actually honest. Verkuilen Ager, one of the few true Freikorps experts told me way back in 1977 that fakes were already being made of certain Freikorps pieces, and other items that weren't Freikorps at all were being passed off as Freikorps. Those pieces are now almost 40 years old and many have passed into the realm of the authentic. Unlike with 3rd Reich and Imperial German material, wherein there is no shortage of true experts and excellent books to consult, the Freikorps period is lacking in expertise. I bought my first Freikorps piece in 1969. But, I wouldn't presume to call myself an expert, as I still make mistakes and am always learning something new. It's a fascinating period, still open to in-depth research and new discoveries. But, by its very nature, it is somewhat frightening for the collector.

There were some 250,000 of these awarded/sold; most in or around 1933, 34, 35, although document dates go back to 1925. So, you're right. The vast majority ponied up the considerable dough it would have taken to buy this badge, during the height of the Depression, only to be told they couldn't wear it and what's worse had to wear instead the Hindy Cross, one of the ugliest of all German awards.

The reverse showing the variation "U" pin and the different font used on the inscription. There are also both Hamburg 11 and Hamburg 3 badges as Fleck u. Sohn, the supplier of this badge had 2 addresses.

Here's another variation. If one looks at different pin styles and reverse inscriptions, there are at least 7 variations of this badge.

Thanks. You're absolutely correct.

I have researched this miniature and it appears to be L'Ordre du Saint-Esprit and to date from the Restoration period 1814-30. But, I don't know much about French orders and decorations. So, I'd appreciate any help I can get, as I eventually want to sell this.

I found another, in keeping with the season.

last ones

5

4

3

and...

As a new contributor, I'd like to add a few of mine.