Odulf

The badge is worn as a traditional badge by ex-RADwJ, it looks genuine to me. Also note this: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/gallery/image/7394-sam-1616/

As there were more variations of the script, I will add this template to the above...

Generalarbeitsführer Fritz zur Loye, Arbeitsgauführer Arbeitsgau XIX (Niedersachsen West) From a Beförderungs-Urkunde, dated 09-08-1941

Interesting to note where the captured Dutch rifles went

On 06-06-1946 a copper pin broach (20 x 25 mm) was instituted for ex-members of the B.S., this official badge was to be worn on the left breast pocket of the uniform (or lapel of civilian jackets), it became obsolete in 1983 (due to the institution of the Resistance Commemorative Cross 1980).

My grandfather was conscripted in 1924, to become a reserve officer in the Infantry. In 1939 he was mobilized and in May 1940 he served as an Infantry platoon commander, but he saw no real action. Shortly after the occupation, all Dutch officers were pressed by the Germans to sign a document promising not to resist the Germans. By doing so they were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, because not signing this document would make them subject to become POW (and who should take care of their families, with the lawful Dutch Government in exile in England?), and so the vast majority of military personnel signed the document. If these demobilized soldiers would act against the occupier, they were liable to imprisonment of to be shot for breaking their oath. Never the less a number of officers started to organize a resistance, mainly lacally or regional, but as the war and the German occupation prolonged the resistance was organized on a more professional scale. The resistance was not a general organisation, it was very fragmented and the activities were manyfold. He set up a local resistance mainly together with other military officers, policemen and council workers; the big trouble was How to keep it secret! He managed to get his resistance group unharmed through the war, the acts of resistance were: support to people on the run for the Germans; support to Allied airmen; gathering German military information to pass on to England; collecting and forgeing identity cards, money and funds for other resistance grou ps, etc. In 1944 all resistance activities were combined and the resistance workers were "militarized" to get them a military status so that they were subordinate to command structures, but also in (vain) hope that they would be regarded as soldiers and not as franc-tireurs by the Germans. This militarized organisation was named "Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten" (B.S.) with Prince Bernhard (the son in law of H.M. Queen Wilhelmina) as commander. On 06-06-1946 a copper pin broach (20 x 25 mm) was instituted for ex-members of the B.S., this official badge was to be worn on the left breast pocket of the uniform (or lapel of civilian jackets), it became obsolete in 1983 (due to the institution of the Resistance Commemorative Cross 1980). After the war, he was promoted to Captain and later to Major (with the Dutch Grenadier Guards), to be promoted to Lt.Colonel on pension in 1956. His official decorations and medals were: - Order of Orange Nassau, Knight, Civil Division (in 1974) - Mobilisation Cross 1939 - Officers Long Service Cross, for 30 years - Resistance Commemorative Cross (posthumous in 1980) - Badge of the B.S. He never bothered to wear his medals on his uniform, only his ribbon bar and the brass B.S. badge. He died in 1975.

Perhaps we are inclined to think that this funny moustache was invented by Hitler, but to my experience it is more likely that Hitler was a folower of fashion. There are many portraits of men wearing this tooth brush moustache, not in the least the American actors Charlie Chaplin and Oliver Hardy.

Cabinet size portrait of an unidentified Sergeant of the ASC, Guards Division, c. 1918 wearing the ribbon of the 1914-15 Star sewn directly on the tunic.

Unidentified Sergeant of the Army Service Corps (c. 1910) wearing the ribbons of the QSA and KSA, possibly on a pin broach.

A cabinet size portrait of an unidentified Trumpet-Major of the North Devon Yeomanry in undress uniform (c. 1890) wearing his medal ribbons.

A cabinet size portrait (c. 1900) of Lt.Gen. Lord Methuen, wearing his medal ribbons.

A cabinet size portrait (c. 1910) of Pte. J.Flynn (2nd Buffs) wearing the ribbon of (possibly) the QSA Medal.

A cabinet size portrait of an unidentified Staff-Sergeant in India (possibly 14th Foot) wearing one medal ribbon.

A CdV portrait, dating around 1870, of a Colonel Alexander wearing his medal ribbons, alas it is not possible to define which (in the middle possibly the Mutiny Medal).

A CdV portrait of Prince Edward of Saxe Coburg (1823-1902) as Major-General and Commander of the Brigade of Guards, dating from about 1870. On this scarce picture he is wearing his medal ribbons.

My grandfather's Dutch Resistance Commemorative Cross 1940-1945

For the Dutch Resistance Medals I would advice you to visit this excellent website: http://www.onderscheidingen.nl/nl/ In particular search for the next official (Governmental) resistance medals: - Verzetsherdenkingskruis (inst. 1980) [Resistance Commemorative Cross]; a book was published with the completer roll of resistance fighters who were decorated with this medal - Verzetskruis 1940-1945 (inst. 1947) [Resistance Cross 1940-1945] - Verzetsster Oost-Azië 1942-1945 (inst. 1948) [Resistance Star East Asia 1942-1945]

The RLB (dating 02-12-1936) ia an appointment as "Luftschutz-Hauswart" (a minor RLB official responsible for one address). The other two are membeschip cards of the Reischverband für Deutsche Jugensherberge (Imperial Youth Hostel Organisation) She was born on 12-04-1918 and as far as I can see there is no functional connection between the RLB document and the other two cards.

Note the guy standing left, he is wearing some kind of cross, but not the Chaplain's Cross, and a collar indicating some clerical status (a Scripture Reader perhaps?).

Belgian Chaplain

Belgian Chaplain (ranking equal to a Captain): 1- Chaplain's Cross 2- Order of the Lion of Congo, Knights Cross 3- Black Star of Benin (?)

Army Dress Regulations 1900, regarding the wearing of decorations and medals, inclusive ribbons and miniatures.

And some more with pin

A selection of 20th century British (Commonwealth) ribbon bars without pin system.

These mini bars were worn on evening dress, when regulations ordered so. It goes to far to explain the circumstances, but it was not on the regular duty uniform. I would date the bar around 1910 or so, perhaps even later. The early ribbon bars were flat, and sewn onto the uniform, on a base of corse fabric, this was continued until afer WW2, the custom to put a ribbon bar on a pin dates from the interbellum (according to the fashion of the attachment). This is my opinion, based on experience; as this is not science. .