Larry Lipps

The hinge and catch.

Sorry, just a cloverleaf mark.

But maybe the most appreciated of the unappreciated?

While I don't want to steal Francois thunder, the finish on GWL badges can be truly exceptional.

I'm going to have to say Luftwaffe on the dagger. The Heer dagger doesn't have a "nipple" on the top of the pommel like the Luft does. I think it's just the light.

Rick, as usual, excellent information. It would be nice to someday put a name to the award.

And lastly, the maker's tag,

The reverse of some of the higher decorations,

Some of the Third Reich decorations,

And the reverse,

Guys, a friend sent me his medal bar to photograph so I thought I'd include a few shots here. While I've never really been an Imperial collector, I have to admit there's nothing in my T.R. inventory as good looking as this. Hope you enjoy it.

While against regulations, some hi-ranking officers wore their badges on the flap over the breast pocket. While I find it hard to imagine a piece made for non-regulation wear, it's about the best I can think of.

Lastly is a tinnie like Ralph's but the Wernstein mark is in a different location.

Next,

Next,

While I'm not sure what they are, here they are.

One more for the reference library.

And a decent shot of the motto from one of the rarer makers.

If I can ever learn to take better photos I'll replace this but it's the best I have for now. Type II Chained SS with all nickel fittings and a Type I with plated fittings.

and the reverse,

The Obverse,

Can I play too?

Thanks for this article, it has a lot of special meaning to me. My family is originally from Bryan, Texas (about 15 miles from Hearne). Ny mother was a nurse during WWII and went to Camp Hearne whenever new POW's arrived to work with the doctors that checked them out on their arrival. She told me a lot of stories about their trips to attend to the sick and wounded soldiers housed there. The Geneva Convention said that prisoners had to be housed in a climate that approximated where they were captured. Since most of these POW's came from North Africa, someone decided Hearne was as close as they could get. There was great apprehension as the prisoners first arrived. In the early 40's, rural Texas had some far fetched notions of what Nazi soldiers actually looked like. She said that as people saw that they looked just about like anyone else, they became a relatively accepted member of the community. When I was young I remember my mother introducing me to a guy that once worked there. I can remember he had a coffee can full of cufftitles and medals he said he traded for cigarettes (I was only 8, so no, I didn't get them). From what I understand, there was a fairly large contingent of POW's who liked the Texas climate so much that they moved back here after the war ended. I really enjoyed being able to put a picture to some of the stories I remember as a child. Thanks for sharing!

One more,

After scouring the MAX and now the SOS I've come to the conclusion that an early Schwerin marked badge may be just a figment of my immagination. They don't exist!