sftrooper86

Very nice pair however very strange combo. I have found the mini medals running between 10 and 40 euros depending on rarity. I have just acquired this chain and am trying to figure out which medal I can place in the empty spot. Any opinions would be appreciated! Thanks, Vince

Hello, I wish we could get some other members who own these crosses to post some photos. It is just such a unique item and I have never seen another. Thank you for your additional information about the possible maker, very interesting. This piece is quite crudely manufactured as mentioned. There is no way it could fool even the most inexperienced collector into thinking it was a German made EK2. This lends creedance to my belief that it really is a war time/early postwar piece. It looks like it was painted with a paint brush! If you look closely you can find spots where the black paint got on the "silver" frame. Even though it is a one piece cross, the workmanship leaves something to be desired. They used brass rings where the German's used silver. A hole was drilled into the top of the cross for the rings. No respectable German EK maker would ever do such a thing, even during the last days of the war. The pin device is also made from brass and is exactly like other war time Spanish made decorations I have seen. It is very unique to the Spanish. The reverse of this pin device is also quite crudely made. The brass pin is not finished at the point, its just snipped off and perhaps had the sharp point buffed a bit. This has been a fascinating study for me and would like to put out a call to other collectors to please post photos of their Spanish made EK2s. Thank you, Vince

Thank you Dolfek, Can you estimate a date of manufacture on this cross? Do you have a photo of another? Happy Hunting, Vince

Hello, Can anyone tell me about this medal? When were they made? Who were they issued to? Any other relevant information would be appreciated. Please post your photos if you have one too! Thank you, Vince

Hello Mike, I agree, outstanding! Have you ever dealt with a firm called "Elitemilitaria"? They sell 57 items on E-Bay from time to time and have a real fancy add which in part reads" "This WW2 1957 GERMAN BLACK 3rd CLASS WOUND BADGE is guaranteed to be 100% authentic (genuine), and will come with a letter of authenticity from the German manufacturer Steinhauer & Lueck Luedenscheid, Germany." I am new to collecting the 57 items and understand there are really 3 types of 57 items out there. 1. 1960's produceditems which show their age and are called "early" items. 2. Items produced after 1977 which are still considered 57 items but obviously not as popular as the 1960's items. 3. New made junk. Cast items, etc which have little to no real value to collectors of 57 items. Have I missed anything? Thank you for a quick lesson! My best, Vince

Happy Holidays Ed, Do you know where I can find them now? My best, Vince

Hello Gentlemen, Is anyone aware if this medal has been duplicated in both full and mini size? I am looking for them as well as the device for a ribbon bar. Any help locating described items would be greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays, Vince

Hi Gary, No I lost track of you????? Please drop me a line at vindog86@live.com Thanks, V

Hello Gentlemen, I need assistance identifying the medals which are represented on Herman's ribbon bar in this photo. Many thanks, Vince

Hello Gentlemen, I need assistance identifying the medals which are represented on Herman's ribbon bar in this photo. Many thanks, Vince

Hi Perce, Sorry again! Can ask you for some help? I am looking for a Herr Panzer Oberst with WW1 service time who won the RK in WW2 to make up his medal bar for my waffenrock. Can you please help me find one? My e-mail is: vindog86@live.com Many thanks, Vince

Gentlemen, Please disregard my request for info as I have apparently been given fictitious information. This bio was "made up" at my expense Thank you very much for your kind assistance, Vince

Oberst Wolfgang von Stiglitz [sic] Born - 1898 in Upper Silesia Enlists in the Prussian Officer Cadet School 1914, age 16 Gazzetted into the 10th Brandenburg Lancer Regiment with the rank of Leutnant 1916, age 18 Service on the Western Front with the 10th, awarded Iron Cross 2nd Class 1917, age 19 Transferred to the newly formed 1st Panzer Regiment with the rank of Oberleutnant 1917 Service on the Western Front with the 5th Panzer Regiment, awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class 1917 Promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and awarded the WW1 Panzer Badge 1918 Awarded the Black Wound Badge 1918 War Ends 11th November 1918, age 20 Service with the Freikorp in Silesia 1920, and awarded the Silesian Eagle Order 2nd Class in Silver Transferred to the 1st Panzer Regiment as Adjutant 1922, age 24 Promoted to the rank of Major and Company Commander 1925, age 27 Transferred to the Panzer School 1930, age 32 Promoted to the rank of Oberstleutnant 1932, age 34 Transferred to the 1st Panzer Regiment as 2nd in Command in 1932, age 34 Awarded the Front Fighters Cross, Bulgarian WW1 Service Medal for WW1 in 1934, age 36 Awarded the Army 4 years & 18 years Service Awards in 1935, age 37 Promoted to the rank of Oberst 1938, and Commanding Officer of the 4th Panzer Regiment age 40 4th Panzer Regiment involved in the Austrian Annexation 1938 Awarded the Austria Annexation Medal 1938 Commencement of WW2 1939, age 41 Service with the 4th Panzer Regiment, France 1939 Awarded the Spange to the Iron Cross 2nd Class 1939 Awarded the Spange to the Iron Cross 1st Class 1940, age 42 Awarded the Panzer Assault Badge in Silver 1940 4th Panzer Regiment transferred to the Russian Front 1941 Awarded the Russian Front Medal 1941-1942 Awarded the KRIM Shield for service with von Manstein's Army Group South Awarded the German Cross in Gold for Gallant Action near Kharkov 1942, age 44 4th Panzer Regiment at Stalingrad 1942 Awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross at Stalingrad 1942 4th Panzer Regiment surrenders with the 6th Army at Stalingrad 1943 Oberst Wolfgang von Stiglitz is sent into captivity 1943, age 45 1950 relesed from captivity, age 52, returns home to Upper Silesia, now called Poland and under Communist Rule. 1952 flees Poland for West Germany 1955 enlists in the Bundesheer as Oberst in command of the Bundesheer Panzer School, age 57 Awarded the German Order of Merit for service to the Bundesheer 1964 1964 retires from active service age 66 1968 enters Parliment as the Federal Member for Waldeck, age 70 1972 retires from Federal Politics, age 74 1973 Elected President of the German Panzer Veterans Association 1980 appointed Life Member of the GPVA, age 82 1988 passes away peacefully at home age 90 Buried with full Military Honours, Waldeck.

Hello, I am trying to research a Panzer Oberst who served at Stalingrad, he held the DKiG & RK. His name was: Herr Oberst Wolfgang von Stiglitz. Where can I find his service record and a photo if one exists? Thank you, Vince Leone

Hello Gentlemen, Was there an official/designated sling for the MP-44 or were 98k slings used? Many thanks, Vince

Got them.....Thanks all! Vince

Hello Gentlemen, Can anyone assist me in reading the information found on my swords tang? Thank you in advance, Vince

Thank you Sir!

Hello, I dont know? I think not since 9/11

Hello, Can anyone tell me who is selling a nice reproduction MP-40 & MP-44 for a museum display? Resin or a parts gun either way. I live in the USA. Thank you, Vince

Hello Hardy, Thanks for the input. My device has different parts than the type pictured and is painted the same color as the inside of the panzers of WW2. I will be sending photos of this device to Zeiss and the numerous tank museums I am aware of to see what they have to say. The Veteran I received this from gave it to me as a gift, I did not pay for it. Unless he was making up a "war story" just to impress me, I have to believe him. Besides he has passed away and further questioning is impossable. Thank you all for your assistance, it is always fun to do research.

Hello Gordon, Sorry but this was removed from a Panther as I mentioned in my initial post. This is per the veteran. The search goes on! Happy Hunting, Vince

Any opinions about running threads like from the A to the F & K to the A? Thanks again, Vince

Hello Gentlemen, If possible could you please post some photos of pre-1945 Luftwaffe AFRIKA cuff titles. What to look for would also be helpful. Here is one for comparison, sorry for the poor quality of the pictures. Vince

Hello Gentlemen, Can anyone tell me what exactly this is and which model of panzed this came out of? Thank you, Vince