Harrier

Thanks, Chris! That's exactly what I was hoping for....some specifics. L/15 was most assuredly Schickle. Some are convinced it made its own RK (as shown in its catalog, not mentioned by Geissler). Others are not so sure. There is a Schickle RK, with a set of supposedly Deumer made Oakleaves, on a "Deumer" card in the Shropshire Light Infantry Museum in the UK (as previously shown by Gordon Williamson). Also a Schickle RK with an unmarked set of Godet Oakleaves (something never previously seen, but now confirmed to be authentic) was recently offered for sale as being something brought back from Ludenscheid at the end of the war by an RAF sergeant. To confound matters, the RK in the "Stadtarchiv Lüdenscheid", attributed there in Deumer's home town as being a Deumer product, is a Zimmermann. There are photos, also from the Stadtarchiv, showing Deumer workers finishing RK's, but they are unfortunately unuseable to determine what type. The Brillanten on page 547 (I assume you mean the set in the upper left of the page) is something I also find exceedingly strange. I would assume there are other controversial things in this book, but this is a good start!

I also have the Geissler book here. He makes no reference to Dietrich Maerz' book or the controversy surrounding Type "B" RK's from S&L, continuing (as he did before in his earlier book) to consider them simply a separate type produced wartime by S&L, without getting into postwar activities. He also shows photos of the Hermann Goering award cassette for the Grand Cross (which I would suppose come from Wolfe/Hardin, who were marketing the same), with no mention of the controversey regarding its originality, something "whispered about" for some time, but which has become more "public" in the last few months because of a certain controversial website. Aside from these areas (and I do think the absence of any reference to Maerz' work is surprising), I hope someone can point out the specific "problem areas" in the areas of his book dealing with RK's (and higher awards), rather than just characterizing the book as questionable in those areas. That would certainly assist collectors.

At least everyone thinks they are more clever. :unsure:

Bowen was also the only author to seriously talk with producers such as S&L. His book is an absolute "must have".

As always, Bob, first class!

Does anyone recognize the maker of this EK frame? WWII, Imperial, just unknown, recognized as a certain fake?

Thank you very much! Would this mean that this officer (an Oberleutnant zur See in 1944) had received this training, or that he was qualified to give this training to others?

I am trying to decipher the meaning of career terms listed as abbreviations to the left of the names of Oberleutnante zur See in a KM Rangliste (this particular one for 1944). Although in earlier editions of KM Rangliste, guides to abbreviations are provided, in this one they are not. I am looking for the meaning of "AF" as found listed next to the names of Leutnants Fritz, Stolz and Mettegang shown below. This particular abbreviation is not to be found in the Rangliste for 1936, 1938 or 1941. Any assistance would be appreciated.

The chinstrap is incorrect and the embroidered oakleaves (to me, at least) appear to be set back too far from the edging of the visor. The insignia looks fine, but the tubular attachment strip along the edge of the sweatband looks, from the photo, to be vinyl. I would guess, at this point, that it is Bundesmarine.

I received a message requesting that I post the ribbon bar on this tunic, so here it is! (By the way,I apologize for the delay.)

I have been looking at this cross (on Weitze's site) and have been a bit intrigued by it. I can see the O&S being made "on board" or "in the field" for a recipient by his men and presented until the real thing was available. What I can't understand is why the cross is an EK2. While it is certainly possible that an RK holder used an EK2 routinely instead of risking the original, and that's what he had when the O&S came along, I think it would be MUCH more likely that the cross should be a real RK, with handmade O&S attached. The O&S could easily be wartime made, but how would you ever know for sure in the absence of a wartime photo showing wear? There are several photos of Oakleaves and O&S recipients wearing their original RK with handmade higher awards attached. Many of these people actually valued their handmade set more than the original they were later presented.

It is reported this morning on WAF that Major Dick Winters, of the 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment, E. Co. ("Band of Brothers"), 101st Airborne Division, died earlier this week and was buried yesterday. His death and funeral were kept private by his family to avoid publicity. R.I.P., Major Winters.

An original would be worth $15000 - $20000, and probably more. On the copy, the details just aren't there and the pin/hinge/catch set-up is the type used on 1957 (and later) badges.

...and to all a good night!

As always, Bob, that's such a sad and bad collection you should just pack it all up and send it to me so you won't have to look at it anymore! :love:

You should look at as many photos of caps in wear during wartime as you can. I believe you will find that the vast majority do, in fact, have the "floppy" appearance. I am compelled to say, however, that occasionally you will see one that does not. I would assume that these are the ones which are non-issue pieces and come from other sources. This all goes back to the uncertainty in knowing, for sure, about a "different" piece. To me, it again returns to materials, construction, and the "feel" of the cap, in hand. I still believe that the interior of your cap uses the accepted wartime 'Cobra' configuration, but only "in hand" can tell. Apparently, KMSPAIN has held this one, and that's good enough for me.

I don't know how you can tell about this cap without examining it "in hand". Personally, I haven't seen anything at all that would tell me conclusively that it is Bundesmarine. Gordon is right about private purchase vs. issue. The same problem exists, to some extent, with caps from other navies or foreign made material which might have been used. Everything, to me, boils down to the "feel" you get after looking at a cap in your hands.

Grey sweatbands were in fact used during the war. The part I personally don't like about the sweatband here is the thin attachment strip along the edge, which looks like vinyl (at least in these photos).

Definitely sign me up for a copy! :love:

First and foremost - Great to see you back!! Where can we get this? Best, Harrier

This is one of the finest private collections I have ever seen anywhere! Thank you very much for sharing these wonderful items! :beer:

Yes, indeed. Very good information for everyone.

Brass-cored (and other non-ferrous cored) EK's are perfectly legitimate. It might have been a good "selling point" to naval personnel, but I don't believe they were made for that specific purpose. Just another material used.

There are original Zimmermann and S&L RK's which have been marked to "L/21", prior to assembly of the frame. Perhaps these were made for Foerster & Barth by these other companies between the institution date of the LDO in March, 1941 and the "ban" on private sales in October, 1941. I can't tell from your scans, but these look more like the S&L type Oakleaves, which were indeed made by S&L before the ban. Some are marked "L/16". Perhaps your set was made by S&L for Foerster & Barth.

Does anyone have good photos of a First Pattern S-boot badge by Moritz Hausch ("MH")? Thanks! Harrier