Hauptmann

Dan

Sports medal:

Dan

Dan

My latest additions.

Dan

During the Imperial period the See-Battalion was attached to the Kaiserliche Marine, same as the U.S. Marines are to the U. S. Navy and the British Royal Marines to the Royal Navy. The See-Battalion provided shipboard security for larger vessels. They also provided security at many German embassies and consulates. In China one entire battalion (Battalion Nr 3) was assigned as the security force.

I'm not sure about during the Weimar or TR periods. During the TR I would think the SS but just not sure.

Under the DDR I believe it was the Stasi. In West Germany I believe it was the Federal Border Guard (Bundesgrenzschutz). I have a pic (which I'll scan in a bit and post) which shows two guards at the Presidential Chancellery in Bonn. They almost look like they did during the TR.

Dan

Hi Beau. Beautiful piece! But I wondered if you have any "before" pics... if so please post as it would be great to see the before/after.

Dan

Hi all. Hoping for a bit of advice here as to whether I did the right thing or if I screwed the pooch , although in this instance I can always make the trade so I have a life preserver.

Here's the deal... a friend wants to make a trade. His Beretta 96 pistol complete with lock, case, ammo (40 caliber) for my Chinese Norinco SKS rifle (well less than 100 rounds so basically pretty much like new). He's not intro'd in the military issued ones which I'd actually prefer so I left it that since Kim, Nick and myself all like the SKS if he can find me a military issue one to replace it and work it into the deal, even if I have to pop in a little something or a bit of cash to make it work then I'd strongly consider doing it.

His pistol does have one thing wrong... the clip release was removed at one point during cleaning and in this next pic you'll see there are two round looking pieces with a spring between them... well one of the round disk type pieces popped out during the disassembly and he's not been able to find it. He has the main piece and the other disc piece and spring. From what we've seen a full replacement would run about $20 to $40 range (does this sound about right?). He'd probably even be willing to get the replacement piece and get it put on if we work the deal.

So basically did I do okay holding off or am I an idiot and should I have gone for it and still consider calling him and going for it. He lives about 30 miles from here so can always get ahold of him there.

Keeping my fingers crossed that someone can point me in the right direction here.

Many thanks!

Dan

Hi Mervyn... nice find! Not in bad condition at all and I love the way they did the loop on top... much nicer than just a plain circular loop. Only wish I could find some earlier English silver coins like that over here. I keep my eye on Ebay but they always seem to go up. I especially love Crowns... I have three or four Victorian ones from her later years, and one George IV if I remember correctly but it's extremely worn. But I continue to keep my eyes open. I managed to get a small silver from Elizabeth I but it's really been there, done that... but the best I could afford. The old hammered silvers are grabbed up at insane prices (at least to me) even when they're not in the greatest condition. Oh how I'd love to be able to go over and metal detect as they find them over there all the time.

But really think you did good on this one. I don't generally like to see coins made into jewelry but this one is really well done and is one I'd be honored to have if it was in my collection. She's a beaut!

Dan

Looks like a nice one to me... but would love to at least see pics of the others if possible, especially the six digit one. I would think if it had been worn to for ages, during service and later at all parades, etc., that the obverse would have seen more possible wear than the reverse... especially if it was worn in a position where movement of the arm would have brushed the sleeve against it time and time and time again. At least that's my guess, but hopefully we'll hear more from others.

Number wise, this one comes closest in the green bible to:

1,843,099 15.6.45 3 Shock Army 150th Rifle Division, Reichstag.

But again we should wait for comments from others who will hopefully know more than lil' ole' me.

Hoping this helps though.

Dan

Hi Lorenzo. How I wish it did... along with many others I'm sure! Here's some info and places you may be able to order a copy:

http://www.themedalhound.com/books/rec.html

http://home.netcom.com/~merezhko/echoes.html

http://www.wwmeinc.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=wwmeinc&Product_Code=BKS152&Category_Code=99-100-500

http://www.amazon.com/Echoes-War-Researching-Military-Decorations/dp/0965628914

And a thread here about the red and green bibles as well as Dave Schwind's No Deed Forgotten:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=8895&hl=echos of war&st=0

The green bible is great, not only to read researched examples but also to be able to go through the lists of researched awards to compare a piece you have or are considering and see where the SN sits in the time line. But it does not include awards created after WW2 such as the Order of Service to the Motherland (Crab), etc.

Hope this helps.

Dan

Dan, the number is 350949, so a slightly earlier award (approximately spring 1945). It's most probably a combat award; the first wound awards turn up in the 400K range.

May I ask what the prices for these orders are in Armenia?

Quite correct. Many apologies for the incorrect info. I saw the number he'd posted and only took a quick glance at the pics of the award... plus my eyes are not what they once were, and they were never that great to begin with.

To update from the green bible on the correct number... the closest before and after would be:

348,753 22.5.45 139 Rifle Division

351,138 3.3.45 1 Belorussian Front

So yes, probably a combat award... always better than a long service although the history those represent is very important as well.

Dan

Again, I totally agree with Paul... a nice original award. Been there, done that look. According to the green bible there are several MMM's on either side of this number dated 3.11.44 for long service. But you never know till you research. This will just give you an indication.

But definitely a very nice piece. If you're getting these at good prices I'd say grab all you can... especially the Glory's... those are only for combat so generally you have a good chance of coming up with very interesting research on those.

Dan

I totally agree with Paul... a very nice original example. Definitely a good candidate for research. In fact, in the green bible the closest one to your number is as follows:

530940 22.7.45 Leningrad Front, Woman (For wounds received).

Dan

Another stupid thing I did that I've long regretted. A friend had come over to my house one day, not too long before Kim and I got married and moved out on our own. He brought along a gift for me... a near mint, complete Japanese helmet with the original tie on the chinstrap (they're tied in a very specific manner from what I understand). His father had sent it back from the war and it was stored at his mom's house till they'd gone to clear that out when she had to go in a nursing home. He didn't want it and the son was not really intro'd but asked if he could give it to a friend and his dad said sure. So he gave it to me.

At the time I wasn't "into" Japanese militaria and a few months later I traded it off for some TR pieces. Oh how I wish I'd kept the helmet... just because it was a gift and it's generally not like me to let presents go. I regretted it almost immediately. I tried and tried to either trade or buy it back from the guy I'd traded it to but he would not let go of it. This was a guy I'd trusted and welcomed into my home as a friend on many occassions. He'd come over from St. Petersburg to show me his latest goodies (he sold at the Wagon Wheel Flea Market) and I'd end up buying tons of stuff from him. But he got greedy over time and started to take advantage of me as a new collector with money and ended up passing on some copies as originals, making deals with me he had to know were very lopsided in his favor knowing that my knowledge level was not up to his... and here he was the one that was supposedly teaching me and keeping me from the wolves. He started out that way but then he turned. I lost touch with him ages ago but sure wish I could have gotten that helmet back first as I'd still have it today if I had. And now just to get one anywhere near as nice would run me a few hundred dollars.

Sigh.

Dan

Hi Dan, This is a bit so sorry for this.

As I read you last post I was thinking that I would ask if you'd post the mine fuse and low and behold you did.

I love this sort of gadgetry! Thanks so much for posting it, I'm also glad you didn't sell it.

Regards

Brian

See... think of asking and ye shall receive. Forgot to say my other hobby is reading minds and being omnipotent.

I also love these kinds of goodies and with my other hobby of clocks and pocket watches it was a natural. Only I wish I could find out more about it. But so far... nada.

Oh, another thing I've always regretted is listening to the "experts" who all said the 1957 awards for German vets were junk and would never be seriously collected! Boy did they get that wrong. In those days you could barely give most of that stuff away and now! I had the money back then that I could have had an outstanding collection of 57's... but I listened and I've paid the price.

What I learned... listen to the experts but then after thorough consideration follow your heart. I loved the 57's and I only wish I'd followed my heart. Been trying to make up for it ever since but it's a long road now, and a bit of a pricey one, although still not near TR prices (thank God!).

Dan

Hi Dan,

There is not enough room on this forum to list all of the stupid things I have done, and that's just if I stick to collecting.

I am reminded of how financially easy it was to purchase Thrid Reich helmets in the 1950s and early 1960s and what the prices are today. Perhaps your DDR helment will follow the same path.

Regards

Brian

Hi Brian,

Oh I hear you re: prices. Even when I got into things TR was still not nearly as bad as it's been these last few years. I remember when IC 2nds went for around $25 to $35, 1sts went for all of about $50 to $100 (depending on if cased or not), helmets for $50 to $100 for the common basic ones, even with nice original decals, liners, etc. Used to be able to get SA and NSKK daggers (nice ones) all day long for between $50 and $75, Army and Luft 2nd daggers for $$50 to $100 and even Luft 1sts for $150 to $200 complete with chain! WW1 EK 2nds for $10 to $25 and 1sts for $50 to $100. Those bars with the EK2/Hindenburg cross combination I could get all day long for no more than $25!!!! Even Japanese NCO swords (which I LOVE... the ones with the metal scabbards and grips) I could have gotten literally as many as I wanted at one show for $40 to $50 each and if I could have purchased all of them I'm sure I could have gotten them for even less! This was right before the Japanese got rich and started to buy stuff like this back for insane prices. You still can't generally get these for less than $300 up regardless of condition.

Oh for the good old days!

Dan