AlecH

Another signature on a earlier 2nd Class KVK with Swords citation - dated 20th April 1942. Fairly constant signature.

Here's my NS-ALTHERRENBUND - quite small 15,5 diameter - RZM - M1 / 63

Two very nice pieces Don, nice indeed. I see looking through Hüsken's catalogue the first one show comes in at a tasty 300 Euro. Although catalogue prices are only a guideline, usually a overpriced guideline at that, still a nice thing to have in the collection.

Picked this Deutscher Luftsportverband button-hole badge up a while back, Civil 3rd Form (large) made by K. Wurster - Markneukirchen / SA. Classified as large - measures - 3.1cm x 1.6 cm. one of a group of seven variants, belongs to same organisation which issued the three grade gliding badges (blue background with 1 - 3 white seagull birds) do members have any of the variants of this badge to show ? please not the gliding badges. Regards

Chip, I did take my camera in the museum with me. At the time I was a bit timid about asking for permission to photograph, only on leaving did the attendant say I could photo what wanted too, then it was to late, felt like kicking myself in the butt. Addressing your concerns, I really don't understand why your procrastinating - is it, is it not, maybe, maybe not - the label on your post Nr. 102 would suggest - it is. Its in a display case at the Gebirgsjäger Museum, I assume everything gets thoroughly vetted by experts, they classify items within a set frame-work / criteria, if they have any doubts, it doesn't get exhibited, its not approached in a laisse-faire way i.e. - its a edelweiss badge we'd better put it in - although from time to time mistakes are made, I don't think this is one of them. Photographic evidence may possibly show up one day. Don't forget we are looking for one regiment's uniform amongst a myriad of uniforms from almost one hundred years ago, we are certainly going to need luck. Regards

What in your opinion would be a more realistic price ? To me personally, the clasp is the thing of most interest "13 Torpedo Boat. Halbflott" = Half Fleet, would anyone know what exactly a Half Fleet was ? Regards

What's the medal hanging on the middle medal bar below the blue ribbon? I was offered this three medal bar convolute from one man for 380 Euro. It was explained to me the bottom bar - EK2 + Hindernburg Cross, he got in WW1. The middle medal bar (to me the most interesting) he had made as he was by the Freikorp / Veterans, first is EK2, next Naval Corps Flandern Cross above which the metal ribbon bar reads "Seekrieg" (not clear on picture) I was wondering what the third medal hanging on the blue ribbon with the metal bar "13 Torp. B. Halbflott" certainly naval, but what it for ? the fourth missing medal - Kyffhäuser veteran medal. Top Medal Bar -EK2, KVK, Hindernberg Cross he had in WW2.

I may have mentioned this before, but in looking through some photos that a German friend took during a visit to the mountain troops museum near Sonthofen, I spied this Edelweiß in one of the displays. I asked the friend to take a better picture of the insignia specifically should he ever return to the museum. A year or so ago, he went back and got that picture for me. The picture quality is poor, as it was taken through the glass case, but I think you can make out the insignia and some of the text. You can see that it mentions the Infanterie Leib Regiment. Chip Chip - a postscript to your Nr.102 post in the thread. I visited the Gebirgsjäger Museum in the Grünten Kaserne at Sonthofen today. Sunday is the only day its open, for two hours 10 -12. The attendant there (old Bundeswehr Gebirgsjäger soldier) works on a voluntary basis as you might expect he was a keen Gebirgsjäger collector bursting with information. The edelweiss with the crown and paper is still there in its paper wrapping, I got into a conversation with him, apart from telling me Rommel learnt to ski in Sonthofen in January 1915, I asked him about the edelweiss with crown cap badge. He says, only the Infantrie Leib Regiment wore this type of cap badge, the others had a edelweiss cap badge without the crown. May make it a rare item ? Regards

Thanks for the tip.

Kevin, Thanks for the post. I hadn't given too much thought to von Kleist's signature, what you say makes sense - same as Manstein's signature on Crimea citations, just too many for one man to sign and his signature was the one I was chasing, I think, I'll pass on this one, save my powder. In two weeks I'm going to a military fair at Reichertshofen, Bavaria its the biggest one in South Germany. On my shopping list is a Gebirgsjäger paper convolute preferably GJ Regt.91. I don't expect to pick up anything too cheap, but if as you say the market is awash with citations, I may get lucky. Again thanks for the help. Regards

I'm thinking of buying a small paper convolute - Kuban, EK1, citations - signature of Edwald von Kleist on the Kuban Urkunde (compared with the one on database - seems to match) and the EK1 Urkunde signed by one Dr. Walter Assman (unfortunately we don't have sample signature yet on the database) checked out he was the commanding officer at the issuing date 12 October 1944. My question is regarding the unit stamps, the Kuban stamps seems original but I feel uncertain about the EK1 stamp - what do members think, do they have any other reservations about these two citations ? Any information appreciated.

Oh, then its not what I thought it was - Sorry

Hi Kev, I think you have there a P helmet made of two layers of flannelette (cotton) with added mouth piece (rare surviving rubber mouth piece) if you look inside, the inner layer of flannel is usually, not always,stripped pyjamas flannel. I think Mike's price maybe a little on the light side, perhaps easily double the price. A few years back I seen a variation of it known as the "PHG Helmet" sell for close to £3000 - nice sought after piece

Bezirksturnen Triberg 1933 - Metal Pressing - not in Tieste catalogue

Well Chip, If you do find a picture of the full caption, please don't hesitate to post it on the thread.

Chip, That picture seems to tie the crowned edelweiss in with Bayer. Infanterie Leibregiment, tantalizingly possibly the piece of the caption which would confirm it has been cut off. The middle line reads, Crown - Symbol of the Inf. - there it ends. Regards

Hi The Prussian, Thanks for the extra information, I did have a trawl through the internet looking for pictures and information from the Freikorp Oberland, there were plenty of pictures of edelweiss's but none of a edelweiss with a crown, only as you say a centre made up of three big pods and three small pods. I've included a picture from a book cover about the Freikorp Oberland, you can see their edelweiss.Thinking things over, could this crowned edelweiss's have been worn by perhaps some of the Bayerische Infantry Leib Regiments, after all they were the royal house-hold guards with a connection to the monarchy and when the Alpinekorp was set up in 1915 they formed the nucleus of the Alpine troops then ? Regards

Paul, Thanks for the post. I can't really say, if this was normal technique for this unit. I did have a look through a large number of Gebirgsjäger Schirmmütze threads they have on WAF. Some of them did have Gepruft with unit number on the inside of the sweatband. However I don't recall any having exactly the same markings as mine. Regards

Excellent thread, its being going along time and I've just come across it. Looking through it for the first time, I came across Chip / Chris's post - No. 21 - Württenberg Mountain Troop edelweiss, I too have such a piece, here's the picture. I always wondered what it was, Chris 's write-up seem a little uncertain has he found out any-more since then ? perhaps the moderator who merged the two threads could tidy it up at the joint a bit, three of the posts are the same. I feel some of the posts that have crept in are nothing to do with the military Alpinekorps Edelweiss are clearly edelweiss badges used by alpine walkers club between the wars as in post No. 36,37.

Thanks Zorn, For the Manions links, comparing the two back sides they don't look too dissimilar, the damaged one, may have a more than even chance of being original - pity there's so much enamel missing. A swipe at Manions, considering they are asking $358 for the piece, they show a blurred picture of the back, can't be bothered to put a sharp one up. People must wonder, if they are serious company to be dealing with? Regards

I wonder, if members have come across this Charite Nurses Badge before ? its in damaged condition, diameter measures 40mm, I take it to have been issued by the Charite Hospital Berlin - The hospital still exists today in Berlin, in fact is one of cities leading hospitals. I see it for the first time, do members know anything about this badge. Any information appreciated.

Thank you Kevin, I always try to introduce threads with a bit of verve and interest. Anything to get away from those boring old medal threads. On reflection it would seem collecting Third Reich paperwork is still a Cinderella discipline amongst Third Reich collectors. Regards

I've been keeping a eye out for what Rommel's Soldbuch went for. A collector gave me a link to Andreas Thies Auction House and a sales price list of the auction the soldbuch was in. The article No. of the soldbuch was 1053 - it didn't reach its reserve, never got sold. I believe the rest of the auction was a success. I noticed one piece Item 1022 went for 350000 euro - RAD presentation dagger for Mussolini, who says there's no money in collecting militaria - you just need the right pieces. I would have given the link to Thies's sales price list, I confess I don't know how too. Regards

Marc, I've just come across your post - its a really lovely piece you have there, you could easily expect 1000 Euro if you ever decided to sell it. I do have one question, last week I posted a Gebirgsjäger NCO's Schirmmutze I recently bought. On folding out the sweat band I found on the reverse a green ink Gebirgsjäger Regt. 100 stamp.(as shown in the picture) I was wondering if you've looked at the reverse of the sweat band in yours? perhaps you may have a similar stamp? a joy to view. Regards

Green Gebirgsjäger Regimental Stamp