J Temple-West

Morning, Jock If you are referring to the stamped flat rivet heads....typical for Assmann. Here's an example of a slightly earlier Assmann Para, in zinc, with the same rivets.

Grubby it may be....but this one piece is considered quite a rarity in the collecting community. Nice find.

Other than the obvious damage...it's a textbook number "1" die by Assmann. These can be found either unmarked, with the "A" or "A" over "L/64". Still a nice piece of history you have there, Jock.

A nice photo of the Italo-German Campaign Medal in wear….not often seen.

Not sure who the maker is, but a nice original by the looks of it. No bending the remaining pins, Jock

Morning, Jock.... Looks to be a good one. Just one thing....is there a catch plate under that solder, or is that catch a repair/replacement?

Phenomenal grouping .....Greeeeen with envy.

Award to a member of the S.A. Gruppe Niederrhein for the 100m sprint during the 3 day sports event 16-18 June 1939. The label on the reverse of the cased award shows the maker to be Steinhauer & Lück - Ludenscheid

Morning, Chris... Wish I could help, but I've not come across a KVK by this maker before. Hopefully one of the members will have something to compare it to. Looks well made, correct "L" number for Franke & CO....so well worth researching a little further.

So, just in is a very early sports award to members of the police who took part in a three day sports event in August 1933. What makes this award a rather rare piece is that it depicts Hermann Göring (the then Minister of the Interior for Prussia, head of the police force and founder of the infamous Gestapo) on one side. The award is cased, and as can be seen on the rim of the award.. made by the firm E. Ferdinand Wiedmann, Frankfurt am Main.

Morning, Morten... A very nice set of photo's you have there...only wish we knew what was being awarded. The clearest shot of an award is the one in post # 2, and my first thought was; 22nd March 1939 return of Memel Commemorative medal. But, alas, not clear enough to confirm.

So, if we give a retirement age of 65 (which is most likely) to the gentleman in the photo...this could well be his retirement party, having been with the same firm/organization for the 50 years depicted in the wreath.

An interesting question. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an SS/police long service on the same bar. I may be wrong, but seeing that the police were under the direct command of the SS, would the SS long service award cover any police service for active SS members? Hopefully Robin will have some insight into the matter.

Thanks for that, Robin I think I'll continue to look for a 1st pattern.

You are right regarding the Panzer Assault Badge....fake vs original. The JFS General Assault Badge, as you say, is a fake....not sure about the F&R, would have to see the front of the badge but it has a good chance.

Hi, Robin Nice looking set, but I have to say.....you are a braver man than I am. With the controversy surrounding these crosses, I've never quite had the nerve to take the leap into buying one. Strange that not long ago these cased minty examples were considered as copies, and now there are a number of accepted types. Stories of a cache found in the 70s, more than one set of dies, more than one maker, etc....what to believe. The example that you show having been dug up...very interesting. I have another example in my files that is said to have come from the same dig, and as can be seen is a match to the photo; the same width of font, the bend to the left sword handle etc. It has to come from the same dies. Then there are these "accepted types".... Finer fonts, a difference in the laurels. So, again... more than one set of dies, more than one maker? Any info/thoughts?

The following maker marks are found on period Heer/SS war badges produced between 1939-1945 It should be noted that manufacturers also produced the same badges without any maker marks - therefore, unmarked badges should not be dismissed as originals purely because they are devoid of any maker's marks. C E Juncker - Berlin Karl Wurster - Markneukirchen Friedrich Linden - Ludenscheid F.W. Assmann und Söhne - Ludenscheid Sohni, Heubach & Co. (S.H.u.C.o.) - Idar-Oberstein a.d. Nahe Rudolf Souval - Wien Funke & Brüninghaus (F&BL) - Ludenscheid Deschler & Sohn - München Josef Feix Sohne (JFS) - Gablonz Grossmann & Co - Wien Förster & Barth - Pforzheim E. Ferdinand Wiedmann - Frankfurt AGMuK - Gablonz (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Metall und Kunstoff) 1-7 A.G.M.u.K - Gablonz MK or HM (debate surrounds the subject of this maker's mark - 'KM' or 'HM'? The schools of thought are; 'H M' for Hauptmunzamt, Munchen - 'K M' for the conglomerate Metalle Kunstoffe, Gablonz) Rudolf Karneth (R.K) - Gablonz Carl Wild - Hamburg Ernst Müller - Pforzheim Wilhelm Hobacher (WH) - Wien Franke & Co (FCL) - Ludenscheid Fritz Zimmermann & Co (FZS) - Stuttgart Julius Bauer & Söhne (J B & Co) - Zella-Mehlis / Thüringen AS Frank & Reif - Stuttgart Rudolf Richter (RRS) - Schlag Hermann Aurich - Dresden B.H. Mayer - Pforzheim Gustav Brehmer (GB) - Markneukirchen Hymmen & Co (H&CL) - Ludenscheid Adolf Scholze - Grünwald Richard Simm & Söhne - Gablonz Gebrüder Wegerhoff (GWL) - Ludenscheid Friedrich Orth (F.O.) - Wien Brüder Schneider (BSW) - Wien EWE Arno Wallpach - Salzburg Attributed to Werner Redo - Saarlautern If I've missed any, feel free to post.

I can help you with the zinc pest problem.... A liberal application of "Vaseline" (I think; petroleum jelly in the US) will sort it out.

Morning, Kamilos With regards to the Luftwaffe Ground Assault badge....well, it looks like you have found an original piece. Until quite recently, the maker of this badge type was unknown. Now, after a few examples found in packets with the maker's stamp, they are attributed to Hammer & Söhne. As to the ribbonbar.... From left to right: WW1 EK2 - ? - Hindenburg Cross with swords - NSDAP 10 year service cross - 1st October 1938 - Sudetenland Commemorative Medal. Hopefully, the Imperial guys will be able to help with the award next to the EK.

Very nice.... Any chance of a close-up of the award, just to see if it is the 50 year.