Alex K

Hi I would gree, Wagner based on my experience, attached is mine for reference regards Alex

This has to be the nicest photo I've seen of "Vati" Thanks for showing it regards Alex

Hi Rich, it is a nice photo, here's the complete version regards Alex

Hi Trautlofts RK was more conventional looking from this photo regards Alex K ?

These are fantastic, I have Photoshop and use it quite a lot to touch -up old photo's but never tried to colorise, I think I'll give a go regards Alex K

On a side note, I believe that Godet were the ONLY official oaks and Swords manufacturers, not even S & L were given wartime offical sanction, just for the okas, seems a little puzzling as to why they were'nt given the swords also. perhaps I could be corrected if wrong. Alex K

Actually, looks like a rounder to me regards Alex K

I believe that the EKI was presented to the recpient in its presentation box and the awardee pinned it on himself at his leasure. the 2nd class was worn like that during the presentation ceremony and just afterwards and then removed, the crossed ribbons is just the way it was attached to the uniform, the ribbon was actually threaded through a button hole and wrapped around the edge of the unform to keep in place, no pins were used. regards Alex K

On a similar vein http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...ad.php?t=253898 same old story

I agree, in the UK an average EKII should be worth no more than 60GBP. Prices have sky rocketted, there seems no logical reason for this as there were millions awarded and to be fair they are not rare. Maybe it's a case of supply and demand, as more people become interested in collecting such "Historical" items,?they?then command a "Premuim", particularly from dealers who may well see a fast buck, (Got?my?cynical?hat?on?here).?I?would?suggest?that?you?bide?your?time?and?wait?f or?a?good?quality?item?to?come?along?at?a?reasonable?price,?it?does?happen.?When? I?collected?these,?I?paid?2GBP?a?shot!! regards Alex K

Hi nice piece, is that ribbon original? it seems a little bit to shiny and new. price seems a little high regards Alex

Hi very interesting piece. These are as rare as an ashtray on a motorcycle, any real provenance as to authenticity, it looks in mighty fine condition for it's age regards Alex K

I would say it's not German but possibly eastern European, The crown looks like imperial Russia, looks like a crude casting regards Alex K

Does anyone know why the suspension rings were distorted, ie bent into an uneven circle. I have seen and owned several originals which have this strange feature, was it for display mounting or what? Alex K

Yes wartime Souval Alex

Excellent comparisons Micha thanks regards Alex k

Hi VonBeirStein, glad my posting actually helped someone, it's a minefield out there. regards Alex

Hi can't tell from the photo, what the MM is. Advise you may find on the forum is don't clean the crud (often called age patina)off, it tends to add to the character of the piece. At best give it a dusting with a soft brush to remove any loose dirt, and keep it in a dry environment to prevent any rusting of the inner core. Looks to me like a nice original piece regards Alex

Well if his boss (Goring) could wear funny stuff, why not him!

Hi VonbierStein, (BTW like the name) well done, it just goes to show that comments already posted about experience and discussions on forums such as this etc does pay off. Could you at some stage post photo'sof?the?item? for all to see? regards Alex

Hi Rick, I personally agree with what you say that the price of the TWM AT 500 Euro does and did seem excessive based on my own personal experience, and said so in my original reply, based on the price I paid for one, although it was a long time go. I have unfortunately not kept abreast of the what the market, and the collectors are prepared to pay for an item, to me it does seem high, the market does appear to have escalated out of all control.. . These are in the end "Jewellers copies" of the original item awarded by the Turkish government. that said, Godet and others (BB& Co etc) also made copies, these are contemporay and issued/ bought at the appropriate time by recipients, are these therefore "Fake"? It is a well known fact that many German recipients of the "Original " inferior quality Turkish awards bought "Pretty Copies" to wear. As these Copies were produced and made by established medal manufacturers of the period, and at the time, are they to be dismissed as fakes, given the fact that most were bought by people who had actuallly recieved the original. I would in this instance draw a parallell with the ubiquitus EK/RK 1939-45. these were produced in 1957 as replacements for the previously awarded decorations, are these genuine or fake , given that they were originally produced as an acceptable replacement for theis TR originals

Well there you have it ?perhaps my first prognosis about the price being too high was not that wrong afteral. maybe I'm getting senile in my old age, (Still like it though!) I bet your'e more confused than before now

Hi Mike, I never really thought about the label other than a guarantee that it is obviously a Godet piece, Are these rarer than others? I honestly don't know, having said that, personally it would be nice to have a minty star inside. mine has obviously seen some "Battle damage", opinions are devided as to "mint or "battle scarred", preference, mine does at least seem to have seen some sort of action!!

Hi, welcome to the forum, I agree with all the other postings, you have fortunately OR unfortunately decided to step into the biggest minefield of nearly all medals collecting. The Iron Cross is one of the most collected awards of recent times, because of that it is also the most faked, I would agree, keep keep your money in your pocket, study, books, visit fares if you can to look at them, pick them up and examine them, if you have other experienced people who could go with you take them. Most importantly, you have joined this forum, and maybe others where there is a vast amount of experience and advice which is freely given in the spirit of fellow collectors. Today, there is a real challenge to collecting genuine period awards and other memorabilia, the real pleasure comes in doing the research, learning and then obtaining the piece you want. I can guarantee you that 90% of all members here have, at some time bought a "Turkey", unfortunately nowadays it goes with the job. good huntuing regards Alex K

I agree, There's a well known saying "Two Heads are better then one", perhaps in this case other forum members could chip in and "35 heads are better than one"just for the sake of it, the Godet sticker on the base of my case regards