Martin W

Thank you very much for your reply,it is most helpful and i am sure my friend will be glad to hear this information you have given here. Thanks and appreciation, Martin.

Hi guys, a friend of mine gave me this set of ribbon bars today to try and identify. They belonged to his father.I have identified the ribbons on the double bar as the "Good Conduct Medal" and the "European-African-Middle Eastern Theater" medal. I beleive these are WWII awards? However,i am not sure what the "stars" on the ribbon bar denote. I am also not sure what the individual "blue" ribbon bars with what appears to be oak leaves were awarded for? Any information in regards to these bars would be much appreciate. Regards,Martin.

Great photo's Olduf. Thanks for your contribution to this thread. Cheers,Martin.

Hi Christer, i agree a great photo. I doubt he was a survivor of the Bismark as i beleive the ones that did survive were all taken prisoner. Regards,Martin.

Here is another recent addition. Schiffsstammabteilung 13.

Nice photo Larry. Thanks for your contribution to the thread. Here is one that i just picked up that looks like it could be Schiffsstammabteilung 5. Cheers,Martin.

Welcome Phil. I am primarily a collector of Hilfskreuzer awards but i am now really getting into documents and photographs that are related to the HK's. Regards,Martin.

Hi Greg, i think these zinc badges were treated/oxidised that gave gave the non-gilded areas of certain badges a dark hue. As with the JFS Destroyer the "dark" finish can be seen on the globe of this late war Foerster & Barth Hilfskreuzer award in zinc. This dark finish can also be found on the globes of R.S and F.O zinc HK awards. Regards,Martin. Regards,Martin.

Hi Greg, from the images you have provided i think you have a very nice original zinc badge by JFS,(Joseph Feix & Sohn,Gablonz). These badges have been faked over the years but IMO you have a good original that retains most of it's original gilt finish. I had a super example of one these badges some years ago,alas i no longer have it. They are die struck in zinc with fine detail and like your example the gilt finish held up very well. Regarfs,Martin.

Hi Christer. I am not sure if these men are officers,they appear to be NCO's ? Regards,Martin.

Kreuzer Karlsruhe.

Schiffsartillerieschule.

Marineschule Wesermunde.

Thanks Justin. A few more. Marineartillerieabteilung.

Zerstorer Hermann Schoemann.

Zerstorer Friedrich Eckhold.

Zerstorer Richard Beitzen,

Hi gents, i am not a collector of KM cap tallies but i am a collector of KM photographs,especially images that show awards in wear. I also like to collect images of the various KM cap tallies in wear,besides the standard wartime issue "Kriegsmarime" tally. I like to look for the Zerstorer tallies. I beleive that many of the "named" ship tallies are pre-WWII but correct me if i am wrong here. This is my latest addition that shows a crewman from the Zerstorer Friedrich Ihn. Please show any images you have of rare or "unusual" tallies in wear. Regards,Martin.

Here is another nice image i just picked up from Germany that shows the HSF badge in wear. A nicely detailed photo that was taken in a studio in Marseille,France. On this print you can actually see where the negative was retouched on his face. Regards,Martin.

I recently compiled and posted this thread on the GCA forum. I wanted to post it here at GMIC also. Rather than re-post the whole thread i thought i would just post the link from GCA. I hope this is OK,if not then please delete. It shows images from one of the the least known of the Hilfskreuzers and a great addition to my collection in regards to these ships. Not only that,but it is an album that is put together with great care and pride by the owner,and i think by a seaman that was proud of his service in the Kriegsmarine. http://www.germancom...htuser=0&page=2 Regards,Martin.

I am no expert on wound badges, but this badge matches no known example of the Orth wound badge that i have looked at,in regards to reverse hardware and maker mark. I may be wrong but i am inclined to think that this badge is probably a postwar reproduction ? Regards,Martin.

I do see a couple of Minesweeper awards in wear in this photo,so it possible that these men were members of harbour defense units,as you suggest Kevin. Regards,Martin.

Hi Scott, thanks to the wife for the additional pic's. As John mentioned,it is a good original badge. Luftwaffe,is not my area but i think this badge is what is reffered to as a Juncker 2nd pattern? Correct me if i am wrong. Regards,Martin.

Thanks for the additional image Scott. Definately a good badge. I do not keep up with surrent pricing on these awards but would guess it may be worth about $500.00 ? Regards,Martin.

Hi Scott, from this second set of images it looks like you have a good zinc second pattern Schwerin S-Boat badge . The finish,maker mark and overall appearance of the badge look good to me. It is one of the variants with the cut out swastika and flag. Nice badge. Could you post an image of the reverse with the pin down secured into the catch?? Many thanks,Martin.