Kev in Deva

Hallo Gentlemen, this is strictly from Post WW1, an unofficial Veterans Association issued piece, i.e the vet had to buy it. It was issued in the Hamburg area to returned veterans of WW1, the soldier depicted on the front carrys no arms and is seen wearly trudging homeward. It came with a mini stick-pin a paper Urkunde and its issue white cardboard box. The item features regularly on Ebay, and is often described as a bravery award! which it is not. In fact it rates a location along with the Kyffrhauserbund medal, the Legion of Honour, and the campaigb Crosses, Somme, Flanders, Champange, etc...etc... My one is shown pictures and has the more normal Pin on the rear. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gentlemen, this Greek Cross is being offered for sale, but I need some learned opinions. All I know about the item in question is what I read in the book on Greek medals by George Stratoudakis, "Since the spring of 1835 the Bavarian Volunteer Army Corps started gradually to replace the regular Bavarian troops, who were in Greece since 1833. For the men of this Corps it was decided by Royal Decree in 1837 to strike a Medal as a Commemorative and Honourable distinction. The medal was struck in Bronze, and in Iron." Kevin in Deva

Gentlemen The following is a report on two Romanian soldiers wounded in Afganistan. http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=de...d=20060821-5455 Two Romanian soldiers in Afghanistan mutilated for life Two Romanian troopers, Valerica Slaniceanu,, 28and Laurentiu Serban,, 27of the 341 Infantry Battalion, deployed in Afghanistan, severely wounded are currently hospitalised in Germany. Published in issue 3748 page 3 at 2006-08-21 Until Friday, August 19, 2006 when daily Evenimentul Zilei ran a story about them, nobody knew anything about their condition. The Ministry of National Defence (MoD) announced that the two military (men) and their families opposed having their story made public. The tragedy of the two soldiers who each have lost a leg, comes amid a campaign launched by Liberals in favour of the pullout of Romanian troops from Iraq, but also of a growing number of voices, confirmed by opinion polls, that put into question Romania?s participation in theatres of war. The two military are currently at the NATO Regional Medical Centre at Landstuhl, Germany, and their arrival back home is likely within two months, according to MoD. MoD assured that despite their infirmity, the two will carry on their military careers. Valerica Slaniceanu and Laurentiu Serban will remain in the structures of the Romanian Army, one of them even planning to do parachute jumps, General Sorin Ioan, the commander of the Ground Forces Staff (SMFT), said, while in Buzau. The two soldiers have lost their legs after they stepped on some mines near Kandahar. Another trooper, Gheorghita Ionel Dragusanu, lost his life in the same incident. According to General Ioan, who spoke to the hospital leadership and the US medical crew in charge of the treatment and the recovery of the Romanian military, the condition of the two wounded soldiers is stable. One of them has problems at one of the eyes and I hope to recover the eyesight and I don?t believe there will be any problems. Their morale is high, they are in very good shape, they are very brave and will remain there until they will stand on their feet, in two months most likely.? And on their return back home, ?Valerica Slaniceanu and Laurentiu Serban will be received with all the military honours, as it is proper, at their units,? the general also said. The spokesman for the Ground Troops Staff, Lieutenant-Colonel Liviu Flutur, told Evenimentul Zilei that MoD opted to keep a low profile when it came to the real condition the Romanian military find themselves in. ?Everybody in the army knows that Slaniceanu and Serban have their legs amputated, but we cannot just say it out loudly, from embarrassment and respect for their families.? Basescu talks to military deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan President Traian Basescu toasted a glass of champagne Friday afternoon with military and war veterans at Buzau, having discussed with the heads of the Maresal Alexandru Averescu? Joint Operational Command no 2 The president asked about the climatic conditions in Iraq but also the technical conditions of the armoured carriers in Afghanistan, having asked the soldiers in both theatres of operations to return home with their mission accomplished, but also healthy and unharmed, all of them.?I wish you much success and for all of you to get back home. I am convinced that your skills will lead to both wishes to be fulfilled,? Traian Basesu told the Romanian troops in Iraq. Mr. Basescu availed himself of this opportunity to speak Friday with the heads of the military in Iraq and Afghanistan via a video-link conference from the headquarters of the Operational Command no 2. by Alina Petre.

Hallo Tomitchoe if you are interested in obtaining a Portugese Victory Medal, Type 2 Official, look at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...A:IT&ih=013 It also has the correct clasp and ribbon, and notice jhow the clip is larger than the ribbon. Kevin in Deva

FROM THE ROMANIAN JURNALUL NATIONAL English version, 29th July 2006. Commander of Battalion in Iraq Dies in Car Crash in Romania, 29 Iulie 2006 | de Andrada Floria. The commander of the 280 Infantry Battalion in Focsani, eastern Romania, died Friday in a car accident, a few hours after his return to Romania from a six-month mission in Iraq. Lt Col Stefan Balan, 39, and his wife Maricica, 39, died instantly, and their daughter Andreea, 14, was left in a deep coma after the car the man was driving (in the) left lane and crashed into another automobile coming from the opposite direction. The two people traveling in the second car were also severely hurt. Police suspect Balan fell asleep while driving. The rest of 30 military men in his battalion were traveling from the military airport they arrived at to Focsani city in a coach behind Balan?s automobile, so they witnessed the accident. Balan was at his first mission abroad. He took his current position in May 2005. Balan graduated in 2004 as valedictorian from the Faculty for Chiefs of Staffs at the University for National Defense, and trained too at the Polish Academy for National Defense, and the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany. Translated by ANCA PADURARU Kevn in Deva

Hallo Gentlemen, the way the clasp seems to pull the ribbon in at the sides, makes me wonder does it indeed belong here in the first place, in fact the ribbon looks to be the British version of the Inter-Allied Rainbow ribbon. Will ask Dolf if he can check it out as he lives in Portugal and collects some of the Orders. Kevin in Deva

Hallo BJW, no need to apologise, you cant be expected to see every new thread, and feel free to add to Op Telic. Sad Story: I have to try and get the name of the Romanian Officer who just returned from Service overseas in Irag, meet his wife and daughter at the Airport and shortly afterwards were einvolved in a horific car smash. He and his lady wife were killed out-right, his daughter (Fourteen years old, I believe is still in intensive care, badly hurt) more details when I locate, (this happened as I was heading off to the mountains and had no chance to get all details ) The look on the faces of his fellow comrades who came across the accident while making their way home was one of utter bewilderment and shock. I think he was still on "active duty" his leave starting the next day. Kevin in Deva. BUCHAREST DAILY NEWS, Home ? Local News, http://www.daily-news.ro/article_detail.php?idarticle=29380 Iraqi veteran killed in civilian car crash by Alecs Iancu. A Romanian soldier who had just returned from Iraq on Friday after a six-month tour died in a car accident while he was heading home. His wife also died in the crash, while their 14-year old daughter was severely injured. The officer, Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Balan, 39, landed at Henri Coanda airport on Friday, returned from a six-month mission with peacekeeping forces in Iraq. He was greeted at the airport by his wife, Maricica Balan, and their daughter. The accident took place in Ramnicu Sarat, while Balan was driving with his wife and daughter to Focsani, where they lived. The lieutenant colonel reportedly lost control of the car and smashed into two cars that were coming from the other direction. Balan and his wife died instantly in the crash. Their daughter was seriously injured and was transported to the Ramnicu Sarat Hospital. As she is in a deep coma, doctors decided to transfer her to the Floreasca Emergency Hospital in Bucharest onboard a helicopter of the Bucharest Mobile Emergency Service. A spokesman for the Mobile Emergency Service, Bogdan Oprita, said the girl suffered severe head trauma in the accident. He also said that doctors are skeptical about her chances of survival. Two others were also badly injured in the accident and transported to the hospital. The accident is being investigated by a commission of a brigade in which Balan's battalion is part of. Preliminary investigations indicated that Balan fell asleep while driving. The lieutenant colonel, who was leading the Focsani 280 Infantry Battalion since last spring, took part in several missions in the country and abroad. After graduating from the Sibiu Military School, he attended training classes in Poland and Germany. He was the head of his class at the Bucharest Defense University, where he graduated in 2004. In his six months in Iraq, Balan and the troops under his command took part in over 1,500 missions, including patrolling, security, training of Iraqi troops and missions to the benefit of Iraqi civilians. END OF ARTICLE. He was actually filmed upon his arrival at the airport greeting his wife and daughter, he also spoke by phone to his father shortly before the crash. The daughter is making a slow recovery, has not regained consiciousness yet. Kevn in Deva

Theres a few Romanain politician's house's I would like to get a look into as well, this problem is rife in the old Communist states, and not just Russia. Kevin in Deva

with regards 100 add a couple more noughts and you would be nearer the truth. And when you pay in peanuts, you get work done by monkeys, While not condoning theft, the Russian State has a responsibility to pay its employees a decent wage, especialy with all the Dosh Putin is raking in with Russian Gas and Oil The local History Museum here in Deva, Hunedoara had an inventory made a few months ago, a couple of hundred of items are missing including artwork, Roman statues, Dacian objects etc...etc... but nobody seems to be accountable for it Kevin in Deva, Kevin in Deva,

And here is where the bronze original hangs out with a comrade Kevin in Deva

Hallo Pat, better view of your coin Very rough translation: N.S.D.A.P. REICHSTAG ELECTION 1932, Party Fund Collection. We Will Never Capitulate. Kevin in Deva

From another angle showing the ribbon ring mounts. Kevin in Deva

Rear & side Shot, Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gentlemen, nice West Wall pieces, here is a some pictures of two west wall medals in my collection, the bronze I am comfortable with, the silver I am not so sure about. I know they were not issued in silver, but the finish could be polished off. Comparison details:[/b] Bronze Width: 33 mm. Silver Width 33 mm. Bronze Height to top of ring mount: 45 mm. Silver Height to top of ring mount: 46 mm. Bronze Thickness, measured through middle:nearly 3 mm Silver Thickness, measured through middle:nearly 4 mm. Bronze Weight: 17 gm. Silver Weight: 20 gm. Kevin in Deva.

Close up of maker marks and polished steel pin. Kevin in Deva,

And this one is a totaly faked item, that came from the U.S.S.R. I call it the "DRUMSTICK" Buckle, just look at those legs, and a small head, the bird is to low in the design and the centre swastika off centre, the rear is a mess, moulded in RZM and maker marks, the hoop for the catch is polished steel and fixes into pre-drilled mounts, and there is a blank square area, maybe for that all important dedication from Adolf I am showing it just to warn new collectors of what is out there. Kevin in Deva,

Just discovered another one lurking in the depths of my office GROUND FOUND IN TRANSYLVANIA ROMANIA!! Heer Belt Buckle, Aluminium, cracked, and no visible maker marks. Kevin in Deva

Rear View and Maker Mark. Kevin in Deva

And last but not least, supposedly a SS Buckle, but I have my doubts Steel construction. but the rust looks to be painted on Maker marked "RODO" Kevin in Deva

Rear View. Kevin in Deva

Number 2: GERMAN ARMY, Aluminiam, Very good condition, Maker Marked under prong Bar: II Gothic Intials G or F, & ?? hard to tell, remains of dark green paint. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gentlemen I thought I had only one buckle but when I looked on the bottom shelf of my medal cabinet I discovered I had in fact 3!!! I will post here for your opinions. No 1: Hitler Jugend, tarnished chrome, and missing the belt catch-thingy, maker mark: M/4/27 and RZM in circle. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo lach470 Nice buckles, I have one in my possesion that I cant identify maybe you could take a look? Its Navy but from which European Country I have no idea, I found it here in Romania, but rule out it being Romanian Navy as there is no Royal Cypher! If anyone can Identify it I would be very obliged, thank you, Kevin in Deva, Transylvania, Romania

Hallo Gentlemen I always wanted one of these WW1 helmets, but the prices are way to high, in the end but had to settle for the shell, which I found here in Romania, which I plan to restore, I will add a camo paint-job and its pride of place will be on the top of my medal cabinet, just for reference where can repro liner, pads, and chin strap be obtained and for how much?? Kevin in Deva.