speedytop

Hi Miguel, the small city Imielin in the district Ple? was a part of Prussia from 1742 to 1922 (with some changes, see the german text), from 1922 to 1939 a part of Poland, 1939 to 1945 a part of the Third Reich, 1945 Poland. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imielin It could be, that some inhabitants do not know exactly in 1940, what they are, Polish or German . Regards Uwe

Hi Miguel, Mr. Viktor Koczur worked at the Reichsbahn, the national railroad, and he had a life assurance there in the captive insurance company (Reichsbahnversicherungsanstalt). I think, that after his death his wife Rosalie want to have money from the insurer. But they need only his date of birth for further processing. That's all. Regards Uwe

Hi Henry, the first stein is from the "Karlsruher Burschenschaft Tuiskonia": http://www.tuiskonia.com http://www.tradition-mit-zukunft.de/commun..._karlsruhe.html "Tuiskonia sei's Panier" Behind each name you find the "Zirkel", the "signature" of the student league/fraternity, see the second link. ?. M?cklin s./l. Leibb.(?) H. Metz (seinem lieben Leibburschen oder Leibbruder H.Metz) Regards Uwe

Hi Laurence Strong, a very good question . But here is the answer, on the other Epaulette: Regards Uwe

Hi Rick and Henry, sorry, but Panier is, in this combination, "Wahlspruch" = motto/slogan. Please see here, sorry, not in English: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panier "Panier bedeutete sp?ter im ?bertragenen Sinne einen Wahlspruch, eine Parole,..." Regards Uwe

And that is the complete Epaulette: This is not the General level. Regards Uwe

Hi, here is another piece on a silver bullion: It is not an Epson.

Hi Rick, first see here: http://www.corps-guestphalia.de/ and here http://www.tradition-mit-zukunft.de/commun...halia_bonn.html Second, i think there is written WS 36/37, Wintersemester 1936/1937. Third, at that time the "Studentenverbindungen" or "Burschenschaften" were forbidden, they must change to the "Nationalsozialistischer Deutschen Studentenbund" (NSDStB), or better, they had to dissolve. The last dissolved in/after SS 36, Sommersemester 1936. Fourth, "Guestphalia Sei's Panier!". Guestphalia is an old word for Westfalen. Rough translated "Westphalia is the motto!" It is a very private gift, unofficial and a small part of the resistance in the Third Reich against alignment (Gleichschaltung). That is my opinion in my bad English. Regards Uwe

Hi Bob, it is interesting, when foreigners try to transliterate the "old" German handwriting . Particulary with regard to the problems old and young Germans have, to read and understand it . First, what we see in that time is in the majority of cases Kurrent, and not S?tterlin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurrent http://www.kurrent.de/_html/kurse.htm Second, when you transliterate it in your way "Raetzlr" or "Raetzl", you must better and correct write "Raltzlr" or "Raltzl". And that is not German and not South German. But it could be "Marsanian" No, it is "Raetzer": http://www.google.de/search?q=%22Raetzer%2...lient=firefox-a And please, realise, that several people, as well as I, change their handwriting in a longer text, from correct handwriting to writing in block letters, without joining the letters together; alternately. And the signature is for a German normally his family name, not the complete name, see e.g. the signatures on award documents. "... accept that someone would write his first name in Suetterlin [Kurrent = Deutsche Schrift] and his last name in modern script [lateinische Schrift]." Regards Uwe

Hi Brian, a rough transliteration and translation: Herrn Joseph Koch u. Cons. Hamburg Baupflegekommission Rathausbr?cke 18/20 Lieber Joseph Besten Dank f?r Kartengru? nur deiner Stimmung wegen wird Landsturm reingegangen. Ich bin jetzt im Ersatzbataillon. Besten Gru? an Dich sowie meine lieben Kollegen (jeden) ... [diverse Unterschriften] Mr. Joseph Koch and workmates Hamburg construction maintenance commission [?] Rathausbr?cke 18/20 Dear Joseph Thank you for postcard greetings depending on your mood [that could/must be subtly irony] joining the landsturm I'm now in the reserve battalion. Greetings to you and my dear workmates (everybody) ... [several signatures] Regards Uwe

Hi, sorry, I have my problems with the question: "Were fakes common that long ago?" 30 years? All Third Reich decorations were made new in the fifties, the sixties and all the time to this day, as copies or fakes. And several tinnies too. Regards Uwe

Hardi Raetzer Regards Uwe

Sorry Rick, F?r innige, bleibende Freundschaft ... For heartfelt, lasting friendship ... Uwe

Hi, here is combined all that, what a real Third Reich collector want to have in his collection, skull, swastika and SS runes. Therefore it must be good . Regards Uwe

Hi valery2, sorry, but it must be a fake. If you look in the Bartel catalogue, you can find the badge under No. 133 d) (see Post4). This badge is not numbered, never. Regards Uwe

Hi, it is not Baimberger, it is Balmberger: C. BALMBERGER N?RNBERG CBN M1/11 M9/12 http://pages.interlog.com/~sjl/pheasant/rzmcodelist.pdf Regards Uwe

Hi, and that is the "Erinnerungsmedaille an die Feldz?ge 1848 1849", founded 8. Mai 1891, in the original case Regards Uwe

Hi, that is the difference: left Verdienstkreuz am Band and 1. Klasse, right Gro?es Verdienstkreuz and Gro?kreuz. Regards Uwe

Hi Paul and all, please see here and store it : http://www.bundespraesident.de/Anlage/orig...Deutschland.pdf Regards Uwe

Hi, Verordnung zur Ausf?hrung des Gesetzes ?ber Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen Vom 14. November 1935 (RGBl I S. 1341f.) ... ?4. Orden und Ehrenzeichen des Weltkrieges ... (3) Von der in der Nachkriegszeit f?r die Teilnahme am Weltkrieg oder an den Nachkriegsk?mpfen oder aus diesem Anla? geschaffenen Orden und Ehrenzeichen sind nur das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges, das Schlesische Bew?hrungsabzeichen (Schlesischer Adler) und das Baltenkreuz zum Tragen gestattet. [the allowance only for "Hindenburgkreuz", Schlesicher Adler and Baltenkreuz] Alle ?brigen Abzeichen, z.B. das Flandernkreuz, das Langemarckkreuz, die Regimentserinnerungskreuze, Grenzschutz- und Freikorpsabzeichen, Feldehrenzeichen, der Schlageterschild usw. d?rfen nicht getragen werden. [the ban for all the other awards] ... Regards Uwe

Hi Michael, it is not only the quality of the picture . That is Eastern European crap, absolutely nonsense. Regards Uwe

Hi Lilo, The "Kriegsdekoration" (abbreviation KD) is for war merits (Verdienste im Krieg), that is the golden laurel wreath around the star (the star in the middle). This breast star is for war merits. The KD is not another class; without KD it is in peace time (left star), with KD it is in war time. The swords were added for merits under enemy action (Verdienste vor dem Feind). Therfore the laurel wreath and the swords (right star). This breast star is for war merits under enemy action. Regards Uwe Excuse my bad English

Hi leigh kitchen, 29.10.1914 Wilhelm Hoffmann told his sister in law about the shot to the head, 6 weeks ago. That is the connection to the bullets on the post card. He would be restored to health soon. With greatings to his brother Anton. Regards Uwe

Sivart, there is no kind of benefit, only the knowledge, that the other can see, I'm an excellent driver . I think, that for some civilians it is the only way to to get a wearable decoration. Uwe

Hi Sivart, (West) German civil awards for proven motorists, for 10, 20, 25, 30, 40 or 50 years without road accident. http://www.landesverkehrswacht.de/angebote...raftfahrer.html On the right pin: 50 Jahre bew(?hrter) Kraftfahrer, 50 years proven motorist. The needle is not in the correct angle. The left pin is for 40 years. Awarded with a document. But, you must ask for it and you must pay for it! "Sicherheit im Stra?enverkehr" "Security in the Traffic" Regards Uwe