ChrisKelly

Roughly four percent of those who served were killed, a higher casualty rate than that of any of the American military services during World War II. There were 733 Merchant Marine ships sunk due to enemy attacks, and the Japanese captured 609 mariners as prisoners of war. The Germans and Japanese sank six ships manned by the Merchant Marine in 1941 before Pearl Harbor, making mariners some of the first American casualties of the growing global conflict. U. S. Merchant Marine Number serving: 243,000 War dead: 9,521 Percent: 3.90% Ratio: 1 in 26 U.S. Marines Number serving: 669,108 War dead: 19,733 Percent: 2.94% Ratio: 1 in 34 U.S. Army Number serving: 11,268,000 War dead: 234,874 Percent: 2.08% Ratio: 1 in 48 U.S. Navy Number serving: 4,183,466 War dead: 36,958 Percent: 0.88% Ratio: 1 in 114 U.S. Coast Guard Number serving: 242,093 War dead: 574 Percent: 0.24% Ratio: 1 in 421 U.S.A. Total number serving: 16,576,667 Total war dead: 295,790 Overall percent: 1.78% Overall ratio: 1 in 56 Source: http://www.usmm.org/casualty.html

The Merchant Navy Comforts Service, 1 February 1940 - 2 June 1976. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/78/a3282978.shtml https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1943/aug/03/merchant-navy-comforts https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1943/aug/03/merchant-navy-comforts#:~:text=Accordingly there was organized the,far as coupons are concerned. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/212961/governance Sources: https://www.posterazzi.com/ww2-poster-merchant-navy-comforts-service-poster-print-by-mary-evans-picture-library-onslow-auctions-limited-item-varmel10720041/ https://www.englishsalvage.co.uk/merchant-navy-comforts-service-poster_item_24917 https://finest-hour.co.uk/product/on-the-arctic-front-merchant-navy-comforts-service/ https://wyrleyblog.wordpress.com/walsall/walsall-1943-the-mayor-a-baron-and-the-merchant-navy/ https://www.militariazone.com/ephemera/original-ww2-british-merchant-navy-comforts-service-playing-cards/itm72725

Sources: https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/munitions-of-the-mind/2016/06/30/when-propaganda-studies-began/ https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/imagery-of-war.html?sortBy=relevant

Tried to find a few original examples from reliable sources. Hope this helps. Sources: https://originalgermanmilitaria.com/product/luftwaffe-flak-badge-3/ https://shop.wehrmacht-militaria.com/shop/ols/products/luftwaffe-flak-badge/ https://www.1944militaria.com/Original_German_WWII_Luftwaffe_Flak_Badge_p/orlwflkbg1.htm https://grenadiermilitaria.com/product/luftwaffe-flak-badge-by-c-e-juncker-tombak-j1/ https://www.germanmilitaria.com/Luftwaffe/photos/L013189.html https://www.germanmilitaria.com/Luftwaffe/photos/L004691.html

An essential, comprehensive reference, now a collector's item itself. My collection. On the top row, at left, is a 1957 version.

A few more images of interest:

Zinc and tomak issues. Images 3 - 8 show the same cross. The suspension ring was not removed. It was never mounted.

The Luftwaffe Flak Badge is a bad, cast fake. The pin hinge, with a pin too narrow for it, is an obvious detail. Most of the Chinese fakes today are hallmarked "W.H."

Insofar as I am aware, these Eastern Peoples' Awards were generally not hallmarked, and always found struck in zinc. I find it ironic that the pin, hinge & clasp are always of higher quality metallurgy than the award itself. I can't really comment on its authenticity with any degree of accuracy, but it looks genuine to me.

Sources: https://www.ebay.com/itm/355811061277?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110018%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20221018081743%26meid%3D85955ec82b8c491797bc803b0d6c464f%26pid%3D101430%26rk%3D12%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D355624995242%26itm%3D355811061277%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DCompVIDesktopATF2V2AndXaiHotClickWithCompV6WithEbertNRTRecall&_trksid=p2332490.c101430.m2460&itmprp=cksum%3A35581106127785955ec82b8c491797bc803b0d6c464f|enc%3AAQAJAAABIC4MaHw3yks6VYD0GGqMDeZJMyXU4nstTnnsjxuhiYGxIoHNJWAvvdpzi8Zh77A%2Bbcwwn8cpQ%2B6IKU4XdxFLt9etbikffyjPXfmeBCZwYf%2B9xJ9NtvFleyuiBIUEdONKEQ8S1%2BfwC89CTQZZdN9xrKR2lkd20cPn20MALNX7Il75jeG81wUAzoGUNQMH00VsA%2FaXBeOOb1EdSMjjapzOv297edKFhEpm6DYEt2DAnzV48BY7bWJG2iU0OE%2B9i%2BhIfG4m5U9U7dv1U0zvpyLcEJenIRpyewZD5xMvafE23wO4hwlZLtUyoaLn8pgWZ7uptk2zd6GZsbMuMuvKo3xdLG86LGJDUMH7pQb8liBceikoxkvNH74PA%2BETTs0LFdtODw%3D%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01JEAP1SADEDPWGS0BH98CWKTW https://www.ebay.com/itm/355811074612?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110013%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIMRXI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20221018081743%26meid%3Def0381329c3a481a9aade4c4f1678a29%26pid%3D101430%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D355811061277%26itm%3D355811074612%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebNoToraCoCoViewsNoHighIdfOrRoundRobinBlenderWithPromotedViewItems&_trksid=p2332490.c101430.m2460&itmprp=cksum%3A355811074612ef0381329c3a481a9aade4c4f1678a29|enc%3AAQAJAAABMKXknfRE6kd0Q%2F6NQWo45LcBV%2BHtsYr8qvZTRvQDpcmc1GzG%2F05bx%2BHuk6BZO0On8bzX%2FlS9YanG9Rzefo%2FRBG%2FUfONdGK70bBxyp3RZy1Gwz4txgXboOHpAHB4RQetedD%2Bon0%2F73IkralabxaCXSA3LW8uQ8QdmLN7hxYJL--%2FbDueoiy%2B%2FHE62NO%2BJaf3rwk7wuI7avTK772OYPwAcnS%2BXiwEmeMn4F5PQAdMfX6BoHHkZPiXk2N9df1XXlRZhqt3F2aPnPjy2DQAMz9ymdGxefZJnNOUgyXQ4wfiL2ngyoYoqR%2BFlN%2B2VvXg4t2MC3Q8yb8Igz5kl3YzaS%2BL0ySzVmvOR%2FIpbZvbhWmWwEVvrJSNKPm1H%2Btkr0AUw9RZEScTcbDHVMp6zstWIvKSM59Y%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01JEAP6HJ9NT2E1MQHRJYHCFQ3 https://www.ebay.com/itm/235843844889?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20221018081743%26meid%3D44c8b51e40f942acb9e7b6c135a2380a%26pid%3D101429%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D355811074612%26itm%3D235843844889%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimPLMWebV1EmbeddedAuctionsCPCAutoManualWithCIIXAIEbertEmbRecallsUpdatedRanker0424NoIMA&_trksid=p2332490.c101429.m2460&itmprp=cksum%3A23584384488944c8b51e40f942acb9e7b6c135a2380a|enc%3AAQAJAAABMHTrdYNOa%2FRJOsDB6IvqWwMtQviv8CDvU8O1h%2Bgnk0jkSXvfLkY%2BVQgc4wnCGwyUCy16VSnL63Y79E%2FYlwTBcAG1Qfiu5WIh7Z6WaIngNT90uD%2F3yz%2Bxtt3CpKIo7EsvZMAAGbID%2BMcAjdngwmGRtJMkaphKfOq44jFMe6fpJPSJb0PiUIWYpyJrTCk6Fwg9hxvubT0uovDdg4BkiNx3BepPA%2FgYmAnzHyUAbN8xoquICF9ZKh3XA%2BAqX6UOurVgUiuDmUEv6Ck%2BhzEDYiW%2BAqi%2BS5VZW2P77ooykHYrp085E%2FPyBPF1XVt%2FumZKSCzbxk7nOyTNC8IHlkBdMGz9L6fjrlnJNRJclo%2B97iVx%2Br04VV8Nb2aQFw1H0KNh76EMCe1Udw5ZtX6tpYzGtASG1rY%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01JEAP78V34ZRA9GJEAHYDYH3M https://www.ebay.com/itm/355624995242?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=355624995242&targetid=2295557531950&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=1027271&poi=&campaignid=21415038205&mkgroupid=173029509068&rlsatarget=pla-2295557531950&abcId=9450164&merchantid=603800210&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAmMC6BhA6EiwAdN5iLV6s-3Mqjb1MLItXOUdkBYOag3mmlsnZzz-ObbO4muDImHEvOdx--hoC6C4QAvD_BwE

The medal pouch in the first post looks like those widely available in the U.K. Their American counterparts are much the same, except that the "pocket flap" is squared instead of rounded at the corners. My experience has been that these PVC pouches leave a slightly sticky, mildly discolored film on the medals, if left stored for an extended period. I don't think it does any damage, but it does "stain" the inside of the pouch. The PVC gets brittle over time, and tends to split at the bottom. Here's an alternative: Sources: https://www.lighthouse.us/protective-pouches-for-medals-and-insignia-up-to-3-12-90-mm-in-diameter-pack-of-50.html https://www.lighthouse.us/protective-pouches-for-insignia-up-to-2x4-50x100mm-pack-of-50.html

???

Here's an image of the book "arb" mentioned:

Source: https://www.amazon.com/German-Machine-Guns-World-War/dp/1472815165

Here's a few more resources from the world-wide-web. Sources: https://www.amazon.it/Schriftart-Sütterlin-Schrift-verboten-wurde/dp/B0CT5JT66J https://www.amazon.de/Sütterlin-Erfolgreich-altdeutsche-Schrift-schreiben/dp/B091WJ54GV/ref=pd_aw_fbt_img_m_sccl_2/258-0162677-7815935?pd_rd_w=pe3bL&content-id=amzn1.sym.f0189c2e-fd83-406f-a12e-21a11a9f0417&pf_rd_p=f0189c2e-fd83-406f-a12e-21a11a9f0417&pf_rd_r=XRNWYGJAZ47JWM3FVBSZ&pd_rd_wg=sWxJa&pd_rd_r=12464f1d-dead-4f54-b691-d07980a30782&pd_rd_i=B091WJ54GV&psc=1 http://www.suetterlinschrift.de/Englisch/Sutterlin.htm https://shop.pi-print.de/products/sutterlin-poster https://www.amazon.de/Sütterlin-Kalender-Übersichtlicher-Wochenplaner-Sütterlinschrift/dp/B09LB3K62M

Not sure if this one's "custom made" or "off-the-rack". My understanding is that U.S.N./U.S.M.C. ribbons are half an inch tall, and U.S.A./U.S.A.A.F. ribbons are three-eighths of an inch tall. I think these are the U.S.N./U.S.M.C. ribbons.

Anyone know anything about this medal? I read it ceased award in 1999, and I wonder why. I know it's been reproduced, of course, but I read there are two versions. Presumably one Communist and one post-Communist. Sources: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auschwitz_Cross https://www.ebay.com/itm/375469524325