Troy Tempest

Okay Don, I've just asked my daughter ( ) if she can do that for me after school tomorrow arvo, so hopefully I'll be able to post them in about 24 hours!

Hi gents, I just received my Flanders Cross which I purchased off a fellow GMIC member, and it's great! I have to try and source some ribbon for it, but I was wondering does anyone know anything about the award criteria of this medal at all? Was it for naval marines in combat, or was it for something that happened in Flanders, hence the name? And for my exacting records (!), can someone tell me the proper German name for this award please? Thanking you!

Hi Don, I have just received recently my naval wound badge in black, but after looking at your photos of both your black and silver ones, and looking at mine, I am beginning to think mine is a fake. Would all naval blacks have had the same pin set-up on the rear? The hinge or whatever you call it on mine is right at the top, rather than down a bit like on yours. The swords look different, the links in the chain aren't as pronounced, and the swords on mine are pointing to the flat chain link rather than the side facing link like on yours. It also feels like my regular Imperial black wound badge, it doesn't feel like steel. I'll post a photo when I take some shortly, but I've noticed a lot of small differences and I'm certainly no expert! Or could different manufacturers have slight differences? It was sold to me with a money back guarentee, so I'm not worried that I'll never see my money again if I am not satisfied with it, but judging by your photos, it does appear to have a lot of small differences. Thanks!

Hi Lukasz! Thanks for that name and the link, guess I kicked twice as hard as I needed to!

Thanks for that link Joe, and thanks for that info Militaria! GMIC brain trust comes through again!

Thanks again fella's! Advice taken! Until I receive my Iron Cross books, I am still in need of the sterling advice from the members here, and I DO appreciate it!

Wow Paul, I only wanted ONE book! Thanks for that link.

Wow gents, I just asked on another thread if there was a book I could buy on DDR medals, and here is dozens! Looks like the children are on bread and water for another week!

Hi Ed! Thanks for that mate, I'll check out Amazon.de first and see what's in stock.

Hey, at these prices, I could acquire quite the (non-rare) extensive collection! Are there any books or guides to DDR militaria in English that you know of?

Hi Uwe, thanks for that! And at about 4 or 5 euros I didn't think they were rare! There must be loads of this DDR stuff lying around?

Thanks Alex K! By all means say it! I'm not going to wring my hands each day if I can't find original ribbon! I will check the link out.

Hi, could I ask you how you think this looks please? These are the only photos I can get at the moment.

Thank you Alex, I'd appreciate that. He may have some ribbon for sale!

Hi Paul, thanks for that. So I'm thinking the one on the left, the gold one, would be the higher grade, and the next three would go down in service depending on how many stripes are on the ribbon? What is a kampgruppe in the DDR? Not the same as a WWII German Kampgruppe?

Hi Paul, I took a chance on this guy, I have no idea about Soviet/DDR awards, but some of them were very cheap, or seemed so to me. This was the most expensive one, most of the others were 3-5 euros. I figured if they were duds, at least I wouldn't be out of pocket too much. The group of four that I posted earlier was 4 euros, so I thought, what the hey!

Thank you again Kevin, do you think it was awarded to farmers families' in the DDR who were beheaded by the evil capitalist west?

Alex, could I ask you for a rough guide for a Saxon Kriegerbund 25 year loyalty medal? $US?

Thanks Alex, is that a spare ribbon I see on the left?

Here is another DDR medal I bought, once more, can anyone tell me anything about it please? Was 14 euros a good/ok/bad price for it? Sorry about the photo, it's the only one offered. Again, when I receive it, I'll take a better one.

VDGB Medalie Bronce Selten

Thomas M?ntzer

im Gr?nen Etui

Hi gents, I bought these as they were cheap as chips, but I have no idea what they are, the seller couldn't speak English, I received the following description:

Biete

Top- Satz Med.

Kampfgruppe

B-S-G-Gold

DDR

Sorry about the photo, when I receive them I'll take a better one.

Hello gentlemen! I just bought this medal, as I am still a baby in militaria skills, could somebody tell me if $23.50US was too much to pay for it please? Sorry about the poor photos, they are all that was offered. I am very grateful for the help I have received here in my steep learning curve!

Hi, I just bought this medal, does anyone know anything about it please? I paid 10 euros for it, is that good, bad or okay? It didn't seem like a lot of money, and I liked the look of it! Thanks in advance gentlemen!

Shall do!

Hi Uwe, I waited till I received my reply about whether DRA badges are or should be mostly original, and I looked at some other prices at some dealer sites, and took a chance and bid for them. My German is sadly not as good as it once was in my youth, but here is the description from the seller -

Einmal in Gold mit dem Hersteller Hofjuwelier,Eugen Marcus und in Bronce mit dem Herst.H.Wernstein L?bstedt+DRGM.