Alex K

Hi Dave thanks for the info, very helpful regards Alex

Hi all, I attach a photo which I admit I borrowed from another site as I find it interesting. It is Meinhard Rosenmuller, who whilst wearing a TR uniform, I believe he was a distinguished flyer duringWW1, all his awards and ribbon bar indicate imperial decorations. Can any medal bar experts identify the awards particularly on the bar? Any help appreciated regards Alex K

And another Wilhelm List

Hi all, not posted for a while due to my PC being banjaxed, however after much delving I've managed to restore most of what I lost, (It had all been moved to different parts of the PC). Anyway I'm now in a position to do more work albeit in a slightly different way. So here's one, needs no introduction regards

Just for fun, a colourised image of the man I completed a while back, Hope it's correct Alex K

Amazing, as a Warbirds junky, I just love to see these amazing machines brought back to life as fully functional flying machines. It is not only Spitfires or Hurricanes and the odd BF109, but all sorts, very few Japanese aircraft populate the sky as restorations. If I had a "Wish-list" I admit that a fully restored and flying Junkers 87 (Stuka) would be at the top. I does, in the end epitomise the power and terror that it was meant to inspire, I'm not making excuses for what it did and was used for, but as virtually every film, documentary about the period has at least several shots of the aircraft doing it's job with the usual soundtrack. Anyone got a spare one in the barn and a couple of million Dollars?

The dreaded 9th bead fake!! maybe the engraver of an original 1870 EK core sneezed at that particular moment or got stung by a wasp and therefore pressed on the peddle a little too hard!!!!! Alex K

Hi, what an amazing link thanks for posting

Hi Chris point taken, but aren't you comparing new with old (iphones), I'm sure that many older versions are sold at far less than new ones, (Not that there are any genuine new 14-18 EKII's knocking around). Here IMHO there is a difference between rarity and desirability, the EKII or even EKI, from both world wars are not rare but they fall into the category of desirability, particularly if I can just widen the comments to the RK des EK WWII, as such virtually every man and his dog wants one (or if serious several dozens!!). One has to take into account what is genuinely rare and would command a price commensurate with it's rarity and the value of items which are in abundance. I personally suspect as others have mentioned, an anniversary is always a good time to hike up prices for the uninitiated, or those with a lack of experience or research. As Auseklis has mentioned 25 Euro seems a reasonable price, anyone paying 50, 60-80 euros or even GBP for one is going to get their fingers burnt unfortunately, but I suspect it will happen. regards Alex

Grossly overpriced, all of the ones I have, I paid no more than 10GBp, I think the total EKII's awarded were over 6 million, if correct that's a big bag full of gongs, even after all this time, even allowing for inflation, the price, which I am sure will rocket due to the centenary, will reach silly proportions. Collectors, being collectors will seek out the "Rare" manufacturers, but in the end they have a finite value

Hi Nick, you're quite right they are chilling and I thought hard before I colourised them as it makes them look normal, In the end in another world they may have been. As the theme of the thread is "Bringing history back to life", in all probability this is what they looked like, after the get together however going back to "Work" so I felt justified. Regards Alex

additional items. Images from an original photo album owned and now resident in the USHMM in New York, Images from camp Kommandant Hoecher Auschwitz. These show the original perpetrators of the final solution, including, Richards Baer, (Camp Commandant) Joseph Mengele (Camp Doctor), Joseph Kramer,(Having a day of from Belsen) Rudolf Hoess, (Just there for the party). many other images exist but unfortunately I was not able to tackle them. Alex K

Hi all had my computer hijacked, including all the software used for my colourisations, all gone. I am trying hard to restore what I had previously. I can no longer colourise as I used to do, working hard to try and restore what I had, but it's a difficult process with no guarantee of success. I did have the foresight to save some images on a remote storage device, and In the end present them as a parting gift. If I ever get back to where I was previously then I may resume, until such time I wish GMIC and all members all the best Regards Alex K The first, Bronislav Kaminski, notorious leader of the Kaminski Brigade, used by the Germans as a counter insurgent force against partisans including Warsaw in 1944, the Kaminski brigade were instrumental in destroying the Polish resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto under General Jurgen Stroop.. Anecdotal evidence seems to indicate Kaminski he was in the end an agent of the Soviet NKVD as were his cohorts, (The Germans had him quickly executed) The Second Kaminski Brigade in Warsaw 1944, image shows various members of the Kaminski brigade undergoing operations, The man at the extreme left as viewed is thought to be President Vladimir Putin,s Father by numerous sources, I don't know but the resemblance is uncanny. Putin's father was and became a member of the NKVD and subsequent KGB!! as did Putin junior!!! Hey Ho!!

Agreed Alex K

Hi Paul, I have to agree, it looks and feels impressive in the hand, must look for a case for it instead of bubblewrap!! Alex

Hello Ondrej thanks for your comments, I've tried to produce slightly better images. regards Alex

Attached a link to a video, (U-Tube) showing the hand-over from NVA to Bundeswehr

Hi Larry, thanks, been on here for quite a while, you should post some of yours also regards Alex

I think you will find that they were initially absorbed into the Bundeswehr, with slight changes to uniforms and insignia, and after a while the NVA was dissolved in 1990/91. and yes they joined the unemployment line

Hi Just spotted this post, Well done for spending the time and effort to "Restore" such items. Many people frown on restorations, this shows that it can be with great care and resolve. Does it matter that the ribbons are replaced? no imho, these may well have been worn and the "Original" ribbons replaced several times previously, an attractive set Alex K

What about this one?? sorry the only photo I have regards Alex K

Hi Paul and Lambert thanks for the comments. When I bought it, (and it was not expensive) I assumed it to be an original, it seems to be such. regards Alex K

Can I ask the experts as to this one, dated 1944 original or fake?? regards Alex K

Hi Streptile, I don't normally drool all over my keyboard twice for the same item, but I have to admit lucky, lucky to own this one. Alex K

Hi Streptile, that is one beauty!!