Collector Basics - The Iron Cross

IRON CROSS
(EISERNES KREUZ)

The Iron Cross was first instituted by Friedrich—Wilhelm III of Prussiaon 10th March 1813 and remained a purely Prussian decoration until theend of the lst World War.

Originally there were three classes; 2nd Class, 1st Class and Grand Cross. A special grade in the form of a gold breast star with the cross in the centre, known as the Star of the Grand Cross, was awarded to Blucher after Waterloo and to Hindenburg in 1918.

The Iron Cross has to be reconstituted for each major war. Since 1813 this has happened three times, i. e. in 1870, 1914 and 1939. It was not revived for the German colonial campaigns or for the wars of 1864 and 1866 or the Spanish Civil War.

Until 1918, there was both a combatant and a non-combatant Iron Cross; the former had a black ribbon with two white stripes, the later a white ribbon with two black stripes.

On lst September 1939, Hitler reconstituted the Iron Cross but changed its grading, its design and its ribbon. The non-combatant Iron Cross was abolished and a new grade, the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz), was introduced to bridge the very considerable gap between the lst Class and the Grand Cross. As the war progressed, higher grades of the Knight's Cross had to be added. By the end of the war the grading was as follows: (the dates of institution of each are given in brackets)

2nd Class (1. 9. 39)
(lst Class (1. 9. 39)
(Knight's Cross (1. 9. 39)
(Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (3. 6. 40)
(Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (21. 6. 41)
(Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (15. 7. 41)
(Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (29.12. 44)
(Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (1. 9. 39)

The Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse), usually referred to by the Germans as E. K. 2, hangs from a red, white and black ribbon. Normally only the ribbon was worn, either on a medal ribbon bar ordiagonally from the second button hole.

The Iron Cross lst Class or E. K. l, is a pin-back cross with a plain reverse. Worn on the left breast pocket at all times.

The Knight’s Cross is larger than the lst and 2nd Class and the silver edges are of genuine silver, usually hall-marked on one of the arms with a tiny 800 or 900. The Knight's Cross was worn round the neck at all times; there was no provision for an "undress" version.

The Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub) are a silver cluster attached to the suspension loop. They were presented separately in a small black case. The first recipient of the Oak Leaves was General Dietl, who received them on 19th July 1940 for his successful conduct of the Battle of Narvik.

The Swords (Schwertern) are two silver crossed swords added to the suspension loop below the Oak Leaves. The first to receive Swords was Adolf Galland for his 70th aerial victory in the Battle of Britain.

The Diamonds (Brillanten) are numerous small brilliants studded over the oak leaf cluster and the hilts of the two swords. The fighter ace, Werner Molders was the first recipient of the Diamonds.

The Golden Oak Leaves (Goldenen Eichenlaub) were awarded only once; The recipient was the Stuka pilot, Col. Hans Ulrich Rudel who survived the war.

The Grand Cross (Grosskreuz) is larger than the Knight's Cross. It was worn from a 57mm wide ribbon round the neck and could be conferred only on officers of General rank for an action which had had a decisive effect on the course of a war. The only recipient in the 2nd World War was Goering who got it after the Battle of France. He had already received the Knight's Cross (on 30th Sept. 1939) and wore his Grand Cross above it. The original Grand Cross which the "Reichsmarschall" received on 19th July 1940 was lost when his Berlin home was destroyed in an air raid. He had a more elaborate copy made as a replacement and was wearing this on his uniform at the time of his capture, but the authors have not been able to trace its present location.

In theory no distinction of rank was made for an award of any grade of theIron Cross (except the Grand Cross), but in practice the Knight's Cross was conferred much more frequently upon officers than other ranks

Some two and a half million awards of the Iron Cross 2nd Class and about 300, 000 of the 1st Class are said to have been made, but complete figures will certainly never be available.

The Knight's Cross can not be compared with the V. C. (of which 182 were awarded in World War II) since the V. C. was awarded only for acts of heroism in battle and not, like the Knight's Cross, "for military leadership".

The Knight's Cross citation has the following wording "ln the name ofthe German people I award (rank and name of recipient) the Knight's Cross of the lr0n Cross". Beneath is Hitler's signature and date. The citation is enclosed in a red or white morocco folder on which in gilt tooling (sometimes in gilt metal) is the national eagle and swastika.

It was necessary to hold the 2nd Class before the lst Class could be awarded, but, in exceptional circumstances both could be conferred together. Each grade awarded presumes possession of the previous lower grade or grades.

The original 1939 Grand Cross had gold instead of silver outer edges but this "gold frame" version was never issued.

Circumstances of investiture varied with the course of the war, but generally those awarded the Oak Leaves (and above) were personally invested by Hitler. Other grades could be conferred by local commanders in the field.

At the end of the war,U.S. intelligence officers found, in Austria, an example of a projected "Star" of the Grand Cross(1939). This is made in silver gilt and measures 87mm across. The accompanying photograph of this projected award was kindly supplied bythe Museum of the U. S.Military Academy at West Point (where it is now located).

1939 BAR TO 1914 IRON CROSS
((SPANGE 1939 ZUM EISERNEN KREUZ 1914)

With the reconstitution of the Iron Cross in September 1939, a "Bar" was instituted for those who had received the Cross in the lst World War and were again awarded the same grade in the Second.

The 1st Class bar is silver coloured and measures 45mm. It was worn above the 1914 Iron Cross lst Class on the left breast pocket, sometimes actually attached to the upper arm of the cross.

The 2nd Class bar is also silver coloured, but is slightly smaller (normally 31mm but there is also a 24mm version). It was worn on the black and white ribbon of the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class when worn from the second button hole. When the ribbon was on a medal ribbon bar, a small replica of the 1939 Bar was worn on it (measuring 15mm on the full-size ribbon or 11mm on the half-size ribbon). Over 100, 000 of these "bars" (lst and 2nd Class) were awarded during the Second World War.

ROLL OF HONOUR CLASPS
((EHRENBLATT-SPANGEN)

In July 1941, a "Roll of Honour of the German Army" (Ehrenblatt des Deutschen Heeres) was started in which were recorded accounts of heroic deeds performed by German soldiers.

In February 1943, the German Navy initiated a similar Roll (or table) of Honour (Ehrentafel der deutschen Kriegsmarine).

The Luftwaffe also had its own Roll (or List) of Honour (Ehrenliste der Deutschen Luftwaffe), but it was not until 1944 that those whose names appeared in these Rolls of Honour received any visible token of the fact.

The Roll of Honour Clasp of the Army (Ehrenblatt Spange des Heeres) was instituted on 30th January 1944, the clasp for the Navy (Ehrentafel). Women as well as men were eligible, but an award to a woman was extremely rare. Hannah Reitsch, the distinguished woman pilot, was awarded both the 1st and 2nd Class. She was the first woman to receive the Iron Cross in the 1939-45 war and was invested with the 2nd class in March 1941, and the 1st Class in October 1942, both personally by Hitler. This was in recognition of her great courage and skill as a test pilot of military aircraft and aerial combat devices. Some Front-line nurses were also recipients of the Iron Cross but their number was small.

The Iron Cross could also be conferred on foreigners (even Britons have been among the recipients, these being in 1870-71). The Knight's Cross was not frequently given to non-Germans, but a few commanders of foreign volunteer legions and also some Italian submarine commanders received it.

Awards of the Iron Cross were also made to boys of the Hitler Youth fighting in the defence of Berlin in 1945.

The Iron Cross could be awarded "en masse" to an entire ship's crew. This happened on lst April 1941, when the whole complement of the"Admiral Scheer" (some 1, 300 men) got it; similar awards went to the crews of the Auxiliary Cruiser "Kormoran" and the U 47 which sank the "Royal Oak" (October 1939).

In the Luftwaffe, the Iron Cross was awarded on a "points" basis. One point was given for the shooting down of a single engined fighter, two for a twin engined plane and three for a four engined bomber. Night victories counted as double, thus the pilot who brought down a "Lancaster" got six points. Usually about 20 points were needed for the Knight's Cross, but the requirements varied at different times during the war and the difficulties of the front were taken into consideration.

Commanders of U Boats had to sink about 50, 000 tons of enemy shipping to get the lst Class, about 100, 000 to get the Knight's Cross and about 200, 000 to get the Oak Leaves, but again these figures were subject to considerable variation.

The number of awards of the various grades of the Knight's Cross was as follows:

Knight's Cross alone... 6,973
(K. C. and Oak Leaves ... 853
(K. C. and Oak Leavesand Swords ......... 150
(K. C. and Oak Leaves Swords, Diamonds ... 27
( K. C. with Golden Oak Leaves, etc. ... 1

The above figures apply only to German recipients and do not include the small number of non-Germans to receive the Knight's Cross and very small number to receive the K. C. and Oak Leaves.

David Littlejohn and Col. C.M. Dodkins, ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MADALS AND BADGES OF THE THIRD REICH (INCLUDING THE FREE CITY OF DANZIG), R. James Bender Publishing, 1968

bender-publishing.com

Collecting Gau Badges

The Nazi Party administration was divided into four levels, Reich (National), Gau (State, Region or Province), Kreis (District) and so on through Orts, Zelle and Block. Every year each Gau would hold a ''Gautag'' or, you might say, Province Day. This was like a small version of the National Reichsparteitag. There were lots of speeches, parades, meetings and more speeches. To help pay the cost of holding the event, and to generally fatten the Party coffers, it was common practice to create a badge commemorating the day and sell them for a small amount to visitors. The badges were bought by virtually everyone attending and were worn during the day to show support for the party. At the end of the day many people kept the badges as a remembrance. Today collectors commonly refer to these type badges as tinnys.

Unlike the Reichsparteitag badges of which you can find only about 10 different, Gautag badges are varied and many. Some simple arithmetic will give you an idea. There were 43 Gau, and from 1933 to 1939 they each created a yearly Gautag badge, that would be 301 different badges. Some Gau created badges earlier than 1933 and some may have started later, I don't think there is any complete record. Suffice it to say there are several hundred different.

These badges offer some interesting collecting challcnges. A collector could decade to acquire one of each. This would be difficult because some would prove to be scarce or impossible to acquire and because of the lack of documentation he would never really know when he had them all. Another way of doing it would be to collect only certain Gaus or specific years, such as the last year of issue (which in most cases would be 1938 or 1939, as donation badges or all types were seldom struck during the war). One idea that I think would be interesting, would be to frame a large map of Germany showing all the Gaus and to get one badge from each Gau and affixit to the proper location on the map. Other collections could be built by acquiring only those made with certain design features (like eagles), only those made of tin, ceramic, plastic,l eather or whatever. The possibilities are endless.

Which ever way a collector decides to approach it building this type of collection can have several advantages. First: these badges are readily available and several different ones can usually be found at any militaria show. Second: there are so many different ones that the problem of not being able to add something new to the collection would not come up for quite a while. Third: most Gautag badges are relatively inexpensive. Unlike collecting medals or combat badges, which quickly requires you to spend hundreds or thousands for each new piece. Gautag badges are usually priced from ten dollars to less than one hundred dollars each, with (I would estimate) an average price of about twenty-five to fifty dollars. Finally when you get a good collection of Gautag badges you can start collecting Kreistag badges. I figure there should be at least 6,000 different ones of those.

Bob Treend, "Collecting Gau Badges", Der Gauleiter, 1991

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 German Order

In 1942 the Fuehrer Hitler discusses a matter that had evidently been on his mind for some time: the creation of a decoration "adequately rewarding cases of exceptional merit and unique exploits." This remark, recorded in the English translation of Hitler's table talk (Hitler'S Secret Conversations, published by Farrar, Strauss, & Young, Inc. in 1953, p. 394) is continued by a brief eulogy to Fritz Todt, after which the Fuehrer says:

"The order which I created on the death of Minister Todt, and which, posthumously, he is the first recipient, is designed to reward the most outstanding services that a man can render to the Reich. To avoid too wide a distribution, I have decided that recipients shall be grouped into a Chapter......which shall have a Senate, with powers to decide admissions and exclusions and limitation of the numbers of Members to the Chapter."

In all probability Hitler was discussing his proposed German Order, which he did indeed create in 1942 to reward extraordinary services to the Nazi Party. It was one of the rarest of all Nazi decorations, and the highest decoration the Third Reich could bestow.Only a Party member could recieve it.

The designer of the German Order is believed to be Adolf Hitler himself, although others such as Benno von Arent and Richard Klein may also have contributed. Since neither of the latter artists were noted for the delicacy of their designs, my guess is that this Order was indeed designed by Hitler...the better examples of his little waters show, for example, a delicate workmanship in drawing and painting. Nevertheless, the Fuehrer did issue an order though the Party Chancellory Designing Department to manufacture the decoration.

The German Order consists of a black enammelled cross with the smaller version of the Golden Partei-Ehrenzeichen, enamelled in the national colors, in its center. The Hoheitsadler are in gold, are of the drop-winged military type, except for a spread-winged National eagle which joins the decoration to the cravat. The reverse of the cross bears the Fuehrer's signature, in Germanic script, on a black enamell background.

The German Order was nicknamed "Totenorden" (death-medal) because the first six of its ten recipients were awarded it posthumously.It is interesting to note that none of the most prominent Nazi leaders, such as' Goering or Goebbles, received this decoration from their Fuehrer: and that the last three recipients received it shortly brfore Hitler's death on April 30, 1945.

The recipients were:

1. DR. FRITZ TODT', builder highways, killed in a plane '1942

2. REINHARDT HEYDRICH, Protector of BohemiaMoravia, assassinated by Czech partizans June 9, 1942

3. HUHNLEIN, leader of the NSKK, died June 22, 1942

4. VIKTOR LutZE, S.A. Chief of Staff, killed in an auto crash, May 8, 1943

5. JOSEF BURCKEL, Gauleiter, suicide, Oct.3, 1944

6. RUDOLF SCHMUNIN', General of the Infantry, died of wounds received on July 20, 1944 and Oct. 7, 1944

7. KONSTANTIN HIERL, Reichsarbeitsfuehrer on his 70th birthday, Feb. 24, 1945

8. KARL HANKE, Gauleiter of Silesia, Apr. 12 1945

9. KARL HOLZ, Gauleiter of Franconia, Apr. 19, 1945

10. ARTHUR AXMANN, Reichjungenfuehrer, Apr. 25, 1945

I have been told that as many as 50 Orders were manufactured for everyone actually awarded, and that the extras were sold secretly to museums and possibly to collectors (if this is true, I wonder why more of these Orders haven't appeared long before this.) I also doubt very much if my Order is one of those. Post-war Austrian re-strikes (from the original dies); at the time I acquired it I had never heard any tack among collectors or dealers about either phonies or re-strikes. I feel quite sure that my piece is indeed a product of the Third Reich at the time of its existance.

But probably my piece is an "extra"----its sword is noticably bent. Other than that, the workmanship is fine throughout. There are no markings on the reverse, and no seamlines along the edges as if two parts were soddered together. The reverse, is of fine quality on both of my pieces. But since I have never seen another German Order, either a genuine one or a re-strike, I have nothing to compare my pieces with. The cross is about 2 inches in diameter.

Karen Kuykendall: "The German Order","Der Haken Kreuz", c. 1969

Introduction to Medals and Badges

The Third Reich came into being on 30th January 1933, with Hitler's accension to power, and ended with the defeat of Germany in May 1945.

The number of new decorations, medals and badges of honour created during those twelve years may well appear prodigious, but it must be borne in mind that in the matter of national honours, the Nazis were obliged to start virtually from scratch.

The previous government, the ill-starred Weimar Republic, had at least in theory abolished all titles of nobility and awards of honour, although in practice the proscription was not absolute. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem (the Johanniter Orden) was permitted as was the civil grade of the Pour Ie Merite, at least to fill a vacancy in the permitted membership of 30. The decorations of the German Red Cross were not effected since awards in this case were made by the President of the German Red Cross and not the government. The various German states (Lander) still enjoyed a degree of autonomy under the Weimar Republic and could make awards of such things as Life-saving and Miner's or Fire Brigade medals within their own province. They even continued to do so for a short period under the 3rd Reich until the rigorous application of the Nazi "Gleichschaltung" policy swept away all such provincial awards and centralized them in the national government* .

This work deals only with official awards made at national (Reich) level. For this reason the long service awards of the National Food Estate Organization (Reichsniihrstand) have not been included. Although the organization itself was a national one, the awards were made on a regional basis. Also some interesting medallions awarded in connection with the battle of Stalingrad have been excluded as they were instituted only at regimental level ( piece of "private enterprise" on the part of a conscientious regimental commander).

With the exception of the Free City of Danzig, Nazi awards of German racial communities outside the Reich, such as the "Volksgruppe" in Roumania, have not been included. Similarly those of non-German Nazi movements, (for example Anton Mussert's Dutch Nazi Party) were by definition, precluded.

The well-known "Azad Hind" or "Free India" decoration, often found in Nazi collections, was instituted not by the Germans but by the Free India Committee in Germany and is, therefore, an Indian and not a German decoration.

"Day" badges issued to commemorate annual Party rallies, sporting or other events, of which there are vast numbers, have not been included except for those later granted the status of official Party awards (such as the Party Day badge for Nuremberg 1929).

The line between official and semi-official has not been easy to draw. On the whole, the authors have tried to be as comprehensive as possible even where this has involved slight violations of their own definitions. For example, rigid adherence to the "Reich-level-only" principle would have precluded all the Luftgaue plaques since these were instituted by the General Officers commanding the Luftgaue. Although they were awarded only within the limits of the Gau, they are of considerable interest and have been included. For basically the same reason the Lorient Shield, strictly speaking an un­official award, has been put on a par with official shield badges.

Quality and Markings

It has not been possible to indicate the quality of the metals used in the manufacture of the various awards described since a considerable diversity exists in this respect. On the whole, genuine silver or gold is rare.

*It is interesting to note that the present government of West Germany has reversed this policy and the German Lander once again award their own Life­saving and Fire Brigade, etc. medals.

Portable Nazi awards were never inscribed with the recipient's name. Where this is found, as on some war badges, it was certainly privately done. Even the numbering of badges or medals is unusual, which makes it very difficult to ascertain whether a particular item was ever issued or not.

All firms authorized to make official medals and badges had a manufacturer's mark (Herstellungszeichen). Those permitted to make Party awards (this included Youth badges) had an additional authorization number (Zulassungsnummer) which was prefaced by the letters R. Z. M. in a circle (standing for Reichszeugmeisterei or roughly translated Ministry of Supply). For example, the firm of Steinhauer & Luck of Ludenscheid who were large scale suppliers of medals and badges had the Herstellungszeichen L 16 and the Zulassungsnummer R. Z. M. M 11/1.
Some badges had the maker's name or initials on the reverse rather than a number. Medals and badges made in silver or silver-gilt carry the continental silvergrading number, usually a very small 800 or 900 which is sometimes found on the suspension loop.

Variants, Fakes and "Remakes"

1. Collectors may find that they have in their possession items which, although their authenticity is beyond doubt, vary slightly or even considerably from the descriptions given in these pages. This need not be regarded as remarkable. Unauthorized variations and "improvements" often appear in all countries during time of war. It was not uncommon for decorations to be produced in the field or even on board ship. It should also be remembered that there was no single Mint responsible for the production of all decorations. A number of private concerns contracted to supply medals and badges and their standards did vary. In the chaotic conditions which prevailed in Germany during the closing stages of the war, recourse had often to be made to improvisation, an example being the "Kurland" cuff band.

As many collectors are by now aware, Nazi awards have been remade in West Germany since the war on an ever increasing scale. It would not be strictly correct to term these as "fakes" since they come, in most instances, from the original dies and are made by firms formerly authorized to manufacture medals during the 3rd Reich era.

They are not, however, always accurate reproductions of the originals. The best word to describe these is "restrikes" or "remakes". Unfortunately, there is no easy rule of thumb by which the beginning collector can distinguish the genuine from the "remake". Experience is the only guide. The attitude that the collector should adopt towards "remakes" is a matter of personal choice.

Some may reject them all out of hand as worthless, while others may feel that they are useful in filling gaps where genuine examples would be very hard, if not impossible, to obtain. On the whole, collectors who do not wish to devalue their collections will probably want to avoid them. Where there is some doubt as to whether or not examples of a particular award were ever issued during the life-time of the 3rd Reich, has been made clear in the text. The authors do not wish to lend authority to badges, etc., which may have been produced since the end of the war.

Prestentation Cases and Citations

Citations actually signed by Hitler, although in some circumstances comparitively lowly awards were made personally by Hitler to special recipients.

Medal Ribbons

In view of the fact that many collectors specialize in medal ribbons only, some detailed remarks on this subject may be of use. The width of German ribbons varies, normally medals were issued on a 30mm or 35mm ribbon. When mounted for wearing, either singly or in a group, a 25mm ribbon could be employed. This was made up in a double length with the medal couched in the center*. Neck ribbons were usually 45mm wide, and in the case of certain long service awards such as the Police, Customs and SS.

Long service, a 50mm ribbon was used. Here it may be noted that originally these long service awards were mounted on the normal doubled 25mm ribbon with the Police (etc.) emblem on a separate piece of ribbon. This embroidered emblem, usually mounted on cardboard or metal backing, was attached to the center of the basic ribbon. Only later was the 50mm ribbon introduced and worn as such when mounted.

Ribbons without medals were worn on a metal bar mounting (Ordenschnalle) which is wider than the the usual Anglo-American type (17mm normally, although a narrower 9. 5mm bar was also, less commonly used. Two widths of ribbon could be used on a bar mounting, either full-sized (25mm) or halfsize (15mm). Actual full size, i. e. 30 or 35mm, was not used on the bar mounting. Where metal emblems were worn on the full sized ribbons, a reduced version was also worn on the half-size ribbons. In the medal ribbon chart, it has not been possible to show the diverse emblems which were worn on Nazi ribbons, but these have been described in the text.

*In Austria, the traditional Austrian "inverted triangle" style of mounting was sometimes used even for Reich awards. This style uses a 40mm wide ribbon.

When worn by ladies, medals were usually suspended from a bow, where this does not apply it is mentioned.

Miniatures have proportionally small ribbons, although it was more common to have miniature decorations attached to a fine chain without ribbons for evening wear (this is a normal continental practice). Miniature ribbons were made up in a variety of styles and could be worn in the button hole of civilian clothes. Metal tie-pin (Stecknadel) miniatures do not have ribbons.

Slight variations in the sizes and shades of ribbons are encountered, but collectors should note with caution that ribbons as well as medals and badges, etc., are being "remade" in modern Germany. Some of these are inaccurate not only as to quality and shade, but even in their proportions; others are perfectly accurate. It is entirely possible that some original ribbon stocks still exist.

The present-day West German style of wearing medal riboons is now similar to that employed in the Anglo-American forces. The above remarks apply only to the 3rd Reich period.

Littlejohn and Dodkins: "Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich", 1968.
R. James Bender Publishing.

www.bender-publishing.com

Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt for WWII Million Dollar Medals

"Kamerad, kamerad! Nicht schiessen!" (I surrender! Don't shoot!) 'This'was a'familiar phrase to countless thousands of victorious American and Allied GI's who fought across the hellish battlefields of Europe during WWI and WWII. It And this same frantic phrase has been uttered in their own Languages by'defeated Japanese, North Korean, Chinese and Viet Cong captives". Even before the bewildered prisoner has time to raise his arms above his head, 'the scrutinizing eyes of his captor rapidly shift from the Luger or Nambu pistol just removed from his defeated foe to the decorative medals worn on his uniform. Rather than leave such' choice "war booty" to his less deserving buddies in the rear area, who will further process the prisoner toward his ultimate destination in a POW camp, the GI immediately removes all medals and decorations and hastily puts them in the pocket of his field jacket. Days and often weeks after his unit is relieved from the combat zone and sent to an "R and R" camp, the proud captor mails his treasured war souvenirs home. Here they will probably remain forgotten, buried in obscurity in a battered GI footlocker, or perhaps later utilized as wall decorations for a den or family room. Often they are given to younger brothers and nephews as war souvenirs and traded off to admiring companions.

The oft-quoted axiom of war, "To the victor belongs the spoils" is highly appropriate when considering a topic of major interest to every soldier, regardless of nationality, who has ever seen combat. The topic? War souvenirs! It is a rare soldier indeed who fails to take advantage of every opportunity to acquire souvenirs of war and captured enemy equipment. Solders often take great personal risks in their attempts to gather souvenirs from the field of battle. In fact, the motivation is so intense that it has cost many GI's their lives, when they have thoughtlessly picked up a battlefield relic that has been booby trapped by a cunning foe.

The American soldier's obsessive seeking of war souvenirs has long been recognized by our enemies, who have demonstrated great skill in the art of rigging booby traps and explosive devices to tempting military items. During W.W. II, the Germans often wired explosive charges to the dead bodies of fallen German soldiers, whose uniforms were adorned with medals or other prized war booty such as binoculars or pistols. Large numbers of casualties resulted from unsuspecting troops eagerly attempting to remove these souvenirs.

Of course, not all such souvenirs are obtained at the risk of life and limb, nor are they all removed on the battlefield from captured high-ranking enemy officers. Often they are found in large quantities in storage depots and military camps which have been overrun or occupied after the fighting ceased.

Many intriguing tales can be told by ex-GI's who captured supply depots or quartermaster warehouses filled to the brim with unissued materials and equipment which included medals, daggers, firearms, and other highly desirable spoils of war. These items are not only sought after as souvenirs and conversation pieces, but also for trade or barter with servicemen who are not in combat and so cannot accumulate souvenirs. Frontline infantry soldiers learn early that their comrades assigned to rear areas will eagerly pay inflated prices for war trophies to send back home.

While most war souvenirs have much greater sentimental value than monetary worth, there are some items that are literally priceless treasures with historical or collector value placed at several thousand dollars. This fact is particularly characteristic of medals and rare decorations. Very few individuals, and even experienced collectors or dealers, possess a genuine knowledge of the value of foreign medals and decorations. One must have considerable background information before being capable of determining the difference between a common medal worth three or four dollars and a rare, presentation decoration or high order worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Practically every American veteran of W.W. I and W.W. II mailed home or brought back military medals and decorations awarded by a wide variety of European and Asiatic governments. German medals and orders comprise the greater portion of foreign decorations to be found today in the United States; however, numerous Japanese and Italian medals can be found in this country.

The hobby of collecting military medals, insignia, and other battlefield-related items has undergone unparalleled expansion in the past 10 years, with hundreds of new collectors joining the ranks of long-time collectors each year.

The increased demand from collectors seeking to buy pieces missing from their collections has driven prices higher and higher, particularly for the rare and finer quality specimens. The choice and most lucrative source for a collector to obtain foreign medals and decorations to fill gaps in his collection is by purchasing them directly from a veteran who no longer places sentimental value on his accumulation of war relics. Many ex-GI's have turned their war souvenirs into cash by selling them to dealers or collectors involved in this rapidly expanding field.

In addition to possible monetary value, there is also a highly fascinating, historical association with military medals and decorations. Since they are representative awards of a national government, the majority of them are exquisitely crafted, beautiful works of art, worthy of display in a private collection or public musuem. Most major museums, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., possess outstanding collections of military medals, orders, and decorations.

Unfortunately, many beautiful pieces remain forgotten, hidden away in attic trunks, closets, and cellars where warweary combat veterans stashed them after the initial interest and pride of possession faded away. Without question, many rare and quite valuable medals brought back to this country after the war could now be converted into cash if their owners were aware of their value.

While most of the medals and decorations taken from captured enemy soldiers are of the more common, less valuable types, opportunities did arise whereby some extraordinarily lucky GI stumbled across a rare cache of highly valuable decorations and orders belonging to a ranking general or senior government official. Such was the case in 1945 when a young American infantry captain discovered all of the personal medals and high decorations awarded to Joachim von Ribbentrop, the infamous Nazi Foreign Minister appointed by Hitler. It was during the last days of W.W. II, when the victorious Allied armies were steamrolling through Germany and Austria in an attempt to deal the death blow to what remained of one of the most inhuman dictatorships in history. As the 44th U.S. Infantry Division seized and occupied the picturesque Austrian village of Umhausen, the problem of finding sufficient billets and sleeping quarters for the exhausted soldiers became critical. One enterprising American company commander directed his troops to seek temporary shelter in the luxurious Krone Hotel. Upon entering the hotel, the company commander and his soldiers were met by the Austrian innkeeper, who hastily informed them that he was very sorry but it was forbidden for anyone to occupy any of the hotel rooms on the second floor, therefore, the victorious "Amies" would have to seek overnight accommodations elsewhere. This blunt assertion obviously didn't set well with the American troops and their commander, who had just spent the past several months fighting their way into the homeland of a vicious enemy. Overcoming his initial impulse to gun down the arrogant innkeeper in his tracks, the captain then pushed him aside and proceeded to the a second floor of the hotel, where he was startled to find that all the rooms were on filled almost to the ceiling with trunks, clothing, and a wide assortment of personal possessions. Closer examination revealed what turned out to be one of the one most fantastic discoveries of the war, millions of dollars worth of art loot he stolen by the Nazis from Parisian and other European museums, including in jewels and rare tapestries, and classic oil to paintings by such renowned masters as Renoir and Rubens. Investigation revealed that the innkeeper had been given the task of storing and safeguarding the personal possessions and war loot longing to Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop, who was occupied elsewhere desperately trying to evade capture. Apparently Ribbentrop had planned to escape over the Austrian Alps into Switzerland, hoping to take his stolen treasures with him. In addition to the art treasures, several file cases containing official German government records were found in the hotel and turned over to exuberant to American Intelligence agents. These docheuments were later used as evidence at the Nuremberg war trials.

While conducting a thorough examination of the contents of the hoard, the he captain was astounded to find a large, custom-made leather carrying case containing every medal and decoration that had ever been bestowed upon Herr Ribbentrop. There were nearly 100 separate decorations neatly packed away in individual felt-lined compartments. Since these medals were of no Intelligence interest to higher headquarters, the captain's request to retain them as legitimate war souvenirs was granted.

Many of the decorations were made of fine gold and silver, some were inlaid with diamonds and other precious stones. They had been awarded to von Ribbentrop by numerous foreign governments, including Hungary, Finland, Denmark, Japan, Italy, Egypt, and Spain. Unfortunately for von Ribbentrop, he was tried, convicted, and hung at Nuremberg in 1945 as one of the 12 major Nazi war criminals and had no further opportunity to outfit himself in his gala dress uniforms or decorative medals. The total value of this exceptionally rare collection is estimated at over $40,000 in today's market. One of the medals included in the lot was the ornate, solid gold, Italian Annunciation Order presented to von Ribbentrop for his efforts in successfully negotiating the "Pact of Steel" alliance between Germany and Italy in 1939. This decoration alone is worth over $8,000!

It was a proud young captain indeed who carefully packed his newly acquired war souvenirs, including the medals, an assortment of Ribbentrop's dress uniforms, dress dagger and personal pistol, and mailed them home to the U.S. where they would be admired for years to come by his family and friends.

Many veterans who acquired war souvenirs during their period of military service often sell or dispose of them, since their sentimental value usually diminishes over the years. Many are given away as "junk" to collector friends, while others donate their collections to museums such as the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Prior to disposing of any war relic, an attempt should first be made to determine the approximate value in the current marker. Prices fluctuate with supply and demand; however, the general price trend of military medals and relics has been escalating over the past several years. Occasionally, a widely popular "fad" associated with military relics mushrooms overnight, and prices for specific items soar with the increased demand. A classic example was the recent enthusiasm among teenagers for wearing German Iron Crosses as "surfers medallions." The Iron Cross, or Maltese Cross, became a status symbol for "hip" youngsters, and the supply of original Iron Crosses rapidly vanished, while enterprising U.S. manufacturers frantically labored to produce millions of reproductions and cheap copies in an attempt to satisfy the fantastic overnight demand.

Another fad evolved with the wearing of W.W. II German steel helmets by motorcycle enthusiasts. A recent Hollywood movie, "The Blue Max," which glamorized the story of W.W. I German fighter pilots seeking to earn the coveted Pour Le Merite medal (nicknamed the Blue Max because of its blue enamel finish), generated an intense interest among collectors, as well as non-collectors, in acquiring Pour Le Merite medals. The price of this medal nearly doubled overnight, and medal firms in Germany and Austria were hard-pressed making restrikes to meet the sudden demand.

It's often difficult to find a reliable individual who can give an accurate appraisal of military medals or other war souvenirs. While reference books exist, they offer very little with regard to valuation. Prices are controlled by what a relic dealer will pay for an item he intends to resell for a profit and by how much a collector is willing to pay for an item he is seeking to fill a missing gap in his collection.

The first step for any individual wishing to sell a war souvenir is to make an exact identification of what his relic is. This includes country of origin, period, and precise designation of whether it is a medal or decoration. Only after a war relic has been accurately identified can the value be established. Assistance may be obtained from reputable local collectors and dealers. Often, antique shops or historical societies can render assistance in locating a potential buyer. Military museums usually have a list of reputable national dealers in military artifacts and are normally most helpful.

Several factors are very critical in determining the value of any medal or decoration. Rarity, of course, is the most important aspect. Condition also weighs heavily on the market value, since most high orders are delicately handcrafted of enamel or other fragile materials and damage devalues a specimen considerably. Cased medals command higher prices than those without cases. Also, signed award papers or documents certifying presentation of a decoration not only authenticates a piece but also enhances its value. Medals awarded to important historical personalities, when verified by documentation, always command a high premium. When considering values, a potential buyer should always first determine that a piece is genuine and not a reproduction or recent restrike. A word of caution at this point might prove to be invaluable to new collectors. Increased demand by collectors for foreign military orders and decorations has created a situation whereby many reproductions, as well as restrikes produced from original dies, are being turned out. Only an expert or experienced collector has the background and know ledge required to differentiate between an original piece and a reproduction, and even the experts often experience difficulry. Obviously, an original Pour Le Merite awarded to a German Air Ace in 1917 is worth much more to a collector than a recent reproduction. Reproductions of many rare, as well as most of the common medals and orders are being encountered with increasing frequency, and only years of experience or the expert guidance of a reputable dealer can preclude a novice or inexperienced collector from being misled. There is absolutely no objection to a collector buying a reproduction or restruck medal as a representative specimen for one that he can never expect to acquire in original form, providing he is informed by the seller prior to purchase that the medal is a restrike and not an original presentation award.

Condition also weighs heavily on the market value, since most high orders are delicately handcrafted of enamel or other fragile materials and damage devalues a specimen considerably. Cased medals command higher prices than those without cases. Also, signed award papers or documents certifying presentation of a decoration not only authenticates a piece but also enhances its value. Medals awarded to important historical personalities, when verified by documentation, always command a high premium. When considering values, a potential buyer should always first determine that a piece is genuine and not a reproduction or recent restrike. A word of caution at this point might prove to be invaluable to new collectors. Increased demand by collectors for foreign military orders and decorations has created a situation whereby many reproductions, as well as restrikes produced from original dies, are being turned out. Only an expert or experienced collector has the background and know ledge required to differentiate between an original piece and a reproduction, and even the experts often experience difficulry. Obviously, an original Por Le Merite awarded to a German Air Ace in 1917 is worth much more to a collector than a recent reproduction. Reproductions of many rare, as well as most of the common medals and orders are being encountered with increasing frequency, and only years of experience or the expert guidance of a reputable dealer can preclude a novice or inexperienced collector from being misled. There is absolutely no objection to a collector buying a reproduction or restruck medal as a representative specimen for one that he can never expect to acquire in original form, providing he is informed by the seller prior to purchase that the medal is a restrike and not an original presentation award.

For the purpose of clarity, it might be helpful to define the various categories of medals, decorations and orders. Medals are presented primarily to members of the armed forces for participating in a specific theater of operations or campaign, for wounds received or good conduce. Decorations are usually awarded as recognition for a specific brave or valorous ace. The Medal of Honor and the Silver Star are two examples of U.S. decorations awarded for single acts of extraordinary heroism in battle. Orders are bestowed upon a wide variety of individuals-heads of state, diplomats, royalty, senior members of the armed forces and scientists in recognition of performance of long and meritorious service.

In view of the fact that the majority of the medals brought back to this country by W.W. I and W.W. II veterans are of German origin, it might be worthwhile to briefly discuss the history of German military decorations.

During the period between 1871 and 1918, Germany formed a federation of states known as the Second Empire, and although vast quantities of medals and decorations were awarded during this era, none originated from the Empire but rather from the numerous separate principalities, kingdoms and dukedoms. Many variations from this period exist and a wide field is open for collectors.

Germany was a republic between 1918 and 1933 and no national decorations or orders were awarded; however, with the rise of Adolf Hitler to power, radical changes were made in the national policy of awarding decorations. In his new Third Reich, which was to last 1,000 years (it lasted 12), he initiated an intensive award program and created an entire new series of decorations and combat medals. Hitler realized that the citizens of the Fatherland rallied much more enthusiastically to a nationalistic cause when provided with splendorous uniforms and individual recognition through awards and decorations. On the first day that the war began, September 1, 1939, Hitler again re-established Germany's most renowned medal, the Iron Cross, which had its origin in" 1813. This symbol of German military involvement throughout the course of modern history had been modified in 1870 and again in 1914; therefore, tradi tion demanded that it be reborn with the creation of a new Nazi Germany. In fact, Hitler was personally decorated with the Iron Cross on two separate occasions while serving as a Corporal in W.W. I.

The Iron Cross is the most widely known of all German decorations, and likewise the most common. The Second Class, or lowest grade, is worth about $ 5 in today's market. The highest class of the Iron Cross, with oak leaves, swords, and diamonds set in gold, would be worth approximately $5,000 to a collector.

With the onset of the war, Germany created a vast new series of combat decorations and medals for all branches of the armed forces, in addition to proficiency awards and faithful service medals for non-military members of the Nazi Party. In 1938, Hiter founded the now famous "Mother's Cross" for the purpose of honoring German mothers who bore four or more children for the Fatherland. Women who had eight or more children were awarded the medal in the First Class, in gold. The combat badges, which were awarded by the millions, are quite plentiful even today, and only a very few are worth more than a couple of dollars.

As a service for the readers of SAGA, a member of the widely recognized Orders and Medals Society of America, who is also a reputable dealer in foreign military decorations and war souvenirs, has agreed to appraise, with out charge, the medals, decorations, or other war souvenirs of any reader who might wish to cake advantage of this opportunity.
See page 11 for complete details.

Undoubtedly, untold hundreds of GI's stumbled across rare finds of valuable enemy medals and war souvenirs, which were mailed back home and have lain forgotten for many years. Somewhere in this country, the jeweled decorations of Nazi Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering and other senior Nazi and Japanese military leaders are perhaps stored in the corner of a footlocker. Only recently the complete von Ribbentrop collection of decorations and uniforms was located and purchased for a very sizable sum.

While readers should keep in mind that about 95 percent of the foreign military medals they might have are not worth more than a couple of dollars, it is inevitable that numerous veterans still have in their possession captured decorations that could be sold for a small fortune. Now-take another look in those dusty attic footlockers, and desk drawers that haven't been opened in years. You might be surprised to discover that you own a rare war souvenir that can be converted into cash. These items are very much in demand, and dealers and collectors are always available, with money in hand, seeking to acquire your war souvenirs. While most have much greater sentimental than cash value, they should never be regarded as worrhless junk.

These medals and decorations represent a nation's highest recognition of valorous deeds or faithful service performed while exposed to great danger or stress. They are a very significant parr of history and grim reminders of the horrible tragedy of war.

Jim Atwood: "The Hunt for WWII Million Dollar Medals", "SAGA" 1967