Vic Diehl

I am here to learn, now that would be interesting. With that engraving.

Eric: Here is the shot you requested. This cross is totally unmarked -- which I really like !! Vic

Chris, We will try to get that kind of crew information from the Deutsche Panzer Museum in Munster. As we find out we will post.

We are closing in----- Fritz Hammer, born Januar, 2nd, 1891 in Reutlingen, Feldwebel Armee Telegraphen Abteilung, AOK.4 :violent:

We are closing in on Fritz. My esteemed colleague in Germany has found a communication NCO: Fritz Hammer, born Januar, 2nd, 1891 in Reutlingen, Feldwebel Armee Telegraphen Abteilung, AOK.4 We do know that tank troops were pulled from a variety of other units, much like the early Aero units. Tankers came from artillery, motor corps, communication,etc. According to the Landships forum these tanksrs many times retained their old unit's uniforms and insignia. They were all issued the tanker coveralls.

Chris: Of course you are right, many times the story makes the piece interesting. I collect Japanese swords. I recently bought a WW II Japanese Officers sword from a local vet. The blade is a beautiful hand forged Kaneaki Gendaito, which I just spent the money on to have polished. I went to the vets modest home. He and his sweet wife were both 84 years old. The aging veteran repeated his story to me with a sense of real pride of his days as a soldier. He was in the Americal Division. In winter of 1945 they were conducting mopping up operations in the Lyete Gulf. He was a forward artillery observor, battling through the heat and hell of that conflict. He relayed to me that he was so tired and hungry so he sat down in the high grass for bite to eat and drink. Upon sitting down in the tall grass and weeds he realized he was sitting by a dead Japanese officer. He looked around to be sure he was alone and then picked up the Japanese Sword as "his" war souvenir. He strapped that sword to his back and carried it daily for the rest of the conflict, then to other operations and finally home. He was so proud of that sword that he kept it oiled for all of those years since the war. One other fact about the sword that is interesting is that the knot used on the sword was from the Russo-Japanese War. So the Japanese Officer carrying this sword was most likely honoring one of his warrior ancestors. If that sword had been at a gun show the black portepee would have been ripped off as incorrect and a nice brown and blue one substituted. Finishing the sword story.... As I was sitting in the vets living room examining the blade for a "hada" I realized that there were pictures of 4 young men and their wives on his coffee table. I asked who they were and he proudly exclaimed that they were his sons!! I asked, surely one of these sons wants this sword that you have carried from Hell and back? No, he said, they don't care about such things. It is just as well,as their wives would never allow it in their homes. How can this be, is about all I thought. I paid my money, gave them both my best wishes and a hardy handshake, thanked him for his service and headed out into the night with my sword. That story really made the sword interesting. In fact I have the story printed on rice paper and attached to the scabbard. That is a story that should never be forgotten.

Chris: This is a fun piece to look at and think about. If it could only tell us some stories about what it would be like being on the inside of an A7V with all of the engine and track noise, fumes, shouting soldiers, machine gun fire, booming cannon and clanging cannon shells. Then there is the horror that comes when you are in a real battle and someone is shooting back. Speaking of stores about war souvenirs I have one simple rule. Listen to the stories, learn all you can, but BELIEVE ONLY in the piece! In 40 years of collecting I have heard hundreds of great stories, but that never was the deciding factor for purchase after the first time gettig stung. These days the surviving vets are few and many of them collected items after the war to enhance their collections. Another thing I put little stock in are computer pictures. If I cannot hold rare stuff in my hands, especially named or presented items than I simply let it pass. I have also learned is that you cannot fake real age. You can at the surface level to the naked eye, but if you scientifically examine a piece you can, with experience, tell if it has been there. I enjoy shooting flintlock Kentucky rifles and I have one custom made for my body. My builder is a master at aging guns, I have watched him do it. I have seen experts pick them up and talk about how old they are. I am not going to bore you with more chit-chat. To REPEAT--- Believe only the object, enjoy the stories and remember the devil is in the details. :cheers:

Claudius: Here is an extreme close-up. I am pointing to the tool marks but there is much to see in this pic other than those.

close-up

Follow-up info as requested This rare named EK I. is still being researched as it was just recently obtained. Fortunately during the US history of this piece it never left the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The Cross was purchased by a local collector/dealer from the son of a 29th Infantry Division veteran in the 1990's. It was quickly sold to an Iron Cross collector where the cross remained in his collection until August 2010. With the economy taking a dive the collector brought the named cross and two Third Reich EK I's to a local gun show where he sold them all. The named and cased EKI was sold back to the original dealer for $400. The dealer called my attention to the award and we completed a trade. I gave him about 20 Nazi medals, i.e. Mother crosses, SA celluloid day badge, RAD long service medals, West Wall and Eastern Front medals, an Italian North African medal and a few cloth Heer eagles. He was happy with the trade and so was I. I would add that when I first saw the engraving I knew it was correct for the period, beyond any doubt. I had learned period engraving from studying named and presented navy daggers for over 30 years. However, I was not exactly sure what a "Kampfwagen" was since I am a navy dagger collector. I was thinking it was an armed troop carrier. I talked with my friend in Hannover Germany while I was at the show and he immediately told me "Kampfwagen" was a tank. He also said that there were only a total of 20 A7V's produced and by August 1918 only 5 or 6 remained. He further said that these units were very small and finding a named cross from an A7V crew member is about as rare as finding a PLM. Not nearly as expensive, but certainly as rare. So a fun day at a gun show for everyone.

Billy: You get no sympathy from me, I know about the super rare stuff you are always turning up. Also, if my memory serves me correctly, you have a precious new member of your family that is worth more than a barrel of medals !! Vic

Full reverse

Obverse

I believe this cross engraving is 100% percent period and correct. Among the things I like are the layout, spelling and punctuation, correct style of the letters and numbers for the period, method of joining the letters and words and correct tool marks. Also, under the stereoscope at 20 power the wear and wear scratches that transverse the letters at different depths and time periods. I hope I can post a pic large enough for you to see the detail.

Beautiful, original dagger

better shot

I think this may be it--- SMS Preussen. Do any of you have more or better info? http://flagspot.net/flags/de1871bp.html#des

1

This flag appears to be a WW I copy of the 1818 flag. Was there a ship in WWI authorized to fly such a flag?

Thanks, you are right the difference is obvious.

Les, I just noticed your picture. Who makes that PLM ?

Les, Thanks---I would like to find a Steinhauer & Luck

It is getting similiar reviews in Germany, I feel stupid even to have posted such a thing. but no one lost any money and hopefully the viewers learned a few things. Thanks. Vic

I believe the Medal is improperly stamped to deceive. My concern is the time period of this piece and is it for sure a Rothe?