Cloth 1939 EKIs.

[ChrisKelly]

I see these periodically, and they sell for exorbitant prices.  Are they genuine?  These images are from around the internet, and the third image shows one under "blacklight" [the "since-it-doesn't-glow-it's-authentic" test].

[VtwinVince]

Hard to say, but they were worn in period. I have a photo of a Luftwaffe ace wearing one, I'll have to look for it.

[ChrisKelly]

I was thinking...  I've not seen any photographic evidence of these in wear, but there may very well be pictures out there somewhere...

[VtwinVince]

Here is that picture of my old friend Heinz Altendorf, CO of 7. JG53. I asked him what happened to this jacket, and he was wearing it when he was shot down over the desert late in 1941 and wounded. The medics who treated him cut it to pieces.

[Stogieman]

Good Morning Vince, that’s a pretty nifty photo. Is it my eyes, or was the EK1 added to the picture after the fact?

[Gordon Craig]

On 21/11/2024 at 18:15, ChrisKelly said:

I see these periodically, and they sell for exorbitant prices.  Are they genuine?  These images are from around the internet, and the third image shows one under "blacklight" [the "since-it-doesn't-glow-it's-authentic" test].

 

If by "genuine" you mean that they were officially issued the answer is no.  These cloth Iron Cross were made by, or for, tailors who applied them to uniforms.  Unlike metal Iron Crosses it is impossible to tell if cloth Iron Crosses are authentic.  They were made by a variety of shops and each one is different.  I have one in my collection but only to fill it out.  I could never sell it with certainty that it was actually made during war time.  I used to have a photo of a white backed EK1 on a white tunic.  It looked really good.

Regards,

Gordon 

14 hours ago, VtwinVince said:

Here is that picture of my old friend Heinz Altendorf, CO of 7. JG53. I asked him what happened to this jacket, and he was wearing it when he was shot down over the desert late in 1941 and wounded. The medics who treated him cut it to pieces.

 

Interesting comment on the possibility the EK1 was added to the photo.  I don't remember seeing a leather flight jacket with a cloth EK1 and an EK11 ribbon sewn to it.  Usually they have a metal EK1 and no EK11 ribbon.  That is the way my flight jacket was configured.  Much easier to sew thread loops to a leather jacket than to sew a cloth EK1 to it.  Just my 2 cents worth.

Regards,

Gordon

[ChrisKelly]

I always thought it was an anathema to stitch patches on good leather.  There are so many reproductions to-day, many better than the originals from the War.  These EK1s were indeed offered by the cornucopia of "Uniformen-Markt" jewelers, metallurgists and tailors as alternatives to the official issue items, and they were allowed in wear, even if only for stylistic, if not practical purposes.  Perhaps a term better than " authentic" or "original" might be "pre-1945".

Edited November 23 by ChrisKelly

[VtwinVince]

I specifically asked Altendorf about the cloth EK, and yes, it was a cloth version, no retouching.

[Gordon Craig]

Thanks for your response.  Good to know it was not a retouched photo.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

On 21/11/2024 at 18:15, ChrisKelly said:

I see these periodically, and they sell for exorbitant prices.  Are they genuine?  These images are from around the internet, and the third image shows one under "blacklight" [the "since-it-doesn't-glow-it's-authentic" test].

Here is a photo of the cloth 1939 EK1 in my collection.  In my experience cloth badges were usually finished on the back with a paper type backing such as is shown on my EK1.  It would also appear to be very similar to the one shown attached to the leather flight jacket on this thread.  I have sold most of my Iron Cross collection so I do not have a 1939 EK1 to show for comparison of size so I have used a 1914 EK11 instead. 

Regards,

Gordon