Phil Steele

Sorry Dave didnt mean to sound like I was having a go at you but I for one will be very glad to see it up and running again. I am very new to Imperial medal collecting and it was a gods send for someone like me.

I tried websites Chip but just cant seem to locate any. I used to religiously look at Dave Danners website as it was perfect for my needs but it is closed down I believe. What others are there? Phil

Thanks Wild Card I will begin a search. Anything is better than nothing. Cheers

Not sure if this is in the right forum thread but I am seeking information on the availability of any reference books pertaining to Imperial German medals written in English as I dont read or speak German. I am more interested in a book which depicts various state, duchies or principality medals that NCO's and enlisted men would have been eligible for during the Great War rather than the elaborate orders and medals for officers only. Is any such reference book available? Thanks in advance Phil

Thankyou thats all I needed to know

Hi Guys, I am looking at purchasing both these medal bars but I am concerned by what appears to me to be a very thin and sharply pointed pin on the back. After looking at the hardware on other medal bars the pin on both these bars dont look right. Am I seeing too much here and any opinions will be appreciated. Thanks Phil

I agree its looks good to me but very pristine....has been stored well

I think the helmet is authentic but the decals and exterior paint job are not. From the pics it looks like somebody has had a go at trying to duplicate (and might I had very badly) a pea patterned camo pattern on it or something similar. I have never seen anything like it except maybe some of the ebay helmets, so with that in mind I would also have to say the decals are false also. Never owned an SS helmet but I do have a few wehrmacht helmets

I am no expert but I must say I also dont like the white finish....its nothing like I have ever seen before and I have looked at a few as I am after a winter camo. I hope it turns out to be a good one but I have my doubts..sorry.

Wish somebody would buy birthday presents like that for me...Sure beats socks and undies

I agree nice piece

Both very nice

Hi Jody, For sure its a match. I have now 20+ variations and to be honest I couldnt dare to guess how many more there are especially when you take in private purchase officer versions done with bullion thread. To be honest I have given up and simply framed up my collection to date and moved on to other areas of interest. On a limited budget its hard to keep buying edelweiss patches as inexpensive as they are, and save for a helmet or tunic. Oh to be rich.....

Indeed, a very nice Waffenrock and I too think they are underated but then that does keep the price down a little.

Many thanks Jens I will look into this. Phil

Thanks Chris I will look into that one also. Phil

Guys thanks so much for the help and kind words. Chip you are so right about the history. When I received these documents I just knew this was the field for me. They reek of history which is something I have never before experienced when collecting third reich items and thank you so much for the correct spelling of the guys name. I am indeed having trouble reading the script. Doesnt help that I dont speak or read a word of German but I can work out the odd word here and there. And Daniel, what you said about researching the document is something I intend to do. At the moment I have no reference works on anything earlier than 1939 so I have ordered a book on the Imperial German OOB which will help a bit I hope and give me a start. A friend of mine in the states told me there are available good document holders these days to store said documents in. I have a small folder that holds my WW2 documents as they are all smaller size but here in Australia I cannot find anything suitable to safely hold these large documents. Any suggestions or links to where I could purchase from would be great. Oh yeah I have already ordered my next document and am looking seriously at another.......oh well so much for paying off the credit card. Phil

Oh Yeah Can anybody decipher what rank this chap was????

Thanks Chris appreciate your help and some interesting links which I enjoyed. It would seem I am about to embark upon a journey that could well see me addicted to Imperial Iron Cross documents. :D

Hi, After many years collecting third reich items I have started to look seriously at Imperial German Items. This is all very new to me but I have a liking for Award Documents and while I know a few things about your basic TR document for various combat badges and medals, I am a bit confused with these Imperial documents. I am toying with the idea of collecting a few EK documents from the Imperial era but I noticed there seems to be two types of documents. One is your usual Besitzeugnis which I understand as that is the norm with TR documents but what are the Vorlaufiger documents. I apologise if these names are not spelt correctly. I have also noticed that the Vorlaufiger documents seem to be rather plain and much more common than the other type. I have started my collection with a pair of documents awarded to Karl Lauernheimer (I think that is what is says) from Infanterie Reg 213 of the 207 Inf Division. I very much would appreciate a translation of both documents if any one can help. I know the second document is for the Hamburg Cross. If possible would anyone know the history of this unit and where it was posted particularly around the time of the awards being given. I take it the dates are in fact when the medals were awarded and not the actual date the recipient won the medals. Finally can anyone tell me how they store these documents. TR documents are primarily A5 size and fit in a nice leather folder I have but these two Imperial documents are much bigger and seem to be akin to the old "foolscape"size. Any hints would be helpful. Thankyou Phil

Yes I agree there probably wouldnt be many happy soldiers at this stage of the war however, they seemed to be happy enough to come up with unofficial shields, award documents and the like. And Germans being Germans (no offense intended) there always seemed to be time for a snapshot or two irrespective of the circumstances. There were plenty of photos taken during the various encirclements on the eastern front ie Demjansk and Cholm and I would have thought that under those circumstances they may have had more on their minds than taking pictures. As said until I see a snapshot of one being worn then such items are not for me but hey that doesnt mean they are not period made items. Cheers Phil

Well Pete there you go...you have shown me the first award document I have ever seen concerning some of the more controversial pieces. Nice document and rare I would think. I am pleased that you have this shield and maybe you are all correct about them being made during the last stages of the war. However until I see a snapshot with a group of happy soldiers posing with one on their caps they are not for me. Take care my friend. Phil

Hi Pete, Interesting thread and you have had some good comments regarding the shield from guys with far more knowledge than I but to me it is not a period piece. I know that carries no weight whatsoever but I put these items in the same category as Balloon Observers, Luftwaffe tank badges and yes the Lorient shield. According to what I have read all these very late war items have listings in soldbuchs and even an award document (although I personally have never seen such an award document) but no one can show hard evidence (photo) of any soldier wearing one. Maybe this is archaic in my opinions but too many fantasy pieces getting around in this hobby. But its like Frank Huekemes once said..if you like it and think its genuine then everyone else can get F@#ked. If it is indeed genuine (and I cant see how you will ever prove it 100%) then what a great addition to your collection. Sorry to be sceptical but mate I dont really believe all these sniper patches are genuine either. All the best Phil

Hi Guys, Recently I have started to put together a bit of a collection of Gebirgsjager insignia and in particular the Edelweiss cloth arm patch. I never realised before how much they vary and as there does not seem to be any reference work available on these items I am trying to get some idea on just how many variants there are......I guess much the same as those who collect Panzer or Infantry Assault badge variants. I have at the moment nine in my collection and am hoping you might post a picture of any you might have to try and build up a reference on them. Here are two of mine. The pattern on the lighter green patch is fairly common whilst the other is not. Thanks Phil

Hi Brian, I have an EK2 document which may or may not be of interest to you. The recipient was a motor cycle rider in the heavy Recon Battalion of the 6th Infantry Division which fought at Kursk. The award date is 13.9.43. Obviously this is after Kursk but I am wondering how much later after an act of heroism were bravery awards given. I have read that with combat badges because they were not awarded for an individual act but more a culmination of events, it often took over a year before soldiers were awarded Infantry badges and the like. So perhaps this EK2 document may relate to Kursk or at least not long thereafter. I will post the document on this thread if you are interested. Phil