Alex K

Been fairly quiet lately! so I thought I'd trawl through my archives for something else to post. A man many may have heard of but maybe not have seen a genuine photo, Klaus Barbie, the "Butcher of Lyons", There are a number of images of him, particularly sitting in a group of Wehrmacht officers and NCO's, Barbie is wearing an NCO's uniform. Barbie was never in the Wehrmacht. The man I believe is mis-identified as Barbie, although similar in appearance, may well have had to live with the stigma of being called Barbie, just for interest. I am happy to stand corrected Regards Alex K Anyone recognise the strange sleeve eagle he appears to be wearing?

Hermann Goering Reichstag opening 21 March 1933

Hi Chris, there's no reference to the post but if you are referring to my colourisation, thanks, as you know I try to get it right, if it's not about my post, then oops I will feel like a total idiot!!, If you worked with his twin, I assume he didn't arrive at work dressed like that regards Alex

My colourisation of an unknown with first and second class regards Alex K

Hi Guys thanks for your replies regards Alex K

Hi all, I've had these two original postcards in my collection for many years, they are original but were glued down to a heavy layer of card with old newspaper advertisements on the reverse. I, in my ignorance decided to remove them many years ago, with the subsequent results. fortunately most of the original images remain intact. I can restore them quite easily to undamaged images that's not the problem. My questions are who are they and what uniforms and colours they wear together with the decorations and medals they are wearing, I assume that they are members of the (Romanian) Royal family, any help appreciated best regards Alex K

Don't need any better pictures, it's not an original pre-45 example, jump ring is wrong swaz to weedy and dates to indistinct, suspension loop is "Doubled" which was not the case normally IMHO, Apart from that it appears to be held together with cotton twine!! BUT like anything else I stand to be corrected. regards Alex

I remember those films well unfortunately, and don't forget the monocle

Hi Rick this thing has been around for a long time and keeps popping every so often. I know I bought one before I got married, and I got married in 1976 I assumed at the time it was original but subsequently it appears to have been proven a fake (No internet or forums in those days) so you relied on the honesty of dealers, somethings still havn't changed, In the earlier days it was labelled as "Polish fake". regards Alex

Ahh! the good old "Polish Fake" rears it's head again!, that is what it was called back in the 1970's when I bought one on the assumption it was real, mine came with a EKI etui also which I also still have, the medal is actually hanging on the wall in front of me as I type. Pure rubbish but has been around for a very long time Alex K

Hi, one unusual one, General Anton Dostler just prior to his execution. This image is freely available but the original is from NARA, most images are heavily marked with scratches, dust spots and other blemishes, I first "Cleaned" the image then colourised it. Possibly an unusual subject felt worthy of doing. regards Alex K Technical note, all available images seem to indicate that it was taken at night, (Dark background) it was not, it was taken in daylight but with flash photography, the subject is illuminated but the background will appear dark particularly if some distance behind the subject, I've tried to reflect this. I am fortunate to have a high resolution of the image which enabled me to get in close and still retain a good degree of detail. The image posted is low resolution. regards Alex K

Hi the first one is Bundesheer and the second is Bundesluftwaffe, both appear to be original officer caps, time frame I would say 1960,s period regards Alex K

Another one of Guy "Dambuster" Gibson I've got lying around Alex

I all thanks for the compliments and information Uwe, I can now put a name to the face. regards Alex Edit, given the information by Uwe, I've done a bit of digging around and can show a "Before and after" if you know what I mean, regards Alex

original attached

Hi all, one which captured my imagination as a B/W image, an unknown postwar ritterkreuztrager in the Bundeswehr, does anyone actually know who he may be? regards Alex K

Now that is real eye candy Alex K

Hi Paul thanks for the comments, the piece although difficult to see on my scans is clearly gilded, what appears to be all over. As to value I admit, it is academic as I am not in the process of disposing of it, it was just a case of trying to establish authenticity, I believe that it quite a rare decoration awarded for a very few short years, this should not be confused with the post 1945 versions which lost the Crown. thanks Alex K