EK 1939 Ritter kreuz Mini

[Ralph A]

Not too many of these floating around. Enjoy. Happy New Year!

[Paul R]

That is a sweet set. You are right, I have not seen too many of these at all... especially with the sales card!

[Chris Boonzaier]

We often fob such things off as "Civvie wear" but I knew a DKiG winner who told me that when on leave the Military police used to control Wehrpasses of soldiers in Civilian clothes, and they would get into trouble for not wearing minis.

I dont know if it was regulations, or just police whim...

[Jim R]

Here is my RK mini with spanges. Jim

[Paul R]

That is a sweet set! Keep em coming!

[Chris Boonzaier]

Thats not to sniff at either! The Young mans and old mans versions right there!

I wonder if there are more complicated ones like WW1 EK2 with clasp and WW2 EK1 and RK...

[Peter J]

"I wonder if there are more complicated ones like WW1 EK2 with clasp and WW2 EK1 and RK..."

Chris, I wouldn't rule out the possibility, but this specific combination was not approved by LDO (if memory serves me around 1941).

The approved design for the KC/EK1/EK2 was illustrated in Doele's book, also 1941. I've enclosed some of my EK-related minis, the first KC-trio is in buntmetall, the 2nd in zinc and the bottom of the crosses form a straight line. The two other designs illustrated by Jim and Ralph are probably made before that date. I assume Jim's is in zinc with a "horse-shoe"-pin.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Peter,

but there must surely be men who got an EK2 in WW1, spange EK2 in WW2 then EK1 and RK? There must have been something to cover that?

Best

Chris

[Peter J]

Most definately, but you know how it is, logic sometimes works in mysterious ways. Another odd regulation (also 1941) is the one that banned a single 1939 EK2 in stickpin form. The reason given was that an EK2 could easily be mistaken for an EK1. This doesn't appear to have been a problem with the 1914 pieces, which can be encountered as singles or doubles (9+9mm or 11+9mm). There is one major problem though i.e the lack of contemporary regulations.

This regulation doesn't mention size and the next info (to my knowledge) is from Nov. 1944, which is referring to the 9mm only in stickpin form. It makes sense if the topic was 16mm EK's as stickpins, because the contemporary sales catalogues clearly label them as EK1, but if the intention was 9mm, it would have been just as easy to use the 1914 arrangement. Finally, I've never seen two 16mm EK 1939 as a stickpin combo.

Edited January 9, 2013 by Peter J