Mike Huxley

last for tonight. On the train to the front.

a shot down SE5 ( I think)

next

a couple of other pictures from the album

The back of this photo shows a few names and the unit number

I have recently managed to obtain a small photo album to a member of Flieger Abt 37. Most of the pictures are of his social life away from the front. All have desciptions of where he is etc either on the back or below the picture. I would appreciate any information that you guys may know about either the unit or the guy the photos came from. Here's a few scans taken from the album. I believe the album belonged to the guy on the far right with the black armband

My thoughts exactly Yankee. Please continue to contibute your knowledge Franken75 and welcome to the forum. Your input is valued. Regards, Mike

No problem with what you say Kev ... we will agree to disagree. Sleep well Kev. Mike

Kev, I understand what you are saying about evidence. However, we all know about the "Muffin Crown" 1871 EK's that have flooded the market. This evidence was supplied by collectors and dealers who had the years of experience to recognise what was wrong with the piece. Like you, I do not personally know those who have posted their opinions ... BUT ...and it's a big BUT. I do feel that there is a very valid point that has been made and the only real way of finding out is to take or send the item to a KNOWN dealer, who will assess it's validity. I know that if I posted a piece on the forum that was then disputed by those with possibly far more knowledge than me. Then I would doubt what I had bought. But most of all, I would not criticise what they had said or their opinion. Cheers, Mike

Kev ... simple solution to this argument ... send your MVK to a known expert and ask for their oppinion. However to save the cost of doing this, personally I agree with Franken, militaria0815 and others who have posted their views. The quality of this piece is not there and in my opinion I would treat this piece as suspect. To be honest, I feel that as a "Host" of this forum, your attack on others oppinions is not within the manner of this forum.

Eitze, What a shame that the house was most probably destroyed in WWII. Thank you for checking it out for me. I would be very grateful if you could check the archive register for the date of Paul Stein's death. Of course any costs I will be happy to reimburse you for. Thank you for your interest and help. Many thanks, Mike

This is what brings the awards to life Chris. Thank heavens that German families looked after their ancesters paperwork .... unlike most British families, who just thought it was junk to be thrown away. Documents are the backbone of History.

Those were my thoughts also Rick. I did miss out on some things from the original seller. He told me later that he had also sold the documents and awards to Paul's eldest son who was killed in action on a U boat. There was also a photograph of Paul Stein with G?ring that had been published in a newspaper of the time. Rick, can you answer a question for me please. In the photo's I have, Pauls ribbon bar shows 4 awards. Would the long service ribbon be the 1st class of the Landwehr DA with the gold/yellow side stips? Or the normal plain blue ribbon. It's hard to make it out on the photo.

Chip, Doohhhhhh I feel so silly, a slip of country on my behalf. Eitze, It would be fantastic if his old house was still there But even nicer to discover that it was still owned by his family If the property does still survive, could you take a photo of it for me please?

Fantastic piece Stan and in wonderful condition, something I have always longed to own in my collection. let me know when you feel that you wish to pass it on

Well gent's I hope I haven't bored you with this grouping. There remains a couple of things that I have to find still. Paul's Medal Bar and Ribbon Bar Now if that could be achieved then I would be one very happy bunny. Thank you all for looking and providing the additional information. It's much appreciated.

Last one

And to round up the grouping, a couple of letters from the NSDAP

And the inside.

It seems that Paul was a stong member of the NSDAP in later life and was a member of the "Garde Kameradschaft". On his 70th Birthday he was given a personalised card from them along with a letter from the NSDAP.

Last the Hungarian.

Followed in 1938 by the usuall "been there" awards. That is all except, the Hindenburg Cross. Unless the document is missing. Austrian and Rumanian.

In 1930 he was awarded the " Deutschen Roten Kreuzes 2 Klasse"

Glenn, Your a star I tried looking Herr Stein's service history up, but without luck. This really does fill in some of the information I was missing. I'll finish off with his post war "been there" documents and a couple of letters that he received in later life.

Rick, thanks for the translation of the letter, that one did have me stumped. Yes the Lippe Detmold document really is that colour and is on a very thick paper. The Statute is on the reverse of the document.