Hauptmann

[attachmentid=51344]

Well, afraid that's all I have in singles.

Dan

Next one of Ritter Von Epp:

[attachmentid=51343]

I love that long ribbon bar of his!

[attachmentid=51342]

Hi Pat,

As promised... here's my two single photos. I'm happy to do shots of the AH and Olympia books if you or anyone else are intro'd but I think they've been around enough that most folks have seen them. But let me know and I'll be happy to oblige.

This first one is of a group of SA:

[attachmentid=51341]

Hi all,

Here's my first OGPW 1st class 1985 issue:

[attachmentid=51338]

[attachmentid=51339]

And here's a group shot of all my OGPW... for now. I have the other 1st class coming this next week, plus I'm waiting on the final word but believe I've worked out not just the one other 2nd Umalatova but the other four the seller had left as well. So I'll have a total of six Umalatova GPW's before too much longer. Hope to have pics of them to share very soon.

[attachmentid=51340]

Top row, left to right:

1st class WWII type 2 variation 1, 2nd class WWII

Second row, left to right:

1st class 1985, 2nd class 1985

Third row:

Both 2nd class 1985

Bottom:

2nd class Umalatova

So once I have this new 1st class and the remaining Umalatova's I'll have a total of thirteen OGPW's. I wonder if I'm becoming obsessed with these little jewels? To be honest, I never thought I'd have this many but I guess it's like so many other slippery slopes in this hobby.

Dan

[attachmentid=51336]

[attachmentid=51337]

I wish I had at least taken photographs of the entire contents of the box. There were some allied aviation pieces... dog tags, insignia, a roll of film which showed what appeared to be a dog fight if I remember correctly... some British items. Just been so long I can't really remember in detail. And then several full sets of Imperial German wound badges as well as several partial black and silver sets. There were quite a number all told.

And of course, the cloth Pilots badge in the packet.

Anyhow, there you have it. Hope these help shed some light on all this. And in any event I've always thought these were great items on their own merit. And they certainly add alot to a First World War display.

Dan

Razor blades:

[attachmentid=51329]

[attachmentid=51330]

[attachmentid=51331]

[attachmentid=51332]

[attachmentid=51333]

[attachmentid=51334]

[attachmentid=51335]

French matches:

[attachmentid=51325]

[attachmentid=51326]

[attachmentid=51327]

[attachmentid=51328]

French railway tickets:

[attachmentid=51321]

[attachmentid=51322]

[attachmentid=51323]

[attachmentid=51324]

[attachmentid=51318]

Swedish matches:

[attachmentid=51319]

[attachmentid=51320]

Hi all,

Roderick, another member over at the AF made some interesting observations re: Metz:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthre...ed=1#post286637

I decided to go scanner happy (as if I'd not already reached that stage ) and do pics of the other items I still have (save the wound badge set as those I've already posted) that came in the box with the pilots badge and it's packet.

Here's the pics:

First, yet another clue... a matchbook:

[attachmentid=51315]

[attachmentid=51316]

[attachmentid=51317]

In all these years I never realized the connection between these and the packet with the address in Metz.

And last but not least the side markings:

[attachmentid=51308]

[attachmentid=51309]

I've always wondered if it might be possible to ID the original owner of this piece by the info he marked on the case, etc. He sure seemed determined to make it known who it belonged to.

Dan

And now the compass proper:

[attachmentid=51306]

Corps Of Engineers U.S. Army

[attachmentid=51305]

[attachmentid=51304]

CE (for Corps of Engineers I assume)

No. 3393

1918

There are some other markings that I cannot make out... possibly initials and what looks like the Roman numeral IX.

[attachmentid=51303]

[attachmentid=51307]

[attachmentid=51301]

[attachmentid=51300]

It says:

S-Co-M-104th

26th Div.

10-12-18

France

[attachmentid=51302]

This part has initials:

T-F-P

and again the date 10-12-18

Hi all,

Here's one I've had forever and a day. Complete with leather belt case.

[attachmentid=51298]

[attachmentid=51299]

Hi all,

Here's my small grouping of Besters... three NVA and one Grenztruppen:

[attachmentid=51296]

[attachmentid=51297]

Dan

Becaused they were given to GPW veterans merely for surviving?

Hi Ed,

Had been wondering about this myself. Seems these are pretty much a neglected area for the most part. Everyone feels they're so common and just don't bother much with them.

But is this also the case for lower numbered examples? Turns out I got this one from Alexander over at Soviet Screwbacks.com which I didn't realize till he got in touch afterward. He'd said in his auction description that these low numbered awards were to higher ranking military and political officials. Would sure be nice to find out something on them if this is indeed the case.

Dan

Talking of low numbers check out these OGPW docs to the same person

Order of Victory

Hi Vic,

VERY NICE... on all counts!

Dan

Thats a real nice one with a really really low number, Dan I have two pairs of these 85er issues too, which belong to groups and they are indeed quite nice, but once, you have discovered the beauty of the wartime issues, you are lost, man

PS: Darrel, glad, you still like them

Hi Gerd,

In a word... WOW!

Dan

Hi Darrell,

Hey my friend, nothing shabby about any of those. That first is to die for! Beautiful photo... looks like a glamour shot with that one. Hmmm, boudoir photography for Orders and medals...

And the "salty" ones... well, just worn with pride types with a good patina on them. Shows they've been there and done that.

But boy, I'm drooling over that first 1st you posted. You "ever" want to let that one go please oh please give me a shot at it. Just hope I've got either the money or potential trade goods to do it by then.

And having them with the docs... none of my OGPW's have docs with the exception of the one in my Georgian group and that's the award booklet. How I wish this one I just got also had the doc. But perhaps it'll show up in time. Stranger things have happened.

Many thanks for sharing yours. I really enjoyed seeing them... especially that first one. drool drool! I'll be pulling mine up and scanning them in a bit once things calm down around here.

Thanks,

Dan

Thank you very much for the effort, Dan! So far it is a mistery, noone has seen it.

It is definitey a kind of pump, on the bottom it has a hole - there is no screw, it is like a small funnel, as if to be pushed on something cone-shaped. What makes the mistery is the oil tank. Not only the cap for pouring the oil, but the knob fur tuning on/off ??? I opened the pump, I see no connection between the pump cylinder and the oil tank - but of course there may be a hole on the wall of the cylinder near the bottom, which I can not see.

So, I think it is not a bike/motorbike pump, these must have been pretty common - and this is not common.

It is rather some special, not widely used tool, only used as you say for some kind of gun or equipment.The search goes on! Outside it is good, but inside very rusty, the turning knob is "frozen". I'll spray some WD40 in the oil tank, so hopefully the mechansm will work again - and it may tell more about the use of that pump.

Hi Theodor,

It really looks like a great piece of gear. I wish I could have found more. I was really surprised not to find it in one of my refs that I checked which was the U.S. Army guide on German Forces in WWII that they printed back during or just after the war. A big thick book with tons of equipment, etc. They had something similar used in their chemical warfare units which of course never really got used during the war. But that was about the closest I could find.

Just a gut feeling but they did show a huge two man chain saw and I wonder if perhaps this would not have been used to lubricate something like that.

But hopefully something will turn up and we can solve this mystery. Perhaps if anyone knows of a WWII German engineer vet he could shed some light on this one.

Best of luck with it. Great looking piece... especially with the great eagle marking on it. Wouldn't mind having one in my collection some day. I'll have to keep an eye out!

Dan

Hi Dan,

I have been an avid collector of Legion insignia for almost 20 years now. A few books that I would recommend are as follows : -

For the History of the Legion

Legionnaire by Simon Murray (still a classic account of the Legion during the Algerian conflict)

Life in the French Foreign Legion by Evan McGorman (strips away a lot of the BS about what it is like to serve in the Legion nowadays)

The French Foreign Legion, A Complete History by Douglas Porsch (a good standard Legion history)

Le Livre D'Or de la Legion Etrangere (A good idea of how the Legion sees itself and its history)

Insignia etc.

La Legion Etrangere et ses insignes, published by S&T in 1990

Le Grand Livre des Insignes de la Legion Etrangere by Tibor Szecsko

If you want a good book on the French involvement in Indochina I would recommend Street Without Joy by Bernard Fall. For Dien Bien Phu, Fall's "Hell in a Very Small Place" is still unbeatable.

Best regards,

Paul

Hi Paul,

Will definitely have to try and find at least some of these... perhaps through inter library loan. Unless I'd find some really cheap I'd probably not buy them as again it's a passing interest but I'm trying to stick primarily with my Soviet and then the Warsaw Pact followed by the few other areas I still have. Just too many great areas out there to get into. But I'm always open to learning about new things or revisiting areas such as the Legion. But I think I'll be taking such documentaries with much more than a grain of salt from now on.

Thanks much for the recommendations. I'll take the list over and see if my librarian can find me some or all of them.

Dan

Hi,

you can get French citizenship, but only when rectified and with your original name. If you are on the run from the law for something serious... dont bother trying to join. It has not been a "no questions asked" deal for decades. They filter out the wierdoes, whackos and wankers right from the start. there is no keeping your papers or legion name when you leave.

Applying for the citizenship is rather long and complicated, a lot of guys give up on that right away (I did when i found out I had been throwing away my tax return papers for 4 years and they wanted the tax returns as proof of something).

You may always remain a legionnaire... but when you are gone you are outa sight and outa mind. there is no secret helpline or tel number. Puylobier you mentioned is a retirement home for ex combattants and old as god legionnaires, there are a couple more, but they are vey institutionalised.

Its a nice thing to have done when you are young, but when you leave it is a closed chapter and thats that.

best

Chris

Hi Chris,

Again, many apologies. I went primarily by what I thought at the time was a very in depth and accurate documentary. Should have known I'd end up with a case of "foot in mouth disease".

Again I don't claim to be an expert or anything near it. Just a passing interest. But thanks much for setting the record straight.

Dan

[attachmentid=51265]

A 1985 issue Order of the Great Patriotic War 1st Class and IMHOP a real beaut! I could dive into that gold and swim around all day. One of the nicest I think I've seen in a long time.

The number is 474172. The Alex stated this was a "low" number and:

"All low numbers were issued to high ranking military and political officials!"

Is that statement correct? I did not buy it on that basis but strictly due to it's beauty and condition. But that would definitely be a plus.

I think I did really well on this one at $25.05 plus $5 shipping. I believe they've been running in the $40 some odd range if I'm not mistaken... and they really seem to be drying up. In fact I think there was a thead to that effect at some point. The 2nds seem to turn up all the time but not the 1sts.

I already have an 85 issue 1st but as much as I like it this one really shines in my eyes.

I'll try to post my other in a bit for comparison.

Luck was with me as I really thought for sure it would hit the $40 to $50 range. Needless to say I'm very happy I managed to get it at the price I did as if it went much higher I would have had to pass... and on this one that would have really hurt!

Dan

Hi all,

Here's my latest acquisition... and I think I did well if I do say so myself. Fresh off Ebay and for considerably less than I figured it would go for.

[attachmentid=51263]

Also, I wanted to mention that I borrowed these great pics from Alexander over at Soviet Screwbacks.com. Turns out he was the seller which I didn't realize until afterwards when he got in touch.