Heargear of the RAD

From 1932 until 1933, the FAD (Freiwilliger Arbeitsdienst- Voluntary Labor Service) wore a World War 1 period NCO or officer's visor cap with an earth-brown top piped in red, and a dark brown band. The visor was of the same color material with a raised protective ridge along its leading edge. The hat was generally worn with a leather chinstrap. However, on occasion, officers were noted wearing a silvered chincord with matching side buttons. NCO ranks wore a black leather chinstrap with metal fittings painted in black enamel. The insignia consisted of a standard cockade in the national colors (black-white-red). The center of this cockade was of red wool, bordered by an aluminum circle and having a serrated outer rim of black plastic or celluloid. This was pinned through the band and had centered above it the FAD badge-a spade flanked on each side by barley stalks. This badge was either of a silver color or made out of naturally colored aluminum metal.

In 1933, following the NSDAP'S assumption of power, the newly titled Labor Service (NS-Arbeitsdienst) introduced a more modern visor cap. This new cap had the traditional political pattern "saddle" form and consisted of a brownish blended woolen top and mounted on the center seam a silver metal-colored early style political eagle with black highlighted swastika. The hat band was of dark brown wool and had the national cockade pinned to its front. The piping colors matched either the top or the band depending on their location. The hat bill was in brown leather or fiber with the customary raised ridge along its edge. The whipcord indicated rank levels: a black Army-style leather chinstrap with lacquered metal fittings and side buttons was used to indicate ranks from Truppfuhrer to Oberstfeldmeister; a twisted silver whipcord was used for officers ftom Arbeitsfuhrer to Oberarbeitsfuhrer; and gilt chincord was used to designate the ranks of Arbeitsdienst-Inspektur to Staats-sekretar.

THE RAD "ROBIN HOOD" CAP

In 1933 a completely new type of cap was introduced for enlisted personnel and NCO ranks. It was a soft cap done in brownish blended wool, including the bill, and is often known as the "Robin Hood" cap. The hat body had a slight crease in the center of the crown and there were also creases in front of each of the sides, as well as a small circular metal air vent (sometimes two) in the hat body. The hat piping was the same color as the hat body and mounted along the leading edges of the cap's sides. The same piping, located approximately one inch (64 mm) from the edge of the visor, ran parallel to its leading edge. The hat band, in a darker brown wool was partially exposed where the side edges of the cap parted in the front.

The new insignia used on this cap consisted of a redesign of the original FAD silver metal badge, ie. a shovel instead of a spade (superimposed on two barley shafts the latter flanking it on the left and right of the shovel,) The swastika was black with a white outline and the edges of the shovel were outlined in red.

The popularity and unique form of this cap in RAD ranks led to its adoption in 1935 by the officer personnel. Differences existed in both piping and emblem manufcture to designate officers from other ranks. The RAD badge remained the same for enlisted and NCO ranks up to the rank of Obertruppfuhrer, while officers' badges were enameled. After 1935, non-officer ranks also wore black piping on the bill and side panels. Officers from the ranks of Unterfeldmeister to Oberarbeitsfuhrer had silver aluminum piping and gilt was used for the ranks of Generalarbeitsfuhrer to Reichsarbeitsfuhrer.

The above style headdress could also feature the unit or traditional badges of the RAD, which could be worn by all rank levels and were issued in stamped metal or enamel and worn on the left side panel of the cap.

RAD facilities, as with most other political organizations, had their own guards or doorkeepers. The headdress of these personnel consisted of a visor cap with an earthbrown woolen top and a dark brown band and with no piping. They took an Army style black leather chinstrap with metallic fittings and buttons also painted the same color. The visor was of black fiber and the insignia was composed of a national cockade on the band and with the standard RAD emblem pinned through the center seam.

THE OVERSEAS CAP

The FAD style overseas cap was of a brown blend of wool with no piping and the only insignia, a national cockade.

Prior to the outbreak of the war, an overseas cap was used by personnel of the RAD which could be worn with the working as well as with the service uniforms. The standard RAD insignia of painted metal for enlisted ranks and enameled for officers was worn on the front of the cap where the side panels were joined. Tne piping colors were regulated by rank and ran the full length of the side edges of the cap. Black piping was used by ranks of Unterfeldmeister to Arbeitsmann: Oberstarbeitsfuhrer toFeldmeister ranks had silver piping; general officers adopted gilt piping.

THE RAD M-43 CAP

An Austrian forage or M-43 style hat of earth-brown wool was also used during the war years by all ranks of the RAD. Its piping color followed the organizational levels described above with regard to the overseas cap and encircled the entire paneled edge of the cap. The ear flaps were secured in the front of the cap by two aluminum pebbled metal buttons. The RAD insignia was centered above the buttons on the upper cap body.

RAD FEMALE HEADDRESS

During the war, all female members of the RAD wore a brimmed hat of blended brown felt. The band was of a light grey silk to which was pinned an insignia consisting of a swastika superimposed on two barley stalks and circled by an oval. This emblem was silver-colored aluminum for lower ranks and gilt for officers.

Tom Shutt,"Dress and Field Service Hats of the Third Reich", Vol.1, H.S.M. Publications, 1981

Compost Piles, Ninja Pilots and Other Silliness

Oh, Okay

At a 500 table gun show in Ohio last year, a collector asked to examine a Luftwaffe gravity knife in a dealer's case. On releasing the blade, he noted that the blade had been shortened by over an inch and repainted."That's special Heer issue" the dealer said,"they shortened them all like that so they could tell them apart."

Ninja Pilots

A collector in California found a pair of flightsuit type rank patches done on black wool at a local event and took them into a dealer's shop to find out more about them. "Oh" said the dealer, "those are special rank patches for Luftwaffe night fighter pilots -they had special black flight suit's." If dealers in other hobbies were such buffoons, they'd be laughed out of business.

Maybe Darwin Was Wrong

Every wonder how people so stupid have so much money? One of my favorite sink holes lately for the rich and fatuous is the current crop of "Sepp Dietrich" personal items - like the so- called Sepp Dietrich sword, engraved with the initials "SD". How can people this dumb have survived into the 20th Century? Why weren't their slow-witted ancestors trampled by mastodons? SS Oberstgruppenfuhrer Dietrich's given name was Josef. "Sepp" was a nickname, like "Ike" for General Dwight Eisenhower, and no one uses the initial of a nickname in a monogram.

Georgia On My Mind

Aren't all the mint Army daggers fascinating? You know the Germans made millions of combat helmets during the war - every Gl's favorite souvenir. Yet today you can't open any catalogs and find a wide selection of clean, tight, sharp, unscrewed-with helmets. Fascinating.

Gee, They Smell Right

It still amazes me that people don't take the time to read and research what they're doing before wasting large sums of good money on ridiculous garbage. German WWII Paratrooper boots are a classic example. During WWII, German paras often referred to their side-lace boots as "gangster shoes", because unlike hobnailed boots, their all rubber heels and soles made for very quiet walking on city streets. But the guy making them now with the silly rubbish on the bottoms (like metal heel irons) can't turn them out fast enough to keep up with demand. He puts them in his compost pile for two weeks, has his dog visit them a couple of times, and for $350 bucks we have another pair of "VG unissued" boots and another happy collector.

From Pakistan With Love

Lately we've been hearing a lot of garbage about how righteous it is that some repro dealers tell you right up front that their near perfect insignia are reproductions. After all, it's not their fault that they're used by the unscrupulous to make phony hats and tunics, is it? Well, Aman Khosogi probably doesn't loose any sleep over selling thousands of "Bouncing Betty" mines to lunatics all over the world either. What I want to know is, if these honest repro dealers are so noble, then why don't these stalwarts permanently mark the backs or insides of the pieces in some way, so they can't ever be used as fakes to rip people off? Because their buyers are fakers, and nobody would buy them, that's why. If you're not a part of the solution, you're part of the problem, and I don't care how you rationalize it.

Der Maulwerf ,(The Mole), "Compost Piles, Ninja Pilots and Other Silliness", Der Gauleiter, 1990

Militaria Forums - Refuge of the Impotent

Lies, insults, anger and stupidity, it's all there...

This is not about ALL forum members, many of which are sane, reasonable people. It's about those special few. Your know who you are, so if the shoe fits....

I'm a member of four militaria forums and visit three of them occasionally, and one frequently. Over the past few years I couldn't help but notice an unfortunate trend taking place in these forums. It seems that they have become a "hangout" for people who know little, have strong opinions (usually wrong) and too much spare time on their hands. Usually these guys don't use their own names but hide under a made up "user" name. Bacause of the anonymity, they feel they can say anything they want with impunity, and spare nothing in voicing their views. This gives them a feeling of power, which fuels their desire to post more and more. (By the way, I use my own name when I post on a forum).

For the first time in their life they can say what they want and get away with it. No one can interrupt them while they post their thoughts. And if someone replys to their posts with a negative comment or tries to defend themself from attack, too late, they've already got their trash out there, and besides any reply just gives them fuel to post more of their trash.

Being anonymous on a forum creates the perfect medium to promote a malicious agenda. Whether it be to discredit someone or something, create doubt or mistrust, "get even", or simply "stir the pot", it's perfect. They can shoot while hiding in the dark.

It seems that forums can create a kind of "pack" or mob mentality in some people. One guy will post something negative about something or someone... and wham!, all of a sudden a bunch of others get on the band wagon and start posting trash about the same thing. It doesn't matter if they know anything about the subject, they still chime in with some trash. And the nastier the dialogue gets, the better they like it.

I've done some informal "research" on these people and have noticed something that I found interesting. It seems that the ones who are the most negative and vindictive, are the ones who post things the most. Some of them have thousands of posts on the forums... mostly negative. There are other reasonable members who do a lot of posts, but the negative guys seem to over power them. If you search the militaria forums you will find that a small number of members do most of the negative postings. The same names pop up over and over again. There should be a name for people you are always posting negative things. I was thinking, maybe, "neggers"?

Here's a little anecdote about what can happen in a forum. It wasn't a militaria forum, but it shows the "pack" mentality in action.

Have you seen the info-mercials on TV for the Sham-wow? It's a kind of ''super chamois'', and you'll remember Vince the spokesman. He's kind of a street smart, fast talking, skinny little guy on speed. I like him. I was interested in this product because it looked really great in the ads, so I went on line to do some research and saw somethng interesting... to me anyway. First I found some reviews of it by some ''car buffs'' who use it after washing their expensive sports cars. Overall they really liked it and felt it did a good job.... ok, so far, so good. I then checked a few other sources and they were all pretty positive about it. Then I happened to stumble on to a ''Forum''. This was the interesting part.... almost without exception the forum members ripped it a new one. They didn't like it, it was a con-job, couldn't be any good, the wouldn't buy anything ''Vince'' was selling, etc. etc.. Problem is, not one of these bozos had even used one! They all admitted it... Morons! I sat back and thought for a moment. ''It's deja vu all over again''.

The same thing happens on the militaria forums. Shoot your mouth off whether you know what your talking about or not seems to be the order of the day. Take the smallest thing and blow it up all out of proportion, create a "feeding frenzy" and hope it can be sustained. Then sit back and enjoy the show. Pathetic! Get a life people!

The sad part is that the so-called "moderators" of these forums let this kind of thing go on. Instead of doing their job of "moderating" what is said, they just let these people get away with murder. There is one subject however, that is strictly verboten. Don't you dare criticize the forum itself. I know of one person who, upon joining a big militaria forum, found that many of the areas were closed to him. Seems you had to be a member of some kind of special club to get into those areas. He posted a comment saying he was disappointed and thought this "smelled of elitism". The next day received a heated email from a moderator telling him his post was deleted and his membership had been revolked. He sent me a copy of the email and it was one of the foulest, most vulgar things I have ever read, just loaded with curses and insults. If the sender had said those things to him face to face, he would probably have gotten a sock on the nose for his trouble. And this person is supposed to moderate....

So the bottom line is this. Use the forums, read, post and enjoy. But cast a critical eye on what you read, and don't take everything you see as gospel. You have to learn to seperate the facts from the fiction. Above all, when posting something, know what you're talking about and try to keep it friendly! I hope this article hasn't made me sound like a negger...

Bob Treend, "Militaria Forums - Refuge of the Impotent", germanmilitariacollectibles.com - Militaria Blog, 2009

Here's our little Militaria Forum. Welcome!

There's One Made Every Minute

SS Bullion Collar Tabs

In this installment on repro cloth insignia I want to show you some examples of the currently imported fake SS collar tabs. You may think l'm overly concerned with the SS, what with last month's installment on SS cufftitles and now this one on SS collar tabs, but the fact is that SS insignia is a favorite not only with collectors. but with the fakers. And considering the money at stake I think everyone should be aware of what's happening.

It's said a picture is worth a thousand words, and this couldn't be more true any where than in militaria collecting. Therefore, I'm devoting most of the space available for this article to the pictures.

All of the retros shown here are good enough to fool a novice collector, and there is no way that I can make an expert out of everyone with this article. The best thing to do to protect yourself is to remember that originals of these are almost always made with extreme precision. If you look closely at a quality bullion SS collar tab, one that is of the usual type, not some weird variation made in "Lower Slabovia", and you notice any sloppiness in the workmanship, then be careful. Studying originals is also a must. Visit a collector friend who knows his stuff and study the pieces in his collection that you're sure of.

Above: Detail of some tabs. One the left is an original and in middle is the repro. Arrows points to the edges of the oakleaves showing the obvious difference in quality of the embroidery. "Tight", this the word I use most often to describe SS embroidery. On the right is detail of the back of an original tab. Note the pattern of the backing material. It is of a milky white and somewhat shinny. Almost all original tabs have this type of backing, only the size of the opening in the black material varies.

In the above pictures; at first glance they look pretty good. They're fake. Notice on the "Ost" tab (No. 1) that the upper tip of the "t" is very sloppy and on the tabs with the crossed lances (No. 2&4) there is a lack of precision in the embroidery, the lance poles are almost crooked. The oakleaf tab (No. 5) is VERY well done. The shape of the oakleaves in almost exactly like that of an original SA Gruppenfuhrer. This piece is in silver bullion on black and was offered as an SS tab, even thought the SS did not use this shape leaves. If the maker can do this in silver on black then he can do it in other colors as SA tabs. No. 7 is so well done it's spooky! I suggest great care when buying these types of tabs, as these fakes can be real tough to identify.

In the above pictures the left are original tabs, on the right are fakes. Note the fine quality of the embroidery on the originals, the strands of thread are sewn very evenly with almost perfect spacing (tight), whereas on the fakes there is an unevenness and lack of precision to the embroidery. Notice the pips on the two originals are slightly different. This is fine, because variations do exist.

One last point. The bullion wire of SS tabs is made up of a round center core thread around which is wrapped a flat aluminum thread. On every "original" SS bullion tab I've ever seen, the center core thread is white. I have encounted some good looking fakes that had a black center core.

Bob Treend, "There's One Made Every Minute", Der Gauleiter, 1990

Three Views of the Blood Order

How to identify a fake Blood Order!

One of the rarest of the Third Reich political medals, the Blood Order, is one of the most widely reproduced. More properly identified as the "Ehrenzeichen vom 9.November 1923" (Decoration of November 9, 1923) it was originally created to honor the 800 or so members of the 1923 Putsch. (Incidentally, if you can find a copy of the 1933 edition of DAS BUCH DER NSDAP by Espe, you'll see some of the most remarkable period pictures of the putsch ever published.)

A few months ago I published in DG an ad asking for the loan of a real Blood Order for this article. Someone kindly responded. Meanwhile, John Pepera of Parma, Ohio, wrote me with some very interesting information that I do not believe has been published before, which I'll share with you and which could have a dramatic effect on the value of some Blood Orders! Just goes to show you that this can really be a fraternal group of collectors who share with one another for the common knowledge of all! (Also, Ed Zemaitis of Woodhaven, N.Y. sent me his real Blood Order which was fun to examine because it belonged to an SS photographer!)

Before sharing John Pepera's information, let's review the medal's history. It was struck in two versions, Type I and Type II. The design of the medal was ordered by Hitler from jeweler Josef Fuess of Munich. An initial order of 50,000 was entered but later withdrawn when 20,000 had been struck by the firm of E. Schmidhaussler of Pforzheim. Suddenly nothing more was heard of Josef Fuess, could he have been Jewish? At any rate, his name disappeared from type II when it was struck. Type I was awarded to the 800 or so people who were in the putsch attempt. The obverse features an eagle on a wreath with the date to the right. On the reverse is the Feldherrnhalle monument with a rising swastika over it. An issuance number is 'normally' below this (more on this feature in a moment) with the silver content number "990" and "J. FUESS MUNCHEN" at the lower rim. It is approximately 22mm thick and weighs 22.9 grams. Type II has only the silver content of "800" and the issuance number. It is about 1mm thicker than Type I but weighs only 17.5 grams. In addition to the thickness and weight differences, and the fact that Fuess' name has been omitted, the eagle's beak is shorter on Type II in its down-turned portion.

Note that some Blood Orders have no serial number, however, that's the part that John Pepera revealed to us. He owns the original handwritten Blood Order recipient listing and it shows that Hitler's Blood Order had no number, but neither did that of Schaub, Schwarz, Goring or Streicher! With the possible exception of Hitler's, Blood Orders without numbers are rarely seen.

In fairness, there is a serious discrepancy concerning at least the numbering of Hitler's Blood Order.

Mohawk Arms, one of the premiere auction houses, located in Utica, N.Y., believes it has Hitler's tunic with his Blood Order pinned to it, and it is undeniably numbered "1". (There is, of course, also the possibility that an unnumbered Blood Order is something along the lines of a "salesman's sample" without any number.) We don't know the answer to that idea, but isn't it interesting?

Here are some of the ways to identify the fakes. According to the Institute of Order Science, there are more than 21 varieties of fake Blood Orders in circulation! If you think you have a real one, turn to the reverse and look at the words "UND IHR HABT DOCH GESIEGT" (And yet you have conquered). The "I" looks like an English "J" but no matter. Look at the ray coming from the swastika. It should actually touch the lower left leg of the "H" in "IHR". And the second ray to the right of the center ray which comes up from the swastika should intersect the "D" in "DOCH" on the bottom left corner, not slightly to the right.

Now look at the Feldherrnhalle monument. It was a sacred building built in 1840-44 and patterned after the Loggia del Lanzi in Florence and its three statues were erected in honor of the heroes of the Franco-Prussian War. The statures are by Schwanthaler. The statue on the left is of Count Tilly, the one on the right is Prince Wrede, both Bavarian generals. The statue in the center is a victorious Bavarian Army warrior with helmet, rising his standard in the left hand and encircling and protecting Bavaria-- in the form of a beautiful maiden with a chaplet of leaves around her head-- with his shield grasped in his right hand. It is a magnificent, triumphant statement and jeweler Fuess reproduced it all with stylized intricacy.

In many of the fakes, the statues appear to be nothing more than blobs of pot metal. The lions flanking the steps often look like pigs of solder and often have large metal daubs that pass for full manes. In the real Blood Order the lions and their manes are sleek. Likewise, the two stylized Regenbogen on the frieze above the portals each feature four almost microscopic architectual "points" that are amazingly discernible under a glass.They are not just blurry round balls of metal. And all entablature features are perfectly finished off in great detail in the real medal.

Finally, a word about the value of this medal. Recent ads in this magazine and other sources have featured' medals, with documentation, from $3,000. up. Adrian Forman's book GUIDE TO THIRD REICH GERMAN AWARDS AND THEIR VALUES pegs the value of Type I medals at from $1,000. to $1,500.; Type II from $600., both of these with their original ribbons. So, the chances of you finding a real Blood Order at a 'garage sale are slim, what with 21 types of reproductions floating around. If you do locate one it will be a great find! Good luck!

Mickey Huffman

Two Blood Orders Number One?

When I unpacked a large collection of relics that once belonged to former SA Obergruppenfuhrer Wilhelm Brueckner, Hitler's Chief Adjutant, I got more than I bargained for. His son had listed a Blood Order in the inventory, but I was astounded when I saw the medal bore the stamped number "1". As many collectors know, there is already a Blood Order with serial number "1" in the possession of Mohawk Anns. The question which may now be logically asked is: "Which Blood Order is real?" First, let us consider the Blood Order owned by Mohawk Arms. This medal was part of a large collection of relics taken from Hitler's Munich apartment by former Lt. Phillip Ben Lieber at the end of the war. It is unusual in that the serial number is hand engraved not stamped. Some collectors have wondered about this anomaly, even suggesting that the number was added post-1945. However, such speculation is completely without foundation. I knew Phillip Ben Lieber and I personally inspected and photographed his entire collection in 1959, long before it came to the attention of collectors and dealers. When Lieber first showed me the Blood Order now owned by Mohawk Arms, it was already marked with the number "1". When I saw the Blood Order again two years ago, I recognized it as the one I saw and photographed in 1959. There is, therefore, no question that the Blood Order number "I" now in the possession of Mohawk Arms is genuine. How, then, could Brueckner have been in possession of another Blood Order number "I"? Klaus Patzwall's, DAS EHRENZEICHEN YOM 9. NOVEMBER 1923, provides a logical explanation. According to Patzwall's research, the Blood Order given to Hitler was issued without number. The author suggests that the Blood Order bearing the stamped number "1" was originally intended for Ernst Roehm. (There is a blank beside serial number "1" in the official list of recipients.) As there seems to exist no photograph of Roehm actually wearing a Blood Order, it is likely that he was shot before the medal was given to him. If this was the case, the Blood Order intended for Roehm undoubtedly was withdrawn from issue, ending up in someone's desk drawer or safe with all the other Blood Orders originally intended for those shot or dismissed during the Roehm Purge of 1934. The most logical person to have come into possession of these revoked awards was Brueckner, the ranking man on the commission appointed by Hitler to award the Blood Orders, number "1002" was included in another large collection of Brueckner items purchased by Bob Kraus many years ago. According to the list in Patzwall's book, this Blood Order was intended for a Franz Kastcnberger, a former member of the SA-Regiment Munchen, the unit commanded by Brueckner during the 1923 Putsch. It is not known for sure, but perhaps Kastenberger suffered the same fate as Roehm. In any case, Brueckner came into possession of at least two Blood Orders, number "1" and "1002", neither originally intended for him. (According to the list in Patzwall's book, Brueckner's own Blood Order was number "7".) With Roehm dead, Blood Order number "I" was unissued, and his name was removed from the list of recipients, leaving a blank beside that number. It must have been decided that this prestigious number be reassigned to someone, and if this were the case, the number could have gone to no one other than Hitler himself.

Therefore, it may safely be theorized that Hitler's previously unnumbered Blood Order was later hand engraved with the serial number "1", the condition in which it was found by Lieber in Hitler's apartment in 1945. No other explanation makes any sense.

Which Blood Order number "I" is real? The answer is that they both are!

Ben Swearingen

The Blood Order

The Blood Order was instituted in March of 1934 and was awarded for loyal participation in Hitler's attempted "Bear Hall Putsch". There are two distinctive types of this decoration, the earlier type 1, and the later issued type 2, to use collector's terminology. The first type was initially awarded for service as stated above and in certain circumstances for rendering an outstanding service that benefited the Nazi Party. The second type was basically the same as the first type except for the absence of the manufacturer's trade mark and a lowering of the silver content from "990" as on type one, to "800". The reverse of both types are identical. The type one medals are all serial numbered from "I" through "1500". Not all of these first 1500 pieces were awarded. In addition to these first 1500 numbered pieces there were at least 5 pieces with no serial number. Such a piece was given to Adolf Hitler and four others, In addition to these there were 3 pieces awarded with "0" serial numbers. I have not been able to discover the purpose of these, Blood Order number "335" was the first one with its serial number impressed on the obverse side of the medal directly below the Feldherrnhalle monument.

Directly below this number is the "990" silver content, and below that the manufacturer's logo "J. Feuss, Munchen". This first type lies loosely in its compartment case along with the ribbon in the same compartment.

The case is dark burgundy simulated leather. The date "8.9. November 1923" is embossed in gold on the case lid and there is also a gold border around the top edge of the lid. The reverse of the case has a paper tag with the serial number of the medal printed in pale blue letters.

Alfons Brundl was born on March 16, 1909 and joined the Hitler Youth at age 13. At 16 he joined the SA and remained a member until 1931. One March 27, 1931 Brundl joined the SS and on December 12, 1934 was awarded Blood Order number "335", Brundl had many aspirations as a loyal Party member and was very active in Party Organizations usch as; Peoples Welfare Associtation, The Reich Air Patrol, The Association for Physical Exercise, The Reich Cultural Organization, Reich Music Association and was propaganda chief for local party group Glockenbach. In 1940 at the age of 31, SS Sutrmman Brundl died in action. His Blood Order was brought home after the war by an American Serviceman.

John Pepera

All 3 articles published in DER GAULEITER, 1989

The Kriegsmarie "AFRIKA" Cufftitle

One seldom encountered, yet interesting cuffband, is the German naval version of the "AFRIKA" band which exists in the form of a unit title and as a campaign title. There is, however a lack of detailed information on this cufftitle in its naval form.

What we do know:

It was issued as a unit title to designate actual service with North African based units. It was later considered a naval version of the official campaign service decoration, differing in color from the standard, proscribed pattern issued to the other branches of the Wehrmacht.

Unit Title:

It is known that for a limited time the use of the Army pattern "AFRIKAKORPS" was permitted to be worn by naval personnel, being listed in orders dated 18 July 1941 and again in orders dated 4 November 1941 .

The next style of "AFRIKA" cuff-band was the Latin capital letter pattern for the Luftwaffe units serving in Africa. A number of photographs have been observed showing Kriegsmarine members wearing this pattern having white lettering on cornflower-blue. In addition, examples exist of this style in a naval color pattern of golden-yellow on dark blue. All unit patterns and the Army"AFRIKAKORPS" pattern were worn on the right cuff, and were not allowed to be worn after the wearer had left the African theater. The right to wear these titles was entered into the man's Soldbuch. It was not considered a campaign decoration and as such had no presentation or formal award document (Urkunde).

Campaign Award:

An official commemorative campaign cuff-band was instituted on 15 January1943 and was awarded to those in all branches of the Wehrmacht who had served in the African theater of operations. The pattern was rendered on tanbrown material with silver-grey lettering and matching silver-grey palm trees at either end of the word "AFRIKA". It also had a silver-grey soutache border strip at both top and bottom of the band.

This band was to be worn on the lower left sleeve where all campaign titles were worn. In addition to the title itself, an award document was presented as this was an official campaign decoration. The cuff-band was authorized to be worn on any uniform, and unlike the unit designator pattern, did not have to be removed if no longer serving in Africa.

Naval Variation: ****

For some unknown reason, there exists a naval variation of this campaign title, it appears in naval colors of darkblue with golden-yellow embroidery. The pattern is almost identical in design to the standard pattern, except for its colors. These titles were also issued with an award certificate, most often signed by Konderadmiral Meendsen-Bohlken, Commander of Kriegsmarine forces in Italy (see example of ink-stamped signature on illustrated document).

The following is a translation of the regulations relating to this cuff-band from Marineverordnungsblatt 74, Berlin,1943:

1. The cuff-band was to be awarded via the German Naval Command italy, in the name of the Kriegsmarine High Command.

2. The cuff-band will be awarded with a recipient's document, the said document to be procured from the German Naval Command Italy. A recipient must have fullfiled one of the following requirements:

a. Honorable service in the African theater for ground operations, or for operations at sea from firmly established ports for at least six months.

b. Being wounded in theater during ground operations or operations at sea while operating from firmly established ports.

c. By contracting an incapacitating tropical disease after at least three months. The award is not to be awarded to foreigners. The award is to be entered into personal papers.

3. The award is to be worn on the lower left arm, on tropical, blue and fieldgrey uniforms.

4. All former organizational cuff-bands are to be withdrawn, i.e., the "AFRIKAKORPS" cuff-band.

5. The supply of cuff-bands is to take place via the Naval Superintendant Service Post in Naples.

Variations:

As with all things military, although a regulation may be "etched in stone"variations exist - out of some basic need (greater demand than supply) or the desire to have a better-made and better looking item. A number of unofficial variations exist of the "AFRIKA" pattern cuffband in all forms using different materials (gold bullion embroidery, for example). These naval patterns differ in lettering and borders, base material used, and were normally locally produced. The best proof of originality is still a photograph of the variation in actual use.

Richard W. Mundt, "The Kriegsmarine "AFRIKA" Cuffband", The Military Advisor, 2006

Bender-Publishing.com

The Nazi Party Gorgets

POLITISCHES LEITER FLAGBEARER

The organization of Political Leaders, while one of the oldest organizations of the N .S .D. A. P. was one of the last to be awarded its two gorgets.

The flagbearer gorget and the Streifendienst service gorget were listed for the first time on April 25, 1939, in the "Uniform Orders for Political Leaders".

It is believed that both these gorgets were to be mass produced and unveiled for the first time at the 1939 Reichsparteitag events during mid-september of that year. Cancellation of the 1939 Reichsparteitag was caused by the outbreak of World War II on September 1st.

The Organizationsbuch Der N S D A P 1940 edition pictures for the first time both gorgets along with the appropriate bandoleers. A flagbearer arm patch, identifying the flagbearer was not worn by the Political Leaders Organization. Both Political Leader gorgets were ready for purchase by the Political Leader groups through local outlets of the Reichszeugmeisterei in late 1939.

The bronze plated neck chains are a series of stamped links made of pot metal, held together by wire loops. The alternate links have an eagle and swastika on one and a wreath and swastika on the other. The length of the complete chain is approximately 24" (70 cm) long and contains 31 links.

The chain and the reverse side of the plate are stamped with RZM and a manufacturer's code such as M1/102.

The cloth felt backing on the gorget is either of a dark green or light tan color.

The flagbearer gorget is worn at all P L functions while displaying the unit flag. A dress bandoleer is worn over the shoulder and the flag pole is supported in a leather cup at the bottom of the bandoleer. The bandoleer is leather, covered with gold brocade, the center is brown and the edges are white for Kreisleitung, while for Ortsgruppen the edges are dark blue. White gloves were a required part of the flagbearer's uniform.

The Political Leader gorgets are by far the largest or most massive in size of any of those used by enter the party or the military organizations. They measure 9" (23 cm) across by 4.5" tall (11.5cm) high. They have a deep concave shape, however this varies with the the firm which manufactured them. They are press-formed out of a lightweight metal with a rolled over edge, which not only does away with the sharp edges, but also serves to help retain the wool cloth backing which is glued to the reverse side of the plate. The upturned, spread winged eagle on the flagbearer gorget is massive and covers a good portion of the breast plate. The head of the eagle faces to the right and is setting on a large round wreath and swastika. A border of oak leaves runs around the entire edging of the plate.

The flagbearer gorget to plated in an antique bronze color ranging from almost a light gold to a dark bronze. Again, these are manufacturing differences. due to the fact they were manufactured by different firms.

STREIFENDIENST

The Political Leaders Streifendienst gorget has the same breastplate as the Political Leader flagbearer gorget, however, the eagle and swastika emblem is about one half the size and is centered higher on the plate. A stamped metal ribbon approximately 18 cm long by 2 cm wide is centered and affixed directly under the eagle. A border of oak leaves also appears on this gorget. A round rosette button is mounted in each of the top corners of the gorget pictured here.

The Streifendienst gorget was plated with identieal coloring to that of the flagbearer gorget and the chain hanger was interchangable between the two gorgets.

The Streifendienst gorget was worn by men on patrol service at party functions or in local town areas.

Deeter and Odegard, "Gorgets of the Third Reich",D.O. Enterprises, 1977

Fake or Real

THE DAGGER BLADE

It has been said that the ingredient that is supposed to be most difficult for countedeiters of money to get is the paper. On the other hand, the people who counterfeit money say it's easy -they bleach the ink off $1.00 bills and print $100.00 bills on that paper. The same is true of the blade fakers: an abused original blade can easily be re-worked into an undetectable fine fraud worth many, many times its cost.

Fakers usually don't think small so let's say you wish to create a dagger which will be worth $1500.00 to $2000.00. Naturally, it will need to be a rare type, perhaps the only known example extant. The faker's rule number 1 is: don't start with an obvious Pakistani or Slavish copy of a dagger. Start with the real thing or with some "warehouse-find" parts from Solingen which can be intermingled with a few genuine dagger parts to create the illusion of authenticity.

If a faker is going to create a dagger intended to sell in the $1500.00 to $2000.00 range he (or she!) is perfectly happy to pay $500.00 for a dagger to start with. At the time this book is written one can still buy a good SS dagger in the $500.00 range, so why not start there?

After purchase of a subject dagger to be altered, a decision is made as to whether the new creation will be marketed as a pristine original in very fine to mint condition, or if it will be sold in good to excellent used condition. The original dagger is then stripped down and the parts are simply added to bins of similar parts from other broken down daggers (unless of course, the original parts are marked in some special way).

The blade to be used must be 1) used as it is, 2) fixed up slightly, or 3) refinished entirely. To add the greatest value to the end product, the faker will usually select option 3 and refinish the entire blade. Commercial metal finishers (see your Yellow Pages) or people working inside the metal finishing business can duplicate the original Third Reich finish on a dagger blade quickly and cheaply and at the same time remove the original etching on the blade. This is not a job to be done at home, as any unevenness is easily detectable. A factory finish is perfect, and removes very little metal from the blade. Fakers almost always remove the original etching from the blades of daggers they are working on because it is so easy to replace. The process is known industrially as "photo-engraving" or "photo resist etching'" and it is used every day to make things like printed circuit boards. It is easy to do at home.

A photo resists is a liquid lacquer-type substance to which photo sensitive material like ammonium bichromate has been added. It is applied to the blade of a dagger by dipping the blade in it or pouring the resist directly on the blade. The blade is then suspended or stood on end in a dark place so the excess resist can flow off and the remainder can dry. When dry, the blade looks like it has been varnished.

A film positive of the inscription to be etched on the blade is then positioned where it belongs on the blade, and is taped in place with transparent tape. The blade is placed in a plastic bag with a vacuum hose attached. When the vacuum is turned on the film negative is sucked tightly against the blade. The side of the blade with the film on it is then positioned in front of a carbon arc lamp (plain sunlight will also do the trick) for about one minute while light hardens the photo resist where it shows through clear film. Naturally, no light reaches the photo resist under the black pad of the film, so those photo resist spots remain soft and can be removed with a chemical developer. When the soft photo resist is removed it erases bare steel.

After baking the hardened photo resist to make it durable the blade is washed or sprayed with a solution like ferric chloride which removes exposed steel very quickly. To duplicate logo etching on a steel blade may require 2 or 3 minutes. To get a very deep etch as seen on the motto on some blades, or to replicate damascene work may require 5 to 10 minutes of etching depending on the temperature of the ferric chloride.

When the etch is correct the blade is removed, rinsed in clear water and then the hardened resist is removed with lacquer thinner. If it is desired, the etched spots can be chemically blackened prior to removal of the resist.

This type of etching is capable of reproducing extremely fine detail which has critically sharp edges and corners, even when examine dunder a powerful glass. A cheaper method which is capable of reproducing good, but not fine detail, is to silk screen a resist (likepaint) on the blade leaving some areas of exposed steel. When silk screened resists and their resulting etchings are viewed under a useful glass, the checkered edges (usually 220 checks per inch, or 9 per mm) left by the silk screen are perfectly evident.

The least expensive method, but one often used by the fakers is to hand paint the resist on the blade leaving open areas to be etched. An excellent example of a blade etched with hand painted resist is shown on page 216 of volume I of T. M. Johnson's book "Collectingthe Edged Weapons of the Third Reich".

There is absolutely no way to tell a good etched blade made in 1940 from a good etched blade made yesterday. Anyone who says he can is vastly over estimating his ability. The best experts in the field are fooled by new blades everyday. The processes can be identical to those originally used and the technicians of today are at least as good as those of 50 years ago. All facilities and equipment are better.

Interestingly, there are now people promoting the service of making"undetectable" repairs to Nazi edged weapons. These repairs including painting, covering with leather, the replacement of missing parts,etc., etc. Such repairs do not increase the historical value of the piece at all (if they did the Venus di Milo would have been restored years ago). All they really do is increase the value of the weapon for resale to someone who is unaware of the repairs made.

The salvation of the blade fakers are those collectors who seek a rare and unique piece - a one-of-a-kind knock-out of a blade, to exhibit for the even more gullible to look at. The best advice I can give is to BE VERY SUSPICIOUS OF ANY NON-STANDARD EDGED weapon. NEVER buy any edged weapons impulsively.

Ray R. Cowdery, "Nazi Militaria, Fake or Real", Author Published, 1993

German Hand Grenades

The best known greanades used by the Nazi war machine during the second World War were the stick grenade (model 24 and PH39) and the egg grenade. There were several other types, but this article will be devoted to these two better known models.

These were originally designed for offensive use, but rely more on concussion and blast than fragmentation. This is obvious due to the thin metal casings. The blast can be lethal, but the usual result was severe shock and anti-moral effects.

The famous "potato masher" (model 24) is composed of an explosive metal head fitted to a wooden handle through the center of which a double length of cord is drewn. One end of the cord is connected by a lead ball to the friction type ignited set. The other end of the cord is attached to a porcelin head or metal ring which ties at the opposite end of the wooded handle in a small housing. This housing is covered by a metal screw cap. To activeate the grenade, all that is necessary is to unscrew the metal cap and pull the China head. This caused a friction whcih ignites the fuze to the dedonator. The fuze has a 5.5 second delay.

The model 24 stick grenade is 14 inches long, weighs 1.25 pounds. The explosive weighs 6 ounces, whcih is quite a charge for a grenade of this weight.

Another popular stick grenade is the Mark PH39. This type is quite similar to the model 24, except it is 2 inches longer and 10 ounces heavier. The delay on the fuze is 4.5 seconds with half a pound more explosive. The cap is directly attached to the china head and works by pulling the cap which in turn pulls the head. This grenade explodes at an approximate distance of 18 yards.

These grenades have a small danger area, but they can be thrown considerable distance. It is necessasary for the thrower to have immediate cover available.

Often the German soldiers would fasten the heads of either 6 PH39s or M24s around a complete stick grenade. This formidable explosive is particulary effective against pill boxes, street fighting and any other strong points

The German smoke greande can be recognized by its similarity to the ordinary H.E. stick grenade, but with the following difference. Instead of the normal field grey explosive head, a smoke head is fitted to the standard handle, and the head is marked with a broken white band near it's base. The letters "Nb" are stancelled on it as well.

The egg grenades used by the Nazis are a dark field grey color with a thin elevated flange around it middle. It is 2 inches in diameter at its thickest point and about 3 inches in length. It weight about .75 pounds. It could be thrown long distances conpared to our WWII grenades.

In the center of the grenade is a pocket which has the no. 8 service pattern detonatior and also contains a 5 second delay flash cap. To ignite the cap, simply unscrew and pull the green knob at the tip of the grenade which fires the flash cap by a wire operating link.

Jack Britton, "German Hand Grenades", Der Haken Kreuz, 1967

Wearing the Army Dagger

An Army Leutnant Poses for his Formal Portrait with his Army Dagger Complete with Portepee tied in the Method Specified by the 4 May 1942 Order. The hanger buckles and portion of the straps can be seen extending beneath the skirt of his Enlisted Pattern service tunic. The Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbon is looped through the second button hole while the German Sport badge is pinned to his left breast pocket. Note that the unit insignia on the shoulder straps have been covered with slides as ordered at the beginning of the war. This order was later rescinded in early 1944.

A High Grade Career Official with the role of Major roses in Service Uniform Wearing his Army Officer Dagger with Portepee. The dagger is suspended from deluxe hangers featuring oak leaf embellished suspension clips. The collar patches with serrated litzen denote the high grade career.

In This Period Portrait an Army Leutnant Poses with his Army Dagger Complete with Portepee in the 1935 Regulation "Tie" and Standard Hangers Suspended from beneath the Skirt of the Tunic. The reverse of the photograph is signed,"Kreuzholler, LTN Kriegsjahr 1940". His decorations include the iron Cross 1st Class and the SA Sport badge.

An Army Leutnant Poses with his 1935 Pattern Officer's Dagger Complete with Portepee. The dagger is suspended from beneath the skirt of the tunic and appears to have a white celluloid-over-wood or ivory grip rather than the more common yellow or orange variety.

This Period Photograph Comes to the Author Directly from the Son of the Young Army Leutnant Clutching his 1935 Pattern Army Officer Dress Dagger. The son preferred that his father's name be omitten in this photograph caption. Note that the portepee is tied in the manner prescribed by the 1935 Army regulation and that the Officer is wearing regulation grey suede gloves with his Service uniform.

This Period Signed Portrait of Major Helmuth Rogge Providesan Excellent View of the 1935 Pattern Army Officer Dagger Complete with Portepee and Deluxe Hangers. A veteran of WWI Service, Major Rogge was the brother of Bernhard Rogge who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaved as Commander of the Kriegsmarine Surface Raider "Atlantis". Among Major Rogge's awards are the 1939 Spange to the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class, 1939 Iron Cross 1st Class and General Assault Badge.

Ltc. (Ret.) Thomas M. Johnson, "Wearing the Edged Weapons of the Third Reich", Volume III, Author Published, 1998

johnsonreferencebooks.com

Duane Pfister

General Assault Badges

The General Assault Badge (Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen) was awarded to assault engineers (pionier) as well as to those troops who supported infantry and armor units in combat. Also included were other engineering units, artillery, anti-tank (pak) units, anti-aircraft (flak) units and some medics. Unlike the Infantry Assault, Panzer Assault and Flak Badges, which feature a small Wehrmacht eagle positioned atop an oakleaf wreath, the General Assault Badge is dominated by a large Wehlmacht eagle in the center of its oakleaf wreath. Documentation supports only a "silver" version of the badge, however, I have examined a number of these badges that are "bronze" in color, with different manufacturer's marks on them and with good detail and proper construction. Assuming they are original, I can only assume that these badges never received the final silver finish over the base metal or have totally lost their silver finish over the years.

The badge in figure A1 and A2 is a ""JFS" marked scoop back. The pin and catch assemblies are afixed by two rivets each. I have a very similar General Assault Badge that is unmarked, with the same riveted construction. In figure A3, the "FRANK & REIF STUTTGART" badge is a solid back, differing principally from figure A2 in that it is not cut out between the swastika and the crossed bayonet and stick grenade.

Figure B1 and B2 are both "Assmann" badges, produced by an extrusion process (note the faint, raised circular areas along the sides of the wreath) in which the hinge and catch are an integral part of the badges formed as one piece with the badge. The pin was attached at another step. The two badges are alike except for the first having the number "2" versus the second having the number "3". Perhaps this indicates the year or place of manufacture. Figure B3 is an unmarked hollow back in which there is no cut out between the swastika and the crossed bayonet and stick grenade, similar to the figure A3 solid back badge. I have another unmarked hollow back which has the usual cut out beneath the swastika. In figure B5, a solid back badge, shows a third marmfacturer's variation as to what is cut out. Here, under the ''W'' on the left side, is one cut out beneath the swastika while there is no cut out under the swastika on the right side. This is in contrast to the usual two cut outs or sometimes none at all. The"W" maker's mark is stamped into the badge whereas on all other badges shown, the maker's mark is raised. Figure C1 is an unmarked solid backbadge with a round, convex. fluted attaching plate screwed into a center post. The small pin at the bottom of the badge (about 3/16 inch in length) was intended to help hold the badge upright when worn.

Figure C2 is a drawing of the General Assault Badge for 25 engagements. The Wehrmacht eagles bayonet and grenade are black while the oakleaf wreath is silver. The number"25" and the border directly around it are in gold. On the back of the badge, figure C3, can be seen four domed rivets attaching the eagle, bayonet and grenade (one piece) to the wreath. The maker is"RK". This badge can also be found with no markings or with maker's marks "GB" or "JFS".

In wartime photos of individuals wearing the General Assault Badge, it is common to see it with a "frosted" finish (a rich silver-white appearance).

It is uncommon to find a badge that has reined its frosted finish over the years. The"JFS" badge in figure A1 and A2 retains slight traces of a frosted finish on its front. In contrasts its pin. hinge, catch and curved riveted plates,being made of a harder metal, retain all of the original frosted finish. Of course,many of these badges were produced with a dull finish. a smart choice if you're going to wear it into combat. I have a General Assault Badge in it's simple, simi- bright metal. I have noted that the General Assault Badges are frequently encountered with field repairs to both the pin and catch, more so that in other Army badges I have come across. The General Assault Badge is a distinctive, handsome badge. Perhaps because it doesn't carry the glamour of the Infantry Assault or Panzer Assault Badges, or because it only has a silver version, it does not seem to command the collector interest of other Army combat badges. This is unfortunate.

Tim Curley, "General Assault Badges, Some Observations", Der Gauleiter, 1994