Hauptmann

Hi all,

Something came up tonight I haven't thought of for a while. When I was much younger I used to get World War II history magazines whenever I could. Sadly I only have a few. But I believe in one of those or a similar magazine there was a very good article on Luftwaffe survival buoys. I've looked high and low and so far I can't find my copy of this. It may be in storage and if so there's no telling when I'll be able to lay my hands on it.

These were set out in the English Channel so that pilots and aircrew that were shot down (German or otherwise) could get to them in their life rafts or by swimming if close enough and inside they'd find all the basic survival gear they'd need to stay alive till rescued... bunks, blankets, dry clothing, water, food, flashlights, equipment to make repairs on the buoy if needed, pumps, etc. Both sides tended to check them so they'd either be rescued or captured depending on who was in them and who found them. From what I understand the Germans felt these should have had the same protection as Red Cross facilities but the British would often shoot at them figuring that if the airmen survived what was the point in shooting them down in the first place. Not making any judgements here... it's just what I read in several articles. But basically that's one reason that they finally stopped putting them out there.

Here's a site I found with a few pictures... but basically what I'm looking for is a picture or series of pictures that I remember from that magazine showing a cutaway (similar to the one on this site) but labeled as to what was stored where inside. It may also have been in color... I just can't remember for sure. Hoping perhaps one of our members may have this and would be kind enough to post it or perhaps a scan of the complete article as I feel it would be of interest to all our members interested in the Luftwaffe:

http://www.luftarchiv.de/index.htm?/gerat/rettung.htm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirk_bruin_vl...57602180011317/

Thanks!

Dan

Also here's a link Uwe gave in another post which may be helpful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Meri...People%27s_Army

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_For_Fai...%E2%80%99s_Army

As you see this also covers the Medal of Merit of the NVA.

Dan :cheers:

And last but not least... an early document and folder:

And my two latest additions... one in hand and one just won and will be about a couple of weeks or so.

5 Year Faithful Service medal in the NVA Type 1 - (1956-59) Bronze, with serial number on reverse. DDR flag on the obverse without the State Seal.

10 Year Faithful Service medal in the NVA Type 3 - (1962-63) Silver "900" content stamp on reverse above the intersection of the crossed laurel branches.

So the case should be for a border guard medal ?

Hi Grant,

I believe that's what Uwe meant on the case. It's sure a nice one. Please keep me in mind if you ever want to part with it.

Hope you don't mind... but figured I'd pop a few over here. First a full set:

My latest two additions. Please forgive the photos... due to some leakage in my basement I've not been able to do scans for a bit but hoping to be able to soon. Plus I just won the second of these so it'll be at least a couple of weeks (I'm guessing) before it will arrive.

My first Serial Numbered DDR medal:

5 Year Faithful Service medal in the NVA Type 1 - (1956-59) Bronze, with serial number on reverse. DDR flag on the obverse without the State Seal.

And my first silver marked DDR medal:

10 Year Faithful Service medal in the NVA Type 3 - (1962-63) Silver "900" content stamp on reverse above the intersection of the crossed laurel branches.

Been waiting a long time to get an example of these. Hoping to be able to find the same at some point for the Medal of Merit of the NVA as that's by far my favorite DDR medal. So far I have quite a few of them but none with either a silver mark or serial number. But here's hoping some day...

Dan :cheers:

Hi Dan,

a collector of DDR orders and decorations need Bartel catalogues like this:

DDR Spezialkatalog 1949-1990, Band I Staatliche Auszeichnungen, 3rd edition 2003

http://www.verlag-frank-bartel.de/pageID_3540623.html

Some more specific questions?

Uwe

Hi Uwe,

Not that I can think of off hand. You and Gordon have been most helpful. And that link you gave for the pieces in English was a tremendous help. I've seen the Bartel's and heard them talked about but again, from what I've seen they're all in German. I'm sure the same details are in those and probably even in the reference I have... but again I'm not quite fluent enough to pick them out. So having them in English is WONDERFUL!!!!

Also I just managed to add my first silver marked piece:

Again pics are sellers... it'll be a bit before it arrives as I just now won the auction, but once it gets here I'll do up better scans and repost.

With the help of that link I find this one to be a Type 3 - (1962-63).

Again thanks so much for all the help in all this. Gives me a much better idea of what I'm looking for.

Dan :cheers:

Okay... now reading through the link you gave me (many thanks Uwe! ) I see a few things. The last one I pictured is, it seems, a Type 1 (1956-1959) of the five year medal.

I also see that there were indeed "silver" medals that were gold plated, etc., for the higher levels (15/20 year). I also see that serial numbers were discontinued in 1959 and as the bronze level (5 years) of this award was the only one in existance for this particular award prior to 1959 with the 10 year and up awards coming post 1959 the only examples in this particular series with serial numbers would be the bronze 5 year medal.

I also found answers to several of my questions on the Medal of Merit. Sure wish they covered all the Orders, medals and badges on that site. But I'll definitely be printing these out and putting them with my other reference materials. Great stuff!!!!

Many thanks!!!!

Dan :cheers:

I recently obtained one with a serial number... my first and only so far... 044086:

Sorry for the pic quality... they're the best I have right now till I can sort out my basement again and get to my scanner.

But in that same series of medals as well as the others I showed I've seen the silvers (and in this case the bronze) with serial numbers so I'm assuming any of the levels of those series of medals could have serial numbers, correct?

I've also seen "silver" examples of both with the silver marking... sometimes on the reverse and sometimes on the edge. At times this is on a serial numbered example and at times not.

And since these are the only "medals" I've seen with them so far those are the ones I've been keeping an eye out for with examples of serial numbers and/or silver marks.

So again I'm assuming that "only" the silver grade/silver content awards were silver marked but that all grades could be serial numbered, and at times serial numbered as well, if both were on a silver grade medal with silver content.

Hoping I've got this right. As far as valuations on either of these types with serial numbers and/or silver markings I've no idea. I just know they're rather tough to find... at least on this side of the pond.

Dan :cheers:

Hi Uwe,

Many thanks to both you and Gordon for helping out on this. Still not totally clear on some of it. Will try to clarify in a sec... but for now here's the ref I have:

Okay... here are the two medal series that I've seen examples having either serial numbers and/or silver marks (on the silver ones):

Also... does anyone know if the DDR kept records whereby such serial numbered awards could be researched as with Soviet awards? I know alot of records were detroyed by the Stasi towards the end but would this have included regular military personnel records and such which is where I'm assuming such awards would have been recorded. And as such awards seem so hard to come by I'd assume there would not be that many of them comparatively.

Thanks again,

Dan :cheers:

Hoping someone can help with this. Out of the earlier DDR medals which ones would have either a serial number or silver mark? The only ones I know of for sure are the Verdienstmedaille der NVA and the Medaille f?r Treue Dienste - Nationalen Volksarmee.

Also were only the silver grades actually made of silver or were the golds perhaps silver and then gold plated? And if so could the silver marks also be found on the golds... or only on the silver?

I know some silver marks were put on the reverse of the medals but some were on the edge. For those on the edge is there any way to tell it's that type without seeing the edge... perhaps something else that was unique to those particular marked medals?

I have one of the refs on the DDR Orders and medals but of course it's all in German and I'm not quite that fluent to pick up all these points. Oh how I wish (and I know alot of others) that someone would do a good reference on these in English. Or at least a decent translation of those in German or other languages.

Anyhow I'd be grateful for any help on all this.

Many thanks!

Dan

*** Horst Buchholz in "The Magnificent Seven"

Geez Rick... was just thinking that same exact thing! Could have been his double!

Dan :cheers:

Hi all,

Tonight (4-5 p.m. cst) on the History Channel... Cities Of The Underworld - Stalin's Secret Underground. Fascinating stuff! Includes the communications bunker where the cable was sent to call off the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Dan :cheers:

Hi There

Please advise what is wrong with these, as i have been looking at getting one of the the awards for a while and would like to know what to look for?

Thanks for posting this.

Regards

Warthog

Hi Warthog,

Sorry for the delay in replying on this. It's been one of those months and then some with the weather we've been going through and such.

I wish I could tell you more... I'd suggest you post a query over in the HJ section and copy the link for this thread there for reference. I'm sure the guys there will be able to give you more specifics on these and others as far as what to keep an eye out for.

To be honest, I had a fairly decent TR collection and have basically sold off the majority of my original items... keeping a few really nice copies. Now, if I want an example of something and I find a nice copy for cheap I grab it. Much better than laying out a ton of hard earned cash only to find out something is a fake anyway. At least with a copy I know what I'm getting and I'm getting it for the cheapest price possible. Just far far too many copies from utter garbage up to excellent near perfect copies out there in TR land for me to risk it anymore. I got my stuff back in the day when IC's ran about $5 to $25 for a 2nd (either war) and 1st's ran about $30 to $75 (either war). I got fairly decent prices/trades when I let go of it all and nowadays would be scared to death to go where even angels fear to tread.

Anyhow... good luck with finding some good pieces at good prices.

Dan :cheers:

Hi all,

Here's my latest addition to the ribbon bar collection. It's from our member Vitaly (mucho thanks my friend! ) and are his pics used with permission:

I'm assuming the last award is Polish?

Dan :cheers:

As always comments are most welcome. Any ideas on manufacturers?

Thanks!!!!

Dan :cheers:

Hi all,

Well, they're breeding again! My newest additions as of yesterday afternoon. Forgive the camera pics but was anxious to post them. Will be happy to do scans in the next day or two if requested.

Both are black and I cannot find any makers marks on them. One has a wider edge than the other... or perhaps thicker is the proper term? Both appear to be brass.

Sorry for the slightly off pic quality... was anxious to post these for comments but will try to scan in the next day or so and replace these pics with scans. Did these with my new camera and hoping they'll be good enough to get some feedback which of course, as always is deeply appreciated.

Thanks!

Dan :cheers:

Hi all,

My newest as of yesterday (Friday) afternoon... Order of the Red Star serial number 2132502: