bolewts58

These speciality badges were introduced in 1932 by orders from the Stahlhelm High Command (Bk/IIa/1932).
Bk means Bundeskammer. The badges were only available through "Der Stahlhof" at Magdeburg.

A couple of other examples.

Field Artillery and Jäger and a a couple of pics showing the Field Artillery badge in wear: lower left sleeve.

I went back through this old thread and spotted some fakes posted as originals by unsuspecting collectors.

The low quality, hollow front Silesian Eagles with the raised edges are well-known modern Polish fakes.

The deluxe enameled screwback is a well-known fake as well, known as the double-line, hollow eye. The LDO box is also a fake.

These boxed screwbacks have shown up on eBay quite frequently in the past.

1 hour ago, achern said:

Cazack, I know a district in Bangkok that sells practically all the Thai medals and decorations you will ever want. Modern ones of course. If you will PM me I can give you some directions.

Why so secretive? Why don't you give the location? I wouldn't be surprised if the Thai medals to which you refer are fake if openly available. There are strict laws here about the unauthorized purchasing and wearing of decorations which could fall under the very strict lese majeste laws, as all decorations are seen as royally bestowed. I was awarded a royal Thai household cypher (HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda, the Princess Cousin) for service to Thai education, while teaching at the royal college Vajiravudh and was stopped once by the police on my way to an official reception because I was wearing it and they wanted to know where I got it and if I was entitled to have it. But, if there is really a place to buy medals, I'd be interested to know where.

Here's a picture of my decoration, just for reference.

Chris was referring to this fake.The Cyrillic mark is a dead give away. Chichalov makes collector copies and sells them as such. But,plenty of shady dealers buy them and then sell them as originals.

Modern copy made by Alexander Chichalov in Russia, I believe, judging by the maker mark.

You're in the wrong forum. This should have been posted on the Germany: Imperial: The Orders, Decorations and Medals of The Imperial German States forum.

The first one is the Deutscher Krieger Bund which was formed in 1876 as a national veteran's association for enlisted men. The metal suspender was generic and was usually customized with a local chapter's membership cross or medal. The cross on yours is likely some sort of generic patriotic commemorative, maybe in honour of Wilhelm II's assession to the throne in 1888, or is maybe just some sort of loyalty cross.

The trifold ribbon could have been used for any number of patriotic medals. It's hard to say.

1 hour ago, cazack said:

Hello all

 

I am going to Bangkok for a while for work and would like to know if anyone knows the best place to buy medals, be it Thai or any other military medal items

 

regards and thanks

 

Caz

I've lived in Thailand (mainly Bangkok) for nearly 20 years, off an on. Thais don't collect military medals and therefore, there really isn't anywhere to buy them. Occasionally, some turn up in the handful of coin and stamp shops that exist (mostly in the old city on Rattanakosin island and along Charoenkrung Road near the old post office.). But, rarely is there anything of interest. There used to be a place called the Thieves Market that had odd bits and pieces of military surplus. But, I doubt there's much there, now. if you have time to take some short trips in the region, you might still find the odd thing in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, Hanoi (lots of Viet repros, though) or in Singapore. But, in general, Asia is not really the place to look for militaria. There's just no interest.

I rely on my network of collector friends, eBay, auctions and dealers for my collection.

4 hours ago, Robin Lumsden said:

Bolewts58. 

Cross arrived today. 

You were right ........... I was wrong !!

There are a few bargains left on eBay, but this wasn't one of them !!

 

I hope they give you your money back. They aren't exactly known to be very receptive to refunds.

2 groups and an award document for the 1st class signed by von Loewenfeld.

20 hours ago, dond said:

I am clueless. 

One of the scarcer of the Stahlhelm specialty badges and worth a fair bit. Sort of fits your interest, as well.

4 hours ago, Robin Lumsden said:

Should it look like this ??

Is this one yours? Also, who was seller? This is important? The picture you originally posted from eBay with the marble background and poor lighting is typical of those regularly posted by the group of fakers who originated in Aaachen, but who are in other locals like Cologne.

I have my doubts because these are widely faked to a very high degree and routinely sold by "the Club" and its minions. Can you show close-up details of the dates and also the reverse, please? Also, what was the name of the seller?

23 hours ago, James D.N.MacKenzie said:

Afternoon Gents, I recently bought this sword and have not been able to identify it yet.  The elderly gent I bought it from, when I told him it looked early German to me, told me that makes sense as his family moved to South Africa from Germany many years ago and the sword has been in his family for as long as he can remember.

There are no markings on the blade, none at all.

I have not been able to identify the emblems on the hilt, can't find this exact sword in any of my sword books.

Please help.

James MacKenzie

 

 

Check out German export swords used in South American countries.

2 hours ago, Eric Stahlhut said:

yes, you are guilty of of being a bit of a bully to people you don't know, and to newcomers to this forum and on the WAF.

also, i have read the derogatory comments you have made elsewhere about this forum. would you like me to post a link, so that everyone can read how you really regard the membership of GMIC?

there is nothing wrong with criticism as long as it is constructive. we are all passionate about history in our own ways, but when you resort to berating people, you don't accomplish anything other than coming across as an asshat

I have gotten carried away a few times on WAF and I have admitted as such and apologized when I have crossed the line. The few times I have been guilty of this, I have accepted criticism for it. I haven't denigrated this forum, so much as to point out perhaps not in the most eloquent of terms, the difference between it and WAF, as others have done as well: that GMIC is scholarly, but sometimes a bit highbrow and stuffy (not necessarily a bad thing) and WAF is more of an everyman forum. Just my opinion and nothing more, but an opinion that has been expressed by others. I admit I have strong opinions. But, I think I express them for the most part politely and have imparted a considerable amount of valuable information over the years. I have obviously rubbed you the wrong way. But, if I was the bully you say I am, I would have been banned from WAF. I hardly ever post here. So, I don't think, unless I'm mistaken that I've said much untoward to anyone here. But, if I have, I apologize.

Perhaps, I'll just stick to WAF and not post here anymore.

1 hour ago, Streptile said:

The most unfortunate thing is that this is not true.

I've found that unless a bar is identifiable, or if the combination is very unusual, it usually sells for less than the sum of its parts.

Have others noticed a different pattern?

I stand corrected on this and agree with Chris that sadly document groups get more when they are broken up.

My goodness!

Well, if criticizing someone for callously destroying a piece of history in the name of profit is presumptuous and rude, then guilty as charged.

I sent him a message condemning him for his stupidity with a link to this thread. The irony is that in some ignorant attempt to make more money he failed to realize that the group intact would garner more money than the sum of it ripped apart pieces.

Unfortunately, eBay has more than its fair share of imbeciles and charlatans.

Freikorps ribbon bars like those shown above, of anything beyond the Silesian Eagle and Baltic Cross are extremely difficult to find because of the refitting done in 1934-35 which saw the banning of most Freikorps awards.

I recently picked up this gem in an eBay job-lot, unrecognized by the seller.

Rare Feldspange of the Freiwillige Russische Westarmee

Ribbons as follows:

EKII, Maltese Cross of the Russian West-Army (Avalov Cross), Baltic Cross, Russian George Cross IV class

Yes. Can we see the back? The ribbons are sort of folded in a Southern German style, but in a rather messy way and seem rather loose. Maybe some red flags here.

A nice set for a very good price. The Honour Certificates are hard to come by and that variation on the Bug Stern is not common, either.

For years, it was generally thought that the last Freikorps award was the "Commemorative Badge of the City of Würzburg" (Erinnerungsplakette der Stadt Würzburg) shown (below top) given to members of Freikorps Würzburg in 1934 on the 15th anniversary of its formation. Freikorps Würzburg was formed from the Bavarian Reserve Jäger Regiment 15 that returned to Germany from Georgia in April 1919 after a long sea voyage by British merchant ship from the Black Sea to northern Germany and a train journey south to Bavaria. Bavarian Reserve Jäger Regiment 15 literally arrived at the Würzburg train station after their very circuitous and arduous return home and immediately volunteered to form Freikorps Würzburg, got back on the train and headed to Munich to join other Freikorps already taking up positions outside the city. It took part in the heavy fighting in Munich against the Munich Soviet Republic on May 2-3, 1919.

Subsequently, Freikorps awards were prohibited for wear by active members of the German Armed Forces from 1935 onwards and it was generally thought that this therefore was the last official Freikorps award.

However, another Freikorps award, instituted in 1937, two years after the prohibition date has come to light, and therefore replaces the Freikorps Würzburg badge as the likely candidate for the last Freikorps award.

The "Honor and Commemorative Badge for the Liberators of Munich 1919" (Ehren- und Erinnerungszeichen der Befreier Münchens 1919) has been known about for some time, but wrongly identified until recently.

There are two minor variations of the badge shown here (below bottom). The one on the right is from my collection and the one on the left is currently up for auction at Herman Historica along with documentation. I've attached the award document that is currently part of the Herman Historica lot.

Despite this apparently being a general award given in 1937 by the local Munich authorities and stamped with the logo of the Association of Liberators of Munich, and therefore likely open to any of the 30,000+ Freikorps (including Freikorps Würzburg) who participated in the battle in May 1919, it is an extremely rare badge.

Also, below is a photo of the dedication ceremony on May 3, 1942 of the Freikorps Monument for the "Liberators of Munich from the Communist Hordes". The monument was destroyed by the Americans in 1945.

Yes. I agree that council is likely a good translation. A rather beat up cross is currently for sale on eBay for 499 EUR.  I think the cross is quite scarce actually.

common fake.

This one has been on Philipp Militaria's site for some time. It's over-priced at 650 EUROS, in light of the damage.

If unissued and never worn, it could look brand new. I think it's legit and you got a deal. I'd be happy with these in my collection.

I've seen this type of thing happen several times before over the years.

There were a couple of boxes of unissued Bavarian Einwohnerwehr leader armbands found about 5 years ago during renovations in a room that had been walled up in the former central headquarters of the Einwohnerwehr in Munich. I know the guy who found them.

The armbands with proper stamps look like they were made today, never mind yesterday, but are completely real. So as not to flood the market, he puts them out on eBay very infrequently. So, he still has close to 100 of them.

I think this type of thing happens less and less. But, there have been several well-known treasure trove stories over the years that were true.

Did the coin dealer say where he got them?

Who's selling this as a fake? I think it's ok. There was supposedly a horde of this type found wrapped in tissue in a big box in the basement of a tailor shop in Wroclaw, Poland in the 1990s. Wroclaw is what used to be Breslau in Silesia. I don't know if the story is legit. But, I bought one just like this in 1993 at the MAX. The guy selling them had multiples of them and was selling them at a "your choice" price of $40. I don't have it anymore. But, I remember it.