Freikorps Insignia

[dedehansen]

Insignia from III. Marine - Brigade von Löwenfeld

Regards
Andreas

[bolewts58]

Flieger Abteilung der Württembergische Freiwilligen Abteilung (Freikorps) Haas

Unit Breast badge instituted some time between May and September 1919 for the flying unit of Freikorps Haas. The badge apparently also came in a version for sewing on the uniform. I personally believe the badge was more of a commemorative service badge than simply a unit badge, as it probably didn't come into existence until after the unit's operational actions.

Württembergische Freiwilligen Abteilung Haas was formed in Münsingen, Württemberg in February 1919 by Generalmajor Otto Haas with a strength of 2376 men. The principal actions of the Freikorps were fighting against the Bavarian Soviet in Augsburg in April and the main battle in Munich in May 1919, as well as later in 1920 in the Ruhr, as part of Reichswehr-Brigade 13.

As far as I've been able to determine from research, the Flieger Abteilung of Freikorps Haas was formed in April 1919 and took part in the assault on Munich on May 3. 1919. They were likely nominally attached to Freiwilligen-Flieger-Abteilung Dessloch of Freikorps von Epp (commanded by Lnt. Otto Dessloch, former WWI Squadron leader of Bavarian Jagdstaffel 17 and later Generaloberst der Luftwaffe and winner of the Knights Cross with Oakleaves). The Flieger Abteilung of both Freikorps Hass and von Epp only lasted until September 1919 and then were disbanded as per the Treaty of Versailles.

If the Flieger Abteilung followed WWI Feld-Flieger-Abteilung composition structure, it likely had no more than 6 planes, making this badge extremely rare.

 

 

Eiserne Eskadron / Freiwilligen-Eskadron Krossa / Freiwilligen Braunschweig Husaren-Regiment Nr.17

1/ Collar Badge

2/ Photo of Eiserne Esk. members

3/ Editorial and Recruiting Poster

The Freikorps was formed on January 31, 1919 as part of Freiwilligen-Division von Lettow-Vorbeck of the Garde-Kavallerie-Schützen-Korps in Berlin.
Fought against the Spartacists in March in Berlin and later joined Division Gerstenberg and fought against Socialist forces in Bremen.

Edited March 18, 2016 by bolewts58

[Gerd Becker]

I had this in my odds and ends box for years and allways thought it to be some kind of schützenfest relatet cap badge or something, but only today i found out, its probably a Freikorps cap/collar badge of the Freiwilliges Landesschützenkorps (according to weitze at least). Its really well made and heavy for a hollowback badge and the frosted finish is pretty neat.

Is this a legit piece?

[bolewts58]

1 hour ago, Gerd Becker said:

I had this in my odds and ends box for years and allways thought it to be some kind of schützenfest relatet cap badge or something, but only today i found out, its probably a Freikorps cap/collar badge of the Freiwilliges Landesschützenkorps (according to weitze at least). Its really well made and heavy for a hollowback badge and the frosted finish is pretty neat.

Is this a legit piece?

Yes. This is the cap badge of the Freiwilliges Landesschützenkorps. It went around the top cockade of the Feld-mutze. There was a pair of corresponding collar badges that had a closed round wreath.

[Gerd Becker]

Thank you!

[Farkas]

Hi Gents

was browsing and noticed the one similar to this....

i got it in a lot from the Tyrol area and had it in my mind as Italian...?

tony

[bolewts58]

18 hours ago, Farkas said:

Hi Gents

was browsing and noticed the one similar to this....

i got it in a lot from the Tyrol area and had it in my mind as Italian...?

tony

I think it's Verband Badische Jäger. It's not Freikorps and doesn't belong on this thread.

Edited July 5, 2017 by bolewts58

[Farkas]

7 minutes ago, bolewts58 said:

I think it's Verband Badische Jäger.

Thanks b

just googled it as above but not much in English and sadly I can't read German.

Do you know if the VBJ is a veteran organisation? Or is it a local hunters club?

obviously I'm hoping the former!

tony

[Chip]

It's nice. Could be either group, What is the pin configuration on the reverse?

Chip

[Farkas]

 

Hi chip

the one pin has sadly been lost

 

4 minutes ago, Chip said:

It's nice. Could be either group, What is the pin configuration on the reverse?

Chip

 

Tony

3 hours ago, bolewts58 said:

I think it's Verband Badische Jäger. It's not Freikorps and doesn't belong on this thread.

Apologies- just saw the rest of your answer.

tony

[bolewts58]

4 hours ago, Farkas said:

 

Hi chip

the one pin has sadly been lost

 

 

 

Tony

Apologies- just saw the rest of your answer.

tony

I think it's a Baden hunt club from the 1920s and not veteran related.

[Chip]

Farkas,

Thanks for the picture of the reverse. The pin base is typical of postwar types. 

 

[bolewts58]

Rare Freikorps naval cap tally of Die Eiserne Flotille / Eiserne Torpedobootsflotille

Originally known as Die Freiwillige Nordsee-Torpedobootsflottille.

Founded in Wilhelmshaven under the Generalkommando des Garde-Korps (Garde-Kavallerie-Schützen-Division, Berlin) on February 20, 1919. It was disbanded on August 3, 1920.

Commanded by Korvettenkapitän Rudolf Lahs (later Reichsmarine Kontoradmiral, Vice-President of Deutschen Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (DVL) and President of the Reichsverbandes der Deutschen Luftfahrt-Industrie (RDLI).

Order of battle

1. Eiserne Halbflottille

2. Eiserne Halbflottille

The Flotille were first stationed in Emden harbor in March, 1919 to prevent a communist uprising.

The Flotille participated in the Hamburg uprising, June 1919 (known as Die Hamburger Sülzeunruhen).

 - The Eiserne Flotille with 8 torpedo boats blocked the Elbe and the entrance to Hamburg and provided a link between Detachments Lebedur and Heug (Reichswehr Pionier_Batl. 9).

It also supported the Kapp-Luttwitz Putsch in March 1920.

 

 

 

Edited July 21, 2017 by bolewts58
color correct photos

[lambert]

Hello everyone.

I am interested in this Silesian eagle 1st Class,  but I have doubts whether it is original or a copy .. Let me know your views on it.

Thanks in advance.
Lambert

 

Edited November 27, 2017 by lambert

[bolewts58]

100% original and likely Third Reich era manufacture. It looks to be zinc. If so, it was probably produced between 1943-1945.

I like it!

[lambert]

Thanks!  

[elbavaro]

@dante: could youi please be so kind and show us the back of the Kampfwagenabzeichen?

@bolewts58: It is not the badge of the Fliegerabteilung. It was awarded with certificate to the liberators of Munich 1919. It is a rare badge, but there were more than a few awarded.

 

 

cuffband with skull of Kampfwagenabteilungen (KoKampf) - luxury version officer

same from a NCO tank driver

Edited May 20, 2018 by elbavaro

[bolewts58]

On 21/05/2018 at 02:37, elbavaro said:

@dante: could youi please be so kind and show us the back of the Kampfwagenabzeichen?

@bolewts58: It is not the badge of the Fliegerabteilung. It was awarded with certificate to the liberators of Munich 1919. It is a rare badge, but there were more than a few awarded.

 

 

 

Hi elbavaro

Yes I am aware of the mistake in IDing this badge which I based on the wrong ID in Haarcke's catalogue.

It's actually called the Ehren- und Erinnerungszeichen der Befreier Münchens 1919 and was likely the last official Freikorps award as it was awarded beginning in 1938.

Here is a pic of the document and of the monument built in 1942 by the Nazis in honor of the liberation of Munich in May 1919.

 

 

[bolewts58]

Der Reichsverband der Baltikumkämpfer

Organization for Freikorps veterans of the Baltic Campaigns, 1919-1920.

Founded as the Verein Ehemaliger Baltenkämpfer (Association of Former Baltic Fighters) in Magdeburg in 1921. In 1933, it was renamed Der Reichsverband der Baltikumkämpfer . On June 2-3, 1934 a reunion of the 36,000 members was held at Castle Saaleck where a large limestone plaque honoring the fallen of the Baltic campaign was installed in the east tower with a speech from the former Baltic commander, Graf Rüdiger von der Goltz. The association was disbanded in June 1936 by Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick.

Below is the membership certificate and stickpin of Viz. Feldwebel Hermann Finsterbusch, who served in the Baltic campaign, in the II. See-Bataillon (Groeben), 1. kurländisches Infanterie-Regiment (Major v. Lossow) which was part of the Eiserne Division. The photo is contemporary to his Baltic service and shows him wearing the blue and white chevron on his left sleeve of the 1st and 2nd Kurland infantry regiments.

Edited September 15, 2018 by bolewts58
additional information

[MG1918]

A superb thread. Here are my contributions:

 

[bolewts58]

Very nice examples of the MGSS badge with the typical Freikorps black cloth backing. I've been looking for one of these for some time. They are hard to find.

[MG1918]

Bolewts58 yes in 27 years of MG collecting I have only ever seen 4, and these are 2. Sadly they were not cheap and came with a few MGK items.  As my interest is WWI Maschinengewehr I had to buy the whole 'job' lot but always available for offers or trades. I can take photos of the rear too if you wish.  Mark

[bolewts58]

I thought I'd bring this thread back after a year with a recent and very rare acquisition.

 

Einwohnerwehr München Leader's Armband with MGSS "Prinzen" size badge by K. Schorp, Stuttgart.

According to the identification of the only other one of these I've ever seen, it was supposedly worn by the Sturmbataillon leader of the Einwohnerwehr. But, I tend to think it's not quite that glamorous. Given the Einwohnerwehr was mostly made up of older men, the idea of a Sturmbataillon seems a bit far fetched. But, given there were also students involved in the Einwohnerwehr maybe that identification is possible. Still, I tend to think it was more likely worn by a machine gun detachment leader. Either way, it's quite rare.

 

 

Edited February 15, 2022 by bolewts58

[bolewts58]

Schutztruppen-Regiment von Lettow of Freiwilligen-Division von Lettow-Vorbeck Arm-badge

Freiwilligen-Division von Lettow-Vorbeck took part in the putting down of the Spartacist uprising in Berlin and later against the Sozialistischen Republik Bremen proclaimed January 1919 and in June 1919 against the workers strike in Hamburg.

This is a purported later strike after the die was believed damaged or worn in the top part. The badge design of a large lion head superimposed on two crossed Zulu Iklwa on a Zulu shield is complex and so deep, heavily embossed and vaulted, that the die was either damaged or just worn at the top over time. Thus in earlier strikes the vertical and horizontal lines decorating the bottom of the shield repeated at the top. Details seem to have been partially worn down on the die through repeated striking of the badges. The left hand side has a die flaw at the edge on the curvy line inside the rim and the left hand spear head is missing some of the details of that on the right.

While not scarce, it is very hard to find as it's one of the most sought after Freikorps badges. So far, reproductions/fakes of this badge have not been produced probably because it would be somewhat difficult to do so convincingly.

[BlackcowboyBS]

A rare medal is the following from the Freikorps Lützow. It was fonded 17th of January 1919 and after 15 moonths suspended due to heavy losses against the red ruhr army in april 1920.

There were two medals for the members who proved them selves worthy fighters, a cross for officers and a medal for ncos and soldiers. 

 

Manufactured by Godet in Berlin, all medals have their own number on the backside. 

Edited July 10, 2022 by BlackcowboyBS