J Temple-West

A new one for me....very nice.

From what I gather, things were pretty fluid when it came to personnel...non coms being used in reserve positions in active units being commonplace. And yes, I've seen a few confusing photos with SCwS on guys known not to have been in active units, too. ;-)

So, it looks like you have an original badge with what looks a zinc eagle on a tombak wreath. the pin is most likely been replaced at some point.

After receiving your PM asking me to look at minesweeper by B&NL I expected to see a fake with bogus maker mark. Nice to see that it was probably a typing error and that it's turned out to be as Martin has rightly identified.

Morning, Paul An interesting question. I've never seen any photographic evidence of Heer personnel wearing Luftwaffe qualification badges as all support aircraft, for the army, were supplied by the Luftwaffe and manned by Luftwaffe trained aircrew, but Im sure that there must have been individuals who having qualified as aircrew transferred to the army at a later stage. The only Luftwaffe qualified non-Luftwaffe unit that I can think of was Fliegergeschwader z.b.V. 7 which was part of the Polizeifliegerabteilung of the Ordnungspolizei coming under the command of the SS, and although the aircraft were manned by members of the Police, for administrative and pay purposes they belonged to the Luftwaffe. Of course, there were individuals in other branches of the Wehrmacht/SS who held Luftwaffe qualification badges, as with the Kriegsmarine Observers, and they were members of the SS such as Some of the more famous (or infamous) characters: Reinhard Heydrich: flew with JG. 1 Friedrich Ludwig Herbert Alpers: flew as an Observer with Fernaufklärungsgruppe 22 Seen here is Hans Baur (Hitler's Pilot and head of Fliegerstaffel des Führers) holder of the Luftwaffe Pilots badge. Note the Luftwaffe Pilot's badge on the SS officer in the background.

Morning, Martin Back at you...great, and very interesting, photo you have there. Seeing that he's wearing his full parade bar showing the Bulgarian "Order for Military Merit" (2nd Class) and the Romanian medal for the "Crusade against Communism" is an indicator of where most of his war took place....if fact, I have a list of Kriegsmarine associated airborne units and with a bit of research it shouldn't be too difficult finding out which unit he was in.... I take that it would be to much to ask that there was a name on the back of the photo? A couple more Observers posted by Gordon from the archives:

A close-up and comparison.

All Kriegsmarine airborne units came under the command of the Luftwaffe, all aircraft being manned by Luftwaffe aircrew with the exception of a number of Observers from theKriegsmarine who were placed on temporary secondment with the Luftwaffe for a four year period for training/active duties. This new acquisition shows one of the Kriegsmarine Observers wearing his Observer badge which can be made out to be, thankfully to the clarity of the photograph, a 1st pattern by C.E Juncker - Berlin

All three are known pieces produced by "Allach".....based on the photo's and markings, all look to be originals.....although not quite sure what's going on with the blackening to the eagle and plaque on the SS rally vase? It would seem to be some sort of chemical reaction has taken place, or is it just that the vase needs a clean?

Bakelite (used widely for all manner of military items) is durable.....but how easy would it have been to attach the hinge and catch to a badge made of it I wonder.

I've seen a couple of these over the years and, like you, have wondered why this material was used. There could be a number of reasons....most likely an experimental exercise perhaps to cut down on the use of high grade metals? The manufacturing company, as well as producing metal die struck items, may have also produced items made from this substance and found it to be more cost effective, and once the finish was applied it would have been hard to tell the difference. Certainly an interesting piece.

A slightly better picture of Weidling (Bundesarchiv) should help....

just a quick phone camera shot of the DRLG badge...looks to be a match.

Maker mark:

A look at the hardware.... Hinge: Catch:

Just in is an early example by one of the makers that's a little harder to find..."Bruder Schneider - Wien" (BSW)

Many early examples were stamped with "D.R.G.M" (Patent Pending) and then changed to "D.R.P" (Patented in the German Reich) making this a very nice early to mid-war bar. Small, but perfectly formed.

And another of "Mahlke" from the 'Interweb'....

Another similar long service cross... this time for a specific organization being the Fire Brigade, along with the recipients' WW2 bar.

I agree with Nick on this one... There is a 1957 version with the same hinge (similar to those found on iron crosses by Deschler) and domed rivets that some except as original...so perhaps an unknown maker?

Both modern reproductions....Imo.

Wow!! Simply superb! I've never seen a "Boerger" with screwback... one of a kind. Congrats, Jim.

Hi Leclerc I only have one renazified badge in my collection very nicely done by a jeweler on behalf of the owner, post war. The badge is made of tombak...the replacement swastika has been crafted from a magnetic metal which is either steel or iron. If you dont mind the repair, you can have this rare 1st pattern W. Deumer pilots badge for the price I paid for it.... £350.00 Well, it is Christmas!

About half the price the seller is asking.

From the pictures, the plate looks to be typical for most of the Luftwaffe 'mess ware' found out there. The name of the maker is under the Luftwaffe contract stamp and looks to be something like "Kocruigszett".