Henry 24th

Hello gjw and hunyadi Unlike Hunyadi, I do have pictures...see below. Based on his description above, I believe this to be the second class set awarded to Military entities, as both neck order and breast star have the swords present. Ironically, I was going to post this set in hopes that someone would be able to inform me on what they were. The recipient of this set was in fact a German officer on the eastern front in 1942. What his involvement with the Hungarian troops was is still a mystery. From what I was able to find on the internet, it is not known how many of these awards were issued during the war. Hopefully, someone else out there can shed a little more light on the subject. Hunyadi, to your knowledge, are the Orders of the Holy Crown rare? HFJ

If you look at the photo below where he is standing with his mother, is that a metal cap skull he is wearing on his overseas cap? It certainly does not look cloth. Penciled on the back is the date 2nd of June 1944, he had not made it to the war yet, transfered from Laurnburg to laibach.

Ok everybody, Lets put this forum to the test and see if, as collectors and researchers we can fill in a few pieces of an historical puzzle. I know certain facts about this mans life and military career. There are questions on the medals he earned, on the uniform he wore, where and against whom he saw action and ultimately where and to whom he surrendered. This is why I would like to have all you collector/researchers involved. Lets have fun. The first fact I know is that he was assigned to the: 1st Battalion, Panzer Grenadier Regt.23 "Norge", of the 11th Freiwilligen Panzer Grenadier Division "Nordland" on August 20 1944. Yes his war was short but colourful - August 20th 1944 to 20th April 1945 (7 months). And so begins the questions. Check out the great, though tiny photo below. If he was with a grenadier regiment and did earn the Infantry Assault badge, should he not have green piping to his shoulder straps, and which badge would he have earned, the bronze or silver? In the photo the piping appears white (infantry), so I an guessing that his Inf. Sturm Abz. WAS silver? Correct? The next fact I can write is that he earned some medals in those 7 short months. EK2 Dec 1944 Nahkampfspange March 1945 Inf Sturm Abz. March 1945 Even though he had a head wound from a training accident there is no mention or evidence of a wound badge ever being issued. He also earned a few HJ awards but sadly these no longer exist nor do the documents for his war medals. The Inf assault badge is missing as well. What is left I will photograph and post next time. More about his engagement as well. Soviet researchers, get ready, questions for you coming up.

What? No EK 1 or 2! No RK? How did that happen? Clearly the man was ripped off Henry

Robin, That is one absolutely Smashing Hat! Is the totenkopf on your busby the smaller version or not. Here are a few more images of the skull in question. HFJ

Thanks for the message Robin. That is encouraging to say the least. I was told that some of the skulls had a bolt type assembly on the upper section, reverse to help keep the device secured to the busby. Also, would this manufacture indicate wartime Enlisted men or Prewar? HFJ

The reverse side, The 4 prongs cannot be seen to well, but they are there. HFJ [attachmentid=63778]

Hello Everyone. This Busby skull is copper(or brass) and still retains some remnants or an overall silver wash. The detail seems fairly good (but I don't have anything to compare it to.) To the reverse are 4 flat "prongs". At the widest point the device measures 9cm by about 8.3cm. And like a shako or Busby device, there is a nice curvature to the whole object. There are no makers marks that I have found and it appears that the previous owner tried to polish it . Does anyone know if this is proper for a busby skull or if it is a reproduction of one. I will post more images soon. Thanks for all your help[attachmentid=63777]

Hello Mustang. The sword strips quite easily. Reassembles good and tight as well. Overall in very good condition with the exception of two missing parts. Johnson References Books (www.johnsonreferencebooks.com) has some fancy ferrules with oakleaves on them...more for the TR crowd. You are probably correct, I will have to get one milled but was hoping for a contempoary piece. I have seen some of these swords converted into Candle holders , that would have been a perfect source. Why my uncle removed said piece is beyond me. Thanks for your input Henry

Any Stalingrad researchers out there? He was with the 21st Panzer gren. Regt. attached to the 24th Panzer Div. Other than death of a leaping horseman has his photos appeared elsewhere? HFJ

Come on Sword guys! Any other thoughts on the knot or where to find parts? HFJ

Magnificent grouping! I take it that the badges pictured are in fact the ones in the photograph? Do you have any other information on Wilhelm Huber? Which regt., etc... Henry

In the inside bandage pocket of a German Red Cross tunic (1930's pattern) was a type-written poem. Depessing though it was, I left it in the pocket when I sold off the tunic. Anyone have it out there?

Saarland Academics?! My dad comes from the Saarland - he's no academic. Fightin' man from the Saarland.....can't be.

Don't know what you are up to Chris, but Best of Luck! Hate to see a grown man cry. H

Hello Mike. Thanks for the thoughts. As it is very clean and more of that Third reich aluminum colour other than the "patinated" silver that imperial items take on, I was thinking more along the lines of branch colour. Waffenfarbe. Still, I had not thought of a Bavarian connection.

Hello All. I am trying to locate any photos of General Major Vollrath von Hellermann. Originals(!) would be prefered but digital are appreciated as well. There was a thread here in the GMIC involving him, back in 2005, but for topic reasons, I thought to start a new thread. GlennJ, I hope you don't mind my usage of the photo you provided Mr. Lumsden. Also, any additional information on him would be grand! Check your photo collections! [attachmentid=62213]

By the way, this knot did not come on the sword but Dad thinks he put it on during the war.... so the question begs, is it a WW2 german sword knot (possibly Luftwaffe?) or post war? He can't remember where/when he got it. Silver with a dark blue woven throughout. Enjoy? [attachmentid=62212]

Another pic of the same missing parts. [attachmentid=62211]

Alright, I do not have the images of the blade posted here yet . If anyone is interested I will attach them later on. It is double engraved to Dragoner Hermann 1 Esk. Westf. Drag. Reg. No7. The degen was a gift to my father from a Luftwaffe officer in WW2. My uncle somehow lost the ferrule and a throat screw sometime after the war and now my father wants me to find replacements. Can anyone help out? Plain brass Ferrule and a steel or iron Throat screw..Please PM me. Thanks...from Dad! [attachmentid=62210]

Here is the reverse.

Some amazing pieces here. Love the Belgian cut out, Jef! At the risk of being off topic , I would like to add this coin that I got with a wonderful grouping to be shared with you all one day. Although not a cut out like the others in this thread, the head of Napoleon now has a rather fine lid and uniform engraved into the coin surface...which appears to be patinated to a darker colour. To the reverse is a post attachment for a button hole mount. Looks to be welded on somehow. My understanding of world events at this time (1855) are saddly neglecting and I hope someone can shed a little light on this coin as well. [attachmentid=62205]

I agree whole heartedly. Groups should not be sold on a piece meal basis. It is despicable. There are also a number of dealers out there (especially ebay) selling period photographs on an individual basis, that are obviously removed from albums. How do you prevent that from occuring?