Alex K

Hi gentlemen, thanks for the comments and info. The prices you've quoted have suprised me somewhat. I must admit that it is not one of those orders that is seen for sale a great deal, and interest in it must have increased. It must be rarer than I had previously thought. As I mentioned in my opening post, it was a chance purchase a number of years ago, when obviously prices and interest was far less. Thanks and regards Alex

No one got any ideas to put me out of my misery!! regards

About time too. regards Alex

Hi Danny, the beading on the 76's does seem a little sharper when I have a closer look, I think apart from mis-reading the ring stamp, the similarities between the dates on the front also threw me, as Dave B says, the 3's are quite distinctive, maybe they used a common core? regards Alex

Hi Kevin, I agree, since the dealer is asking a four figure GBP price !!, which seems a lot higher than I paid, I did buy mine a few years ago, but mine cost a tenth of that. regards Alex

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Hi another one in my collection, the Order of the White Lion, 3rd class commander. I havn't really given this one much thought as it was a passing purchase. That being said it is extremely well made and must have been labor intensive with the individual shield enamelling on the reverse. I don't normally get to worried about values of these pieces, but the reason for asking is that I have seen one on a dealers web-site for an unbelieveably high price, albiet the military version, (Mine is civil), therefore, as as matter of interest does anyone have an opinion as to what these are likely to be worth in reality?? thanks Alex K

Addendum, I've just had a closer look at the one I posted earlier, in fact it's maker mark is 76, not 75, the ring is distorted like the one posted Danny. The similarities in the two crosses are really quite remarkeable. Any ideas as to the maker of 76? regards Alex

Hi Danny, nice cross, I also like the chunky Swaz,, it has a quality feel to the piece, here's mine, at least I now know the maker regards Alex

Hi James, welcome to the forum. Nice medal, I'll add one to my collection one day, regards Alex K

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This has been puzzling me for a long time, is it genuine or not, any advice? thanks Alex

or this one, I would really like to know the maker of this one, any ideas? regards Alex

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Hi Motorhead, How about this one. S & L 1914-18, but 39-45 manufacture, guaranteed pre 1945. It has all the hallmarks of an S & L. regards Alex K

Hi Carol I, that info does seem to muddy the waters a little more. I am however now slightly more inclined to the view that they are two distinct awards, but running in parallel with each other. thanks for the update regards Alex

Hi Colin, welcome to the forum, and thanks for the link. It always interests me to see how these things are made. This is obviously a modern semi precision automated process, I would assume that wartime of older processes would take a lot longer regards Alex

Hi Benten, the tinnie you posted is a very nice piece of propaganda from Mr Goebbels. The later events at Gleiwitz which were used as a pretext for the invasion of Poland was also a cynical piece of propaganda orchestrated, I'm sure by Goebbels to exploit the situation in favour of the Nazi's justification for invading Poland, why else would they have invited "Neutral" international observers to see what these "Insurgents", the modern word I believe, had carried out. regards Alex

It was indeed the pretext for the start of the war. Under the leadership of Heydrich and carried out by SS Alfred Naujocks, the radio station at Gleiwitz was supposed to have been attacked by Polish insurgents. The fact is that it was a total put up job by the Nazis, using Concentration camp inmates dressed up in captured Polish uniforms (Unfortunately suitably "Neutralised") which gave them the excuse to attack Poland as a reprisal. I do have a photo showing the end result with "International Observers" invited to view the scene, However it does show deceased people and I would not want to upload without approval from any moderators. regards Alex As A side note, my Mother came from Gleiwitz.and was there when it happened, although not as a witness

Hi K I am only aware of this one entitled "Stuka Pilot" http://www.amazon.com/Stuka-Pilot-Hans-Ulr...r/dp/0887402526 your'e not possibly confusing it with his other publication called "In Spite of Everything"? Edit, which according to Wikepedia Rudel wrote a book entitled "In Spite of Everything" that supported the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Alex K

Hi Dave, My fingers have a mind of their own , I should have typed I bet they're both W & L's, regards Alex

Ed, Interesting hypothesis, with which I must admit, I can't dissagree with at present. The OM is, or is supposed to be on paper at least, a reward granted by the sovereign at her/his discretion, without any governmental input (Interference) and at the sole discretion of the sovereign. That being said, I think, and understand that IMHO that may not always be the case, which, in the end brings me back to the points I raised earlier about it being a case of "Not what you know, but who you know" I fully concur with you that the current system may not in practice operate that way, although it should in theory, be universal. regards

Hi Motorhead, nice little box of goodies. regards Alex K

I take your point and agree that it is most probably the one order which out of all of them, which is the most egalitarian. As a side issue, where does that leave the "Order of Merit" which as I'm sure you'll know, is at the personal bestowal of HM, and is surely for "Merit", as displayed, this week? when it was bestowed on the founder of the Internet, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who, I assume was just an "Ordinary" person? Regards http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6750395.stm