speedytop

Hi, "Ein Vater, der Frontkämpfer gewesen ist und zwei Söhne im Weltkriege verloren hat, kann nach seiner freien Wahl entweder das Frontkämpferehrenkreuz oder das Elternkreuz, aber nur eins von beiden beantragen." [A father] can apply for either the Front Combatant Cross of Honour or the Parental Cross, but only one of them, according to his free choice. Uwe

Hi Chuck, I had some discussions with Demir about this question, and I said him, others and now to you, that I do not accept this statement. The Turkish authorities, who awarded the General the Imtyaz medals in gold and silver and the Order of the Ottoman 1st Class, would not give a high ranked Prussian General a laquered decoration for his outstanding military successes. And if they had, this lacquered medal would also be in the collection. The General did not mind keeping a simple case of the Lübeck Hanseatic Cross (the other two Hanseatic Crosses were awarded to him with special cases). There is no lacquered TWM in his estate, thus he only received the enamelled version. And he obviously did not buy anything later, so I rate the enamelled TWM as the one he was awarded. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) Uwe

Chuck, I had the opportunity to review and evaluate the estates of some well-known Prussian generals of a noble family. There was nothing bought after the war, all exclusively original awards. A "General der Infanterie", awarded with many high German and foreign decorations, owner of the Black Eagle Order and the Pour le Merite with oak leaves, had also received high Turkish orders. The Imtyaz medals in gold and silver, the Order of the Ottoman 1st Class and the TWM in the original award bag, manufacturer B.B.&Co. An enameled badge. Therefore, it is clear to me (and others) that not only lacquered badges were awarded in WWI. Uwe

Hi Chuck, "... from what i have read original award pieces were painted, and had no enamel." I do not believe that, what is the primary source? Uwe

"It is interesting also sport awards were made in Sweden from silver." Yes, and you can see the year of production, M8 = 1938 and R8 = 1943. Uwe

8a: Ist über Erhaltung von Waffen und Gerat am 2.11.44 belehrt worden Leutnant und Kompanie Fuhrer 8b: 5 Klarscheiben 2 Verbandpäckchen 1 F. Filter 1 Gasplane mit Tasche nicht erhalten: Kappen mit Halter, Entgiftungsm(ittel) 6.11.44 Gasraumprobe: 22.9.44 12 17.9.44 Putzzeuggeld von RM 5,- gezahlt The 3 deleted items > it is always meant gestr(ichen) = deleted: gestr. SanUffz (signature) Uwe

The Golden Fleece in variations 1. Austria, participant medal for a walking event 2. Germany, honor badge of a carnival association Uwe

Some Karneval (carnival): Uwe

I think, that it is a Dr.Hayne Uwe

Hi, I think, that it is a silver grade badge, but it is not a Legion Condor badge. Uwe

Hi Dom, the rank Meister der VP is the forelast of the NCO's. The uniform is dark blue with light grey rank insignia; rarer than the normal VP uniform. Uwe

Hello Dom, He was a Meister, not Mister The centers of the penal system were run by the VoPo District Offices. On 2 of the 4 documents you can see the headline "Deutsche Volkspolizei", on the other "Verwaltung Strafvollzug". On all documents he is, in a different spelling, a "Meister der Volkspolizei": VP.-Mstr., Mstr., Mstr. d.VP., VP. Mstr., VP-Meister. Interesting is, that on the document from 1956 he is Meister without the "VP", and the same officers, in 1955 VP-Rat, signed in 1956 as Rat, without the VP too. KR Uwe

Hi, the "Strafvollzug" (penal institution) was part of the MdI (ministry of the interior). The medal is a MdI medal, not a VoPo medal (armed forces of the MdI, "Strafvollzug" included). A "Meister der Volkspolizei" is a NCO rank (staff sergeant). I don't think, that you can find something about him. His location was Berlin-Mitte. Uwe

Hi dpast32, the "Meister der Volkspolizei" Bruno Urban was a member of the penal system in the DDR police. SV UHA = Strafvollzug Untersuchungshaftanstalt (penal system remand prison) The participation in Marxist-Leninist training (M-L-Schulung) was obligatory for nearly all citizens in the DDR, especially for armed persons. There were always new training courses, over and over again (see the time periods e.g. 1954/55). In such courses he was a teacher or/and an assistent (Gruppenleiter/Assistent). At the end of these periods he had a special training with an certificate for good benefits (Zeugnis). The medal in "Silber" was for ten years faithfull service. Uwe

Hi Dan, to differentiate male and female awards, you should have a look on the dimensions: male 55mm, female 47mm. Uwe