williamhoffman

On 24/11/2009 at 08:06, Scowen said:

 

 

Hi Lars,

 

Thank you for posting the reverse. It's a damn shame that the maker mark can't be read, I've often wondered who made them.

 

I can't really provide much information about them. I've only seen KdF versions with the names of either "MS Wilhelm Gustloff" or "ES Robert Ley" on the lower part of the wheel. They can be found with various designs of flag on them (I'll post three of mine), until now I have not seen one with a maker mark or without a name on the front.

 

As to their use, according to JR Cone in his booklet "One People, One Reich", these were Crew members badges for the Yachts presented to Hitler, the "Eva", "Geli Raubel" & "Robert Ley". However there is no reference as to where he obtained this info & we now know that there are many mistakes in the book.

 

Angolia shows a couple of examples in his book "Labour Organisations of the Third Reich" & also lists them as crew members badges, but makes no other reference to them.

 

Personally my own feeling is that they were souvenir pins sold to the tourists on the KdF Cruise ships, but that is purely a theory.

 

Here's the first of mine a Gustloff with Party Flag.

 

Cheers

Don

On 29/05/2017 at 15:58, williamhoffman said:

Hi

I am new to this forum, and would like to introduce myself.

I am a collector of ship wheel enamel pin badges, and have noticed on this site a few mentions of a badge for the ship        Wilhelm Gustloff and Robert Leys.

Would any one know where I could purchase one or more of these items for my collection.

Your help would be appreciated

Regards

Bill Hoffman

Thanks for the info

Hi

I am new to this forum, and would like to introduce myself.

I am a collector of ship wheel enamel pin badges, and have noticed on this site a few mentions of a badge for the ship        Wilhelm Gustloff and Robert Leys.

Would any one know where I could purchase one or more of these items for my collection.

Your help would be appreciated

Regards

Bill Hoffman