Paul R

I dont know how you do it, Ed!

Me too. I remember thinking that 200 dollars was a lot of money for the medal and booklet as I was paying for it! The only reason I got it was because I thought that it was the first official Soviet medal, so I had to have it. Now, there is no way I will be able to afford one of these! I am glad I got mine when I had the chance. Regards Paul

I am not an expert on these at all, but your medal seems to have a real lack of detail. Again, I am not experienced enough to give it a yeah or nay, but the quality does not seem to be there, based upon the photos. I would love to hear the opinions of more experienced members. Regards Paul

Now that is a first for me... Can you please educate me on this one?

That is one I never managed to get. I am scared to ask what they are going for now!

How long ago did you order it?!

I think that you have a great collection! What are the numbers on the orders? Regards Paul

I have never see so many....

WOW! That is a nice set! What is he asking for them?

This is the French army alone? This is very thought provoking. We have been at war in Iraq for close to four years and have less than 3000 dead. It really places things into perspective!

It is a very interesting piece that you found yourself! It is in great shape!

Great collections!!! Did the Stalhelm organization even have a 1918 pin? They would have only had a month and 20 days to get an organization up and running... I would not think that they would have started making the pins for that year?

I do not own any HG straps... but I could find some images I could link to you. Do you want to see Feldblau or Tropical?

I would like to see this shade of blue when next to the medical and TSD shades. Very nice!

Ohhhhhhh I am sooooo excited!!! I can hardly wait!!! Thank you so much!

Arrggghhh! You went!!! You went!!!

Thanks Bill! I would love to see more related uniforms and insignia.

Also, I believe that those were the first DDR dog tags I have ever seen!

Vic. Thanks for sharing your grouping with us. True groupings are not easy to find!!

11 Lenins! I bet that his medal bar weighed a lot!!!

My guess is that it could be for a medical officer candidate! Rick... you are soooo EVIL!!!!!

Awesome collection, Chris! I really like your stahelm display. Did they actually have a 1918 membership pin? Seeing how the war was not over until the 11th of Nov, I would not think there enough time to get an organization together to the point where pins would be issued for that year? Paul

This is a great thread! I have learned a lot.

Thanks Eric and Bill. It has not been easy to find these things. I am generally alerted to most of these by fellow forum members and collectors. The good thing about not "having a life" is that also I spend hours searching various websites and on the web daily. The Pharmacist tunic came from a small dealer in Norway. I have always wanted a pharmacist tunic as it filled my two major focuses... Luftwaffe and medical. J. Hahn sent me an email stating that he found an admin tunic for me. After reviewing the link he sent me ( www.militaria.as ), I sent an email to the dealer requesting closeups as the photos were small. When I examined the photos, I almost fell out of my chair. Not only was it an admin tunic, it was for an early pharmacist. The excitement was further fueled by the fact that the tunic was not only for a pharmacist, but it was the early version(with the light green nebenfarbe). This was used for a very short period of time. In 1940, the pharmacists changed their nebenfarbe to orange(Which was shared by Psychologists, Chemists, Librarians, and Medical specialists- I would assume to be Lab, medical records, and etc.). I would love to complete my Luftwaffe Medical collection by finding one of these. Due to being on a limited budget(imposed by my new spouse), I do not have much as many tunics as many collectors. I have been trading off things to refine my collection the past few years. I would LOVE to find a Navigator tunic. On the Luftwaffe side of the house I have: 1. Medical Major's Fliegerbluse 2. Flak Gref Fliegerbluse 3. Flight Gref Fliegerbluse 4. Medical EM Tuchrock 5. Wartime Official Feldwebel Tuchrock(Sonderfuhrer). 6. Flight Band Master Uniform(Tuchrock) 7. Pharmacist Officer Tuchrock On the Heer Side, I have: 1. Medical Uffz M40. I am always looking for nice Luftwaffe Admin tunics!

In 1997, I remember meeting a German veteran who worked on Hermann Goring's aircraft machine guns... in WW1!!! He told me that he was an armorer and an NCO. He had photos to prove it(as I found it initially a bit hard to believe). He told me that he met quite a few familiar aces during his time in service. I wish that I had a chance to ask more information from him, but he was old and fatigued very easily. When was stationed in Alaska, I was a officer of the local chapter of the American Legion. Every Veteran's Day, we would hold an event/lunch. He and his great grandson would show up to join us. He was bummed that he could not join our organization officially, but we enjoyed his company. I think that he was the only WW1 vet that showed that year.