bolewts58

Hi,

from what I can see the pinpack seems to be the Official one, along with a buttonhole ribbon, and the ones on the bars seem to be unofficial....

Sorry. The pinback was not the official version. The cross originally was to be worn on the ribbon. It says it right here:..."auf der linken unteren Brustseite getragen... Band is blauweiss geteilt"...on the lower left chest...the ribbon is blue and white.

Often, both were worn at the same time. The pinback came about because the Russian emigres serving with Avalov_Bermondt in the Russian Westarmee wore a screwback version, slightly smaller and with thicker, boxy arms; similar in style to Russian regimental badges. I owned one of these. But, unfortunately sold it in 1995.

This together with the fact that the medal was not popular with German members of the Russian Westarmee led to the German pinback version. This is why it is much more common, with more variations than the ribbon award.

I used to own a copy of this and sold it about 15 years ago. An original Solomon Freikorps book costs about 300 Euros today. But, the book is in re-print and can be bought for about 39 Euros on Amazon.de (Germany). The original had a plain black cover with the title in gold. The re-print cover is red with a black and white, head and shoulders graphic of a Freikorp soldier.

http://www.amazon.de/Das-Buch-vom-deutschen-Freikorpsk%C3%A4mpfer/dp/3922314775

I also believe there is an eBook version.

I'm new here. But, I collected Stahlhelm for many years until the early 90s when I sold off my collection. The Stahlhelm certificate is an Honour Certificate for participation in the Stahlhelm, awarded to 'Hermann Godde'. It more accurately says "In Commemoration for the Combattant member". It has the embossed seal of the Stahlhelm central committee with the first pattern Stahlhelm leaders Star Badge (worn on the cross belt) in the center. The document was given out at the annual Stahlhelm rallies. This one is pre-1933 and probably from the mid-20s.