Gordon Craig

Baby_iwina, I am not a post card collector so it is difficult for me to say if these cards have any value outside of the family. If they showed uniforms or were about military life etc. they would have value to collectors on this forum. The ones from the military hospital re the wounds might be of some interest. Like any collectible, you need to find someone with an interest in the subject matter of the cards. You have come to the correct form to find that interested person. I would suggest posting pictures of the cards, which is usually what gets a response, but I am not sure if the GMIC would react well to nude photos. I'll ask the other moderators about that. Regards, Gordon

dedehansen, This is the Bulgarian Military Order for Bravery. The case appears to indicate that it is the Third Class, second grade award. I am unable toanswer the other two questions. Regards, Gordon

GC, I suspect that this item was attached to the cover of a book of some kind. This emblem is often found stamped on the cover of military manuals, regulations etc. I have a similar device, but for the Soviet Union, which I know came from the cover of a book. Regards, Gordon

Markgraf, Interesting that the old Parliamentary Guard unit was disbanded. The insignia on this new unit looks closer to the military than on the old parliamentary guard. I did notice on the link you posted to other uniforms that the breast hanger still uses the Parliament Building as their emblem but it doesn't seem to show up any where else on their uniforms. Regards, Gordon

Markgraf, Thanks for posting pictures of the new uniforms for the Parliamentary Guard. I have some old uniforms of this organization in my collection. I should dig them out and post them. Does the guard still wear their ceremonial uniform when guarding the displays inside the parliament buildings? Do you have any pictures of these ceremonial uniforms? Regards, Gordon

Uwe, Thanks again. Regards, Gordon

Uwe, Thanks. Regards, Gordon

Uwe, Sorry that I wasn't clearer. There appears to be three holes in the ribbon on this medal indicating that there may have been some device attached to it. Was there something attached to the ribbons of these medals, and if so, what? Regards, Gordon

Uwe, Interesting items. Thanks for adding them to the thread. Any idea of what would have been on the medal for the VOLKSWANDEREN? Regards, Gordon

BRD,

aubagne98, Thanks for taking the time to do this research and adding to the thread. It makes very interesting reading. Here are a couple of relevant pictures from this topic running on another forum. Colour picture of of the DDR contingent in Mexico City in 1968. This picture shows a good photo of the joint flag in use up until this point. The last couple of men in the BRD contingent can be seen on the right hand side of the picture. Regards, Gordon

Mervyn, I made an earlier post that I just deleted because there was too much supposition on my part. Further research produced the following more accurate information on the organization itself. Regards, Gordon PERMANENT COUNCIL OAS / SER.G ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN AStates CP / CSH / INF. 229/10 September 22, 2010 Committee on Hemispheric Security Original: Spanish CONSOLIDATED REPORT AMERIPOL 7 Consolidated report AMERIPOL I. Creation and Members The Police Community of the Americas - AMERIPOL is an international organization created at the Third Meeting of Directors, Commanders and Chiefs of Police in Latin America and the Caribbean held in Bogota on 14 November 2007, when it began a process of integration of the various regional law enforcement agencies. Originally formed by 19 member countries - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay, AMERIPOL is in the process of expansion. Therefore, formal invitations to the Federal Bureau of Investigation - FBI the Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA, the United States of America, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to join the Community, which expressed great interest and are in the process of internal deliberation. In addition to members, the organization also has the support of 12 international observers, including EUROPOL, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the National Police of Spain, Spain's Civil Guard, the policeman Weapon of Italy, the Central Anti-Drug Directorate of Italy, the Italian Finance Guard, the Bundeskriminalamt - German BKA, the Latin American and Caribbean Community Police Intelligence - CLACIP, the Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA, the International Association of Chiefs of Police - IACP and the Organization of American States - OAS. The International Criminal Police Organization - INTERPOL attended the Second Meeting of AMERIPOL in Brasília (August/2009), expressing full support for the Community and is in the process to act as a permanent observer of AMERIPOL. II. Framework and Objectives As part of that regional integration, one of the points of consensus is to avoid duplication of efforts and investments as AMERIPOL was created to complement the actions of police cooperation that already exist, such as Interpol, focusing on operational needs and training of police officers in the Americas. Thus, it was established that there would be no annual contribution by the Member States, and that AMERIPOL will use the structure of police forces that are members and the support of international agencies to develop and implement their projects. The differentiation between AMERIPOL and other cooperation agencies police indiscriminately is expected with the integration, so that the policemen evolve uniform, traditionally centered on the concept of public order, and the police judiciarias, which focus on research and production of evidence. Starting from the premise that no transnational organized crime knows physical or institutional boundaries, and well that law enforcement agencies are the first line is in the fight against the criminal phenomenon, strives to provide the continental police apparatus with a minimum base of knowledge and experience to act in an another front - public order and research, so that the practical result is the effective dismantling of the criminal organization and the subsequent prosecution of those implicated in the courts, based on a concept efficient police management and chain of custody of evidence production. In this sense, AMERIPOL is in talks to develop a work program with the European Union and Interpol mainly looking at building training program, publication of manuals of good practice and establishing secure communication platform (possibly with the use the I-24/7 Interpol), which has also judges and prosecutors in the region. That search process for a differentiated concept of action research approach in the field of AMERIPOL was evident in August, 2009, whith the unanimous election of the Director General of the Department of Federal Police of Brazil to chair the Community during the 2010 / 2011, no doubt in recognition of the tradition of the Brazilian Federal Police - who have 66 years of experience - as judicial police. According to its Statute, AMERIPOL main aim is to promote and strengthen police cooperation in technical and scientific matters and training, streamline and make more effective exchange of information, coordinate research activities and promote criminal judicial assistance between police forces and to consolidate the doctrine and philosophy of police in the fighting, preventing and neutralization of transnational crime. S around s mode, it is stressed that police cooperation which aims AMERIPOL pillar is the observance of the principles of international law, of bilateral, multilateral and other international standards, including SAS Recommendations, resolutions and declarations of international organizations, especially the UN and OAS, and set to strict adherence to the law of each country. III. Organizational Structure According to the Statute of AMERIPOL there an organizational structure that allows it to fulfill its purpose and for this we have provided the following offices and departments: 1. Council and Directors The Board of Directors, Chiefs, Commanders and Commissioners of the Police and / or counterparts in America, is the highest instance of definition, coordination and evaluation purposes within the mandate set AMERIPOL. It is responsible for issuing the guidelines in the various fields of police cooperation, which are implemented by the Executive Secretariat and Coordination Units. It is composed of the Directors, Chiefs, Commanders and Police Commissioners, or their counterparts, of AMERIPOL members. 2. Presidency The President is the highest spokesperson in representation and coordination of AMERIPOL and is elected by the Board of Directors, Chiefs, Commanders and Commissioners of the Police and / or counterparts in America. The charge is exercised from the date of their choice and will last two years. Today for the period 2010-2011 was elected Director of the Federal Police of Brazil, LUIZ FERNANDO CORREA Doctor. 3. Executive Secretary The Executive Secretariat is headed by the National Police of Colombia, represented by the Director General Major General OSCAR ADOLFO NARANJO TRUJILLO until 2010, the year which can be re-elected by the Board of Directors. In 2009, the Secretariat's permanent headquarters was established as Bogotá, Colombia. Beginning in 2010, the Executive Secretary shall be elected for terms of three years. The Executive Secretariat has Cuatr or coordination units and two sections: Scientific-Technical Cooperation and Law ENFORCEMENT: This unit is responsible to promote, stimulate and coordinate the development of research projects, technology transfer, exchange of knowledge and experiences and scientific techniques of the police forces of America. Exchange and INFORMATION: This unit has the task of generating all information exchange strategic, operational analysis support for new courses of action, developing strategic documents to guide decision-making. Similarly, to analyze and make recommendations on processes and statistics to prevent crime generators different phenomena, projecting evaluation reports of new threats on the continent regarding transnational crimes projected near future. Research Support and Legal ASSISTANCE: unit reinforces and handles the exchange of experiences and methods of criminal investigation, fostering collaboration between the police authorities to the location of witnesses, practice interviews and other related actions, given the diplomatic formalities in cases requiring that instance. Education Unit DOCTRINA: Unit is responsible for promoting training programs, upgrading, training and expertise, designed to improve policing skills that enable and enhance public safety in the Americas, generating a police doctrine in the hemisphere based on respect for the rule of law and culture of good practice and ensuring adequate levels of coordination in education initiatives bilateral and multilateral. Financial SECTION: The financial section reports directly to the Executive Secretariat and its function is to collect the contributions of participants and corresponding disbursements in accordance with the purposes of the Community. Where relevant is responsible to account to the Board of Directors in their performance trying to adopt generally accepted practices and management control. Legal SECTION: The Legal Advisory Section depends on the Executive Secretariat and its function is to advise the strategic direction of AMERIPOL in matters of international law and comparative law to facilitate the integration and coordination in security matters. Importantly, the Executive Secretary is also responsible for the revitalization of the National Coordination Units, which are established in each police force in order to implement the agreements and commitments, as well as being a direct and permanent communication being homologous with the four units set out above. Liaison Officers to Executive Secretary: Different police forces may appoint a liaison officer to the permanent or temporary AMERIPOL Executive Secretariat, to collaborate actively with representatives from each country to exchange information and provide the necessary support and assistance. Officers of the various member institutions accredited in Colombia, may be delegated to AMERIPOL, in the absence of a specially designated for this purpose. IV. Legitimation Process Since the creation of AMERIPOL, various actions / statements of heads of state of member countries demonstrate recognition of the Organization, its importance in the fight against transnational organized crime and provides political support to the internal administrative organization of such countries, demonstrating that animus behind the Community goes beyond a simple agreement with the Heads of the institutions that comprise it. In that sense, one can cite the presence of the former President of Chile, Michele Bachelet, at the First Summit of AMERIPOL in April/2008, where it stressed the importance of coordination between the police in countering transnational organized crime. However, in August/2009, during the public hearing of opening of the Second Meeting of AMERIPOL, in Brasília, the President of the Federal Republic of Brazil, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, acknowledged the political and strategic importance of the Community as they expressed interest in having all institutional efforts to internalize the legal entity in the country. V. Guidelines AMERIPOL - Biennium 2010/2011 Currently projects are oriented primarily on AMERIPOL linking those countries that are not yet part of the Community, the exchange of experiences in doctrinal and various offenses under the Palermo Convention, the international recognition as a strong organization with new typology of strategic alliances and cooperation with organizations such as the European Union, INTERPOL and United Nations Office. Consequently, in order to implement the proposed police integration AMERIPOL the Plan of Action of the Community was drafted, to be implemented during the biennium 2010/2011, which will be led by the following guidelines: Search Institutionalisation / AMERIPOL formal recognition as an International Public Security; Expansion of the representation of the Police Force With American continent with AMERIPOL; Decreased gap in operational and management capacity among police force members of the Community, through the development and implementation AMERIPOL Training Plan; Implementing secure communication channel, in order to improve the capacity of mobilization of police forces that it is composed of, aiming for a timely responses to the needs of its members in the performance of their institutional responsibilities. VI. General provisions Organized crime and transnational crime directly affect all the nations of the Continent, fibers touching cultural, economic and social, that is why the police forces of different countries seek to enhance their capabilities, providing expertise and experience leading to the generation of cooperation. The crime in all its manifestations, constitutes a challenge for the Police, seeking mechanisms for the daily struggle to provide response to citizen demand. This struggle now ceases to be unitary for each country on this issue because there are no territorial boundaries that limit the criminal action, organizations outside the law have also modernized their ways, making the focus of a police force more open, spacious and with a different view, the problems that may arise, allowing for a multilateral benefit all police in the exercise and common to all countries. The Police Corps comprising AMERIPOL are sure that when you set in the grounds of this international organization, provides a new mission by police institutions of the American countries in terms of building confidence in the ability of their people to build a common destination development, social justice and for international responsibility in combating the phenomenon of transnational crime, with a vision of public security and democratic citizenship. Luiz Fernando Corrêa Director General of the Brazilian Federal Police President AMERIPOL

Hugh, Nice piece. This is a little early for my expertise so I do not own one of these I can use for comparison. However, my reference books show pictures that match your piece exactly. The cross on the crown was apparently not bent on this award. I hope that someone else with more experience with this award will add to your thread. Regards, Gorodn

The jacket mentioned earlier.

Flag of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Unified German Team.

Germany and the Olympic Games following the end of World War Two. This topic is applicable to bot the East and West German Forums so I will be posting this article in both locations. The Olympic Games scheduled to take place in London, England in 1944 were cancelled in 1939 after the out break of war in Europe. The first Olympic Games following the end of WWII took place in London in the summer of 1948. Germany was not allowed to participate in the 1948 games. Europe was still recovering from the war and these games were referred to as the “Austerity Games”. There was no Olympic Village and participants were asked to bring their own towels! In 1949, the National Olympic Committee for Germany (Nationales Olympisches Komitee für Deutschland) was founded in the Western Federal Republic of Germany. It was later recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as representing both German states. A separate National Olympic Committee for East Germany (Nationales Olympisches Komitee für Ostdeutschland) was founded on 22 April, 1951. It was not recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for over a decade. The small French occupied area of the Saarland founded an NOC in the Spring of 1950 (Nationales Olympisches Komitee des Saarlandes). They sent athletes to the 1952 Summer Olympic Games but did not win any medals. In 1955 they joined the West German Olympic Team. Germany was permitted to send athletes to the 1952 Olympic Games. As the IOC refused to recognize the East German NOC, which demanded a team of their own, they did not send athletes to the 1952 games. West Germany did and was the recognized German team with the Saarland competing as a separate entity. Having a recorded history of over 500 years of coal mining, the Saarland donated a miner's safety lamp in which the flame of the torch relay of the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki could be carried safely aboard aircraft. At the opening ceremony, athletes from the Saarland marched in ahead of the team of Germany, which is called "Saksa" in the Finnish language. The East German NOC agreed to let their athletes participate in a united team with the West German athletes for the 1956 games. Since both countries used the same national colours of black-red-gold it was agreed that the flag of the joint team would have the Olympic Rings, in white, superimposed on the central red stripe. East German politicians were not eager to have East German athletes compete under a West German flag. As use of the recently adopted East German national anthem “Deutschlandlied” , or a possible combination of it and the West German national anthem was not acceptable, Beethoven’s melody to Schiller’s “Ode an die Freude” (Ode to Joy) was played for winning German athletes as a compromise in lieu of a national anthem. The joint team competed in the Olympic Games of 1956, 1960, and 1964. The erection of the Berlin Wall by East Germany in 1961 made travel within Germany by the joint team very difficult. Especially for such contests and training camps as those that were located in the Alps. The East German NOC was renamed the “National Olympisches Kommittee der DDR” in 1965. It was recognized by the IOC in 1968. This led to separate East and West German teams competing, for the first time, in the summer “Games of the XIXth Olympiad” held in Mexico City from 12 to 22 Oct in 1968. The compromise flag and the Ode to Joy continued to be used in 1968. The separation was complete in the 1972 Summer Olympics, when the two countries used separate flags and anthems. While the country was divided, each of the two German states boycotted the Summer Games: in 1980 West Germany was one of 65 nations which did not go to Moscow in protest at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and in 1984 East Germany joined the Soviet Union (and several others) in the boycott of the Summer Games in Los Angeles. Including the Winter Games of 2010, German athletes have won 1618 medals : 528 gold, 542 silver and 548 bronze. The IOC currently splits these results among four codes. IOC Codes; 1956 to 1964 GER but today is called the United Team of Germany - EUA, "Equipe Unifiée Allemande"; 1968 to 1990 GER for Federal Republic of Germany and; GDR for German Democratic Republic In 1980 the West German code was changed to FRG (which is currently also applied by the IOC in retrospect) This makes it some what convoluted trying to figure out who won what medal when. During the 1968 games the DDR competed as “East Germany” and from 1972 until 1990 as the GDR. After the GDR ceased to exist in 1990, and its states joined the Federal Republic of Germany, Germany once again was represented by a single team, designated GER. I only have one artifact from the German participation in the post WWII Olympic Games. This is a jacket worn at the Games of the 19th Olympiad in Mexico city. This particular jacket was reportedly worn buy a member of the West German team. I have not been able to locate any information on the clothing the two German teams wore during these games. Whether they wore the same uniforms or different ones is a question I have yet to answer. Since the flag and substitute anthem were the same, in 1968, as for the years of the unified team it is always possible that both teams wore the same uniform. If anyone has pictures here that would help resolve this question please post them to this thread. Regards, Gordon The flags of the German teams that participated in the post WWII Olympic Games. Saarland - 1952

Max, You have some great uniforms in your collection. It is a pleasure to see them. I don't believe that I have seen a marine tunic outside of the HGM in Vienna. Sorry that I can not add anything to follow your excellent picture. I haven't added any AH tunics to my collection for some time. Regards, Gordon

Max, Very nice cap. Especially the embroidered edelweiss. One I would be proud to have in my collection. Regards, Gordon

Linas, Are there any markings on the back of this badge? Perhaps a picture of the back showing the pin would be useful in trying to figure out what country it is from. Regards, Gordon

Kevin, Nice cased medal. Your medal is the Trade Union Presidium Medal 2nd class (silver). The mini in the picture appears to be gold so it would go with the Trade Union Presidium Medal 1st class (gold)

Stogieman, Nice badge and complete with the parachute. As was mentioned earlier in this thread, that piece is often missing. Is the lapel pin in your collection as well? Interesting note about the screw being soldered to the back of the badge. The one Charles posted has the same screw. One comment. The screw does not appear to be a "common wood screw". It looks like a metal screw. Can you confirm what kind of screw it is pleas. Regards, Gordon

Steve, Interesting comments. I have never collected 57 type pieces actively, although I have a few pieces, and was not aware of the fakes that you mentioned. Very good to know. I did note the poor quality of the piece but there is a lot of talk on different forums about the poor quality of the later made pieces and I thought that the poor quality here might be attributed to that. I know that on early pieces made by S&L, they marked the case on bottom with their name. Did they also mark the cases on the later made pieces? Regards, Gordon

Gentlemen, These last posts look like Schutzenverein shoulder boards to me. I can not find pictures of these exact boards in wear but if you follow the link below you will see similar boards in wear in the picture. Scroll to the bottom and you will find a list of ranks used in this particular Schutzenverein. A lot of them will look familiar. Unfortunately, no shoulder boards are illustrated with the rank designations. Regards, Gordon http://www.schuetzenverein-haaren.de/vorstand.html

CoinsnBooks, I don't think that this medal is German. The English writing would rule that out. Although it does appear to have a link to Bavaria the ribbon has colours that do not relate to Bavaria or to the German State. They appear to be red, white and green. Not something that I have seen before. Regards, Gordon

Steve, You are welcome. Never a problem to take some time to share. Regards, Gordon