ColinRF

There have been a flood of Stauffenberg left hand, post amputation signatures on the market in recent years. Many have been sold be reputable auction houses. Compare that to zero availability in the ten years before an astonishing price was realised for a real signature achieved in the Stargardt sale about a decade ago. The first document attached below was just sold for about 10,000 Euro by a reputable German militaria auctioneer. The second one is currently on offer from an auctioneer of antiquarian books. Similar paper, same letterhead, same shaky signature that a child could forge, same general period etc. But the forger made a critical mistake on the second one. Stauffenberg was promoted Oberst in April '44. The forger has sloppily signed over an Oberstleutnant typed rank. To me, this throws severe doubt on the authenticity of the second document and makes the first questionable as well. Given the large volume of left handed, post-wound Stauffenberg documents now coming on the market with every auction season, where there were none before Stargardt, the burden of proof for authenticity has to fall to the seller and no such document should be purchased without substantive and documented provenance. Caveat Emptor!

Fascinating read Rob. Niche collecting is the best! Are you by any chance uploading from an iPad or iPhone? If so, I have found that the sideways upload issue can be cured by editing your pictures individually before uploading. Just crop them very slightly, rotate them four times (i.e 360 degrees), save and upload. Works for me on another forum where I ran into this issue. Colin

That's high praise. Thanks Michael. Here is another recent addition. A post-war book on 20. Juli written and signed by Kunrat Freiherr von Hammerstein-Equord, Ludwig's brother. Kunrat was aware of the plot but not an active participant on July 20 due to his military assignment. He evaded Sippenhaft arrest as did his brother. The Hammersteins were indeed a resistance family.

Hi Michael - Peter Hoffmann is IMO the preeminent authority on the German Resistance and the July plot. He is a Professor Emeritus at McGill in Montreal and I correspond with him regularly. He is author of books on Stauffenberg, Kuhn, Goerdeler and Tresckow (in progress). He has also authored Hitler' Personal Security and The History of the German Resistance. He was the historical consultant for the film Valkyrie. In his History, he notes that executed plotters were initially buried in uniform with full medals and decorations. Footnote 18 to chapter 47 says: "Dr Peter Boysen (group chief in charge of army clothing at the AHA at the time), who became a witness of the events, wrote to the author on 23 June 1970 that the bloody uniforms arrived at his office after a while with the order to incorporate them in a permanent uniform exhibition located in the basement of the Bendlerstrasse complex; Boysen did not carry out this assignment but merely had the wooden box with the uniforms deposited in a corner." Nothing has been seen of them since. I can't recommend Hoffmann's books strongly enough. They are scholarly and comprehensive. And through the wonders of Fedex, here is the GD document. Signatures: Lt. Siebert - Major Remer's Adjutant, a confessing church pastor who features prominently in Remer's after action report in the coup. (2nd signature left side). Lt. Arnds - commanded the platoon assigned to the Bendlerblock under Operation Valkyrie. After Remer switched sides, led his troops into the building to arrest conspirators. (3rd signature left side). Hauptmann Schlee (Lt. On July 20) - Knight's Cross with Oakleaves - commander 4 Company. Heavily involved throughout the day in arriving at the conclusion that a coup was underway (2nd signature right side). Lt. Schady - like Arnds, commanded a platoon in Schlee's company. Was assigned to organize and command the ten-man firing squad that executed von Stauffenberg, Olbricht, von Haeften and Mertz von Quirnheim early on July 21. KIA in 1945 (3rd signature right side). Oberleutnant Karl Hausmann (Knight's Cross) - not involved on July 20 as far as I know. Like Schlee, a Company commander in the Wachbataillon in 1944 (top signature right side). If anyone can assist with the other two signatures (top left and bottom left), please let me know. I have also included a pic of the reverse page signed by SS General Doerffler-Schuband and others.

Thanks for the kind words Michael. There are a couple of good facebook groups on the resistance that post regular profiles of the resisters. One is by Brian Walters who wrote a terrific ebook for iPad on the resistance. Not sure there is really room for another book but we will see if I am up for a project once my house reno is done this Fall. Your epaulette certainly looks impressive. I would love to think its Beck's. Perhaps post it in the uniform section of the forum and ask for expert opinion? Others can comment on whether it can reasonably be attributed to Beck. I don't recall if Beck changed into his uniform late on July 20 (I think he did). But if it is Beck's it is not likely to have been worn on July 20 IMO. The five executed conspirators from the Bendlerstrasse were hastily buried that night, later exhumed and their uniforms stripped before cremation. According to Peter Hoffmann, the five bloodied uniforms were last seen in the basement of the Bendler where they were to be used in a future exhibit. They are now presumed lost.

Thanks gents. Can't wait for this one to arrive.

My apologies for missing your note and question Richard. I think it is generally accepted that Fromm was aware that a conspiracy was underway but that he was careful to maintain some level of plausible deniability.....although in Hitler's Germany, there may have been no such concept. I don't think there is evidence that Fromm actively hindered or assisted.

Its been a long time since I bought anything for the collection but there was no way I could pass this up. I just purchased a very rare document signed by seven officers of the Berlin Grossdeutschland Guard Battalion, including Leutnant (Res.) Werner Schady, the man who was detailed to command the firing squad in the courtyard of the Bendlerstrasse early in the morning of July 21, 1944. The dealer correctly identified Schady but missed several other important signers. The document is a page from a guest book from the estate of General Wilhelm-Hunold von Stockhausen, ex-commander of the Grossdeutschland infantry regiment and commander of the Heeres Unteroffizier Schule Potsdam. The dealer had many signed pages from this book on separate offer, all with interesting and different calligraphy, caricatures or scroll work. The reverse of this particular page has signatures of Waffen SS General Doerffler Schuband and several other SS officers. Schady was assigned by his Company commander, Oberleutnant Rudolf Schlee, to organize and command the ten-man firing squad that executed conspirators Stauffenberg, Haeften, Olbricht and Mertz. Schady was later killed in action in 1945. Schlee was promoted Hauptman in early August 1944, in recognition of his efforts in suppressing Valkyrie. Schlee had previously been awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves in recognition of his previous service with the mountain troops. Schlee's signature (as Hauptmann) can be seen immediately above Schady's on the undated document. His rank and the date in the reverse SS page dates the document to early August 1944. During Valkyrie, Schlee led the Company (4th or 5th) of the Guard battalion assigned to protect the Bendlerblock. Arnds and Schady commanded platoons under his orders. Schlee was later a significant actor in determining that a coup was actually underway. With Major Remer and Leutnant Hagen, he quickly became suspicious of the motives of the officers issuing orders under Operation Valkyrie and argued for changing sides to support the regime. Leutnant (Res.) Herbert Arnds was initially placed in charge of the Grossdeutschland troops guarding the Bendlerblock and was given orders to fire on any SS troops approaching by General Olbricht. He was later turned against the conspirators by his Company commander and Major Remer following his famous telephone conversation with Hitler. Arnds's signature appears on the document to the left of Schady's. It is also possible that the signature above Arnds' is that of Remer's Adjutant, Leutnant Siebert, a confessing church pastor and another significant participant in the events of July 20. More research will be required to investigate this and the other three signatures. Also, it is unclear why these officers would have been visiting Stockhausen in Potsdam in early August. But at a minimum, this document carries the signatures of the three infantry officers who initially implemented Valkyrie at the Bendlerblock and who later put a bloody end to the coup. Surely a unique document. Attached is a photo of Schlee with mountain troops headgear. I will post photos of the doc when the item arrives.

Man...interest has really evaporated in this section in the last few months. Is it the site as a whole or just the art part?

Uniform could be but not much there to go by. Possibly an opera inspiration?

Rendered in sculpey firm in 1/6 scale

Here is my completed original sculpture of the first Canadian and Commonwealth born recipient of the VC. He earned the award for rescuing Sgt. bentley and Trooper Levitt of his regiment in the aftermath if the Charge if the Light Brigade, Oct. 25, 1854. Dunn was born in Toronto, educated at Upper Canada College and Harrow, and he bought a commisssion in the 11th Hussars in 1852. His VC is owned by UCC and is on loan to the Canadian War Museum. The model is 1/6 scale, sculpey firm, magic sculpt, chain and twine. Painted in acrylics and inks. ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' > ' alt='' class='ipsImage' >

Original bust in 1/6 scale. Sculpey and acrylics.

I haven't bought much for the collection of late what with 3 children in University and being retired etc. But I did pick up this nice book written by and signed by Walter Bargatzky recently. Bargatzky is one of the lesser known members of the coup based in Paris. Like most of the plotters in the French capital, he benefited from proximity to the front and a pact between the army and the SS/Gestapo to revise history and minimize the extent of many army members' involvement - for the good of the service and to minimize the embarrassment of the security services that they had been so easily rounded up on July 20 without any shots being fired. Bargaztky's 14 page memoir of the coup in Paris was sold in '08 over the auction estimate of $10,000 - 15,000 by Sotheby's for almost $22,000. Here is the catalogue description: "Autograph manuscript signed at head of first page and at foot of last page, 14 pages (10 3/4 x 8 1/4 in.; 272 x 210 mm), in blue pencil, Augsburg, 10 June 1945 being Bargatzky's account of the plot of 20 July 1944 to assassinate Hitler, compiled in 1945 after his surrender to the Allies; trace of staple, water staining at foot of first page, not affecting legibility; accompanied by a full English translation. The conspiracy involved a large number of individuals and Bargatzky, being the legal advisor of General von Stülpnagel and thus not concerned at first hand with the bombing, was able to avoid arrest. In the present document, Walter Bargatzky describes how he came to be recruited to the conspiracy after defending two officers charged with anti-Nazi sentiments, and tells of the plans for the composition of a new government and policies after the overthrow of the Nazi regime. Details of of the events leading up to the abortive coup itself and its consequences are included in this extraordinary document. In addition, Bargatzky's sentiments about the whole affair a year later are clearly articulated. The present manuscript is most likely the only account of the plot by one of the conspirators remaining in private hands." From German Wiki (translated) - Drafted into the war began, Walter Bargatzky in 1941 was stationed in Paris as a civil servant for the German Military Commander France. He was there as a member of the national "justice" department on the administrative staff and at times was personal assistant Johan Schmidt, head of the administrative staff of the military commander. There, in the famous Art Nouveau Hotel Majestic, today's Hotel Peninsula Paris, Bargatzky met a motley crew of military and senior officials whose unifying bond was the common sympathy for France. Otherwise, they lived in a "strange vacuum between political constraints and total independence". For a long time he struggled with the legality of shipments of art and cultural artifacts from France to Germany under international law, though without success.His obstructive behavior made him almost inevitably come into contact with the circle of military opposition forming in Paris in 1943/1944 . Although not a member of the inner circle of resistance, following a successful assassination attempt on Hitler he was to act as a prosecutor for the Tribunal over the heads of the Paris Security Service and Gestapo. Of the risk he was taking to Bargatzky was well aware. Since it could not be demonstrated that he had direct links to military resistance, Bargatzky remained in his position after the failure of the uprising of the July 20 uprising in Paris. He retired with the remaining German forces in August 1944.

Completed. Painted commercial kit by Nuts Planet of SK. Colin

This is a commercial kit. Lewis because thats what they released. I guess to cash in on the BoB fans. I wouldn't display it as Winters but many have. I would label it as Lewis in the role, for accuracy. A lot of companies figure the Hollywood head sells better than the real one. The Stauffenberg one i just did by the same company came with a Tom Cruise head as an alternate to the real one. The Lewis bust's alternate head is a generic pathfinder with Mohican coif. Colin

Chris - Always liked paras, and this is an amazing commercial personality sculpture. Also painting OD is an interesting challenge. I will get back to sculpting my own soon as I have some ideas growing. Colin

Oh ya....i have the guy grabbing his face done. looking forward to seeing yours.

I'm working on a 28mm diorama of Ney leading the 8e Cuirassiers at Waterloo. Long-term project. Colin

My latest bust in progress will be this 1/10 bust of Damian Lewis in Band of Brothers. I will post in progress shots. Colin

Hi Larry. The Chicago Show is judged based in a standard rather than a 1, 2, 3 Gold, Silver, Bronze system. If you do what three judges consider to be gold medal work compared to the prior years' standard, you get a gold medal. There are few classes but several awards in each. Nevertheless it was quite the honour to do well as this is my first major show. I could tell myself as I know my work. I enjoy sculpting and rush through the painting to get to the next sculpt. One reason to paint kits for a while is that it removes this factor. Thanks for the nice words. Colin

And some 54 mm (2") kits I recently painted. The Henry VIII was a quicky job for a friend.

I was fortunate enough to win a gold and silver medal at September's Military Miniatures Society of Illinois show in Chicago. I found at the show is that my painting needs more work and that I need to slow down. So I decided to paint some commercial figures for practice. Here is Nuts Planet's 1/10 scale Stauffenberg bust. I added the eye patch and depicted him after he was wounded in the late stages of Valkyrie on July 20, 1944. Colin

Nice job. Not easy to paint at this small scale. Colin

Thanks gents! Colin