Anyone collect Imperial Militaria? I do, here is some of mine.

[the ringo kid]

This is a Freikorps Silesian Eagle 2nd class:

This is a Hessian Warriors Cross in Iron and is rarer than our Medal of Honor:

My oldest piece which is an 1848 "Constitution War" Austrian/Tyrol Campaign medal which is pure silver.

This was part of a 3 piece grouping I traded for about 10 years ago. It had belonged to a Sergeant in the 3rd Imperial Marine Infantry Regiment awarded to him in 1917. It was very rare for an NCO to be awarded the Iron Cross 1st class. Both his crosses were made by K.O. which was the Kings favorite medals maker.

Guards Grenadier Regiment 4, Regimental Cross:

This cross was given to me by a WWII U boat veteran. It was originally his fathers cross as presented to him in 1901. This is the: Royal Bavarian Infantry Regiment 15 (King of Saxony). This is actually called a Loyalty to the Regiment Cross.

This is one of three Hansiatic Crosses-which were awarded to Soldies from the three Hanseatic Cities of: Hamburg appx 55,000 awarded) (Bremen (about 15,000 awarded) and Lubeck Hanseatic Cross (appx 5,000 awarded) this one is a Breman Hanseatic Cross:

I also have the Lubeck cross but only as part of a 2-place medal bar.
Large ribbon bar w/o the awards which were the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd class and the 1914 Friedrich August cross 2nd class. Both crosses are equal in rank, but one is national, the other is state level.

This is a 51st Infantry Division vets organization stick pin, I also have the pin-back badge:

Ive more but not in any online account and ready to post.

 

[zzzippper]

Very nice, thanks for sharing. Not that I need anything else to collect, but where do you find this stuff and learn about iy?

 

[S&W45Colt]

Wow, that's some unusual and cool stuff.

 

[weatherby]

Thanks for posting as Shultz would say I know nothing.
I really liked your sharing some of the history on how and by whom you acquired them.
Thanks again
Paul

 

[the ringo kid]

Very nice, thanks for sharing. Not that I need anything else to collect, but where do you find this stuff and learn about iy?

I got most of these from dealers in Germany like Detlev Niemann in Hamburg (who-sadly retired from the business several years ago), Helmut Weitze==who is still in business, and Carsten Baldes--before he earned a bad reputation for selling fakes as the real deal. Im getting out of collecting because its too expensive these days.

 

[the ringo kid]

Wow, that's some unusual and cool stuff.

Ive even more cool stuff, but none can be posted till I get a friend to post in a photo bucket account. One of my favorite pieces are a mint pair of Rittmeisters Shoulderboards who was one of the Rittms in the 5th Uhlan Cavalry Regiment who was a Field Marshal in WWII. The reason Im not naming him is because I can no longer prove they were his. Ive several others goodies as well.

I dont have a clue what any of these items are valued at these days.

 

[the ringo kid]

Thanks for posting as Shultz would say I know nothing.
I really liked your sharing some of the history on how and by whom you acquired them.
Thanks again
Paul

Thank you for the interest and glad to teach a bit. )

 

[11B Lifer]

Should you be interested, a German historian, Peter Meinelschmidt ( I may be off some on spelling ) published a study of German WW1 dog tags - essentially an ORBAT- Describes identification, interpretation, where the units were etc. I helped him translate the book back in the early 90s- It was available thru one of the military auction houses at that time.

 

[sheepdawg]

Here's a picture of my grandfather from around 1910. Wish I could find some of those. He was the Constable of Hannover.

 

[the ringo kid]

Should you be interested, a German historian, Peter Meinelschmidt ( I may be off some on spelling ) published a study of German WW1 dog tags - essentially an ORBAT- Describes identification, interpretation, where the units were etc. I helped him translate the book back in the early 90s- It was available thru one of the military auction houses at that time.

I havent seen that book, but there is a great one out on German "Dog Tags" of WWII. I have two dog tags-both are Kriegsmarine tags. The smaller brass tag is actually named--which is ultra rare in itself. I want to doo research on it when I can think about it? This one is the smaller size tag and named to a Hermann Rummelsberger. The other is a full size tag made of aluminum and was issued to a man stationed in Wilhelmshaven who was on the commanding Admirals staff. I also have his cap tally and a post card he mailed to his girlfriend" or a family member.

 

[the ringo kid]

Here's a picture of my grandfather from around 1910. Wish I could find some of those. He was the Constable of Hannover.

He earned some high awards too. That breast star and those neck orders--were not just awarded to anybody.

 

[11B Lifer]

Caveat

I havent seen that book, but there is a great one out on German "Dog Tags" of WWII. I have two dog tags-both are Kriegsmarine tags. The smaller brass tag is actually named--which is ultra rare in itself. I want to doo research on it when I can think about it? This one is the smaller size tag and named to a Hermann Rummelsberger. The other is a full size tag made of aluminum and was issued to a man stationed in Wilhelmshaven who was on the commanding Admirals staff. I also have his cap tally and a post card he mailed to his girlfriend" or a family member.

Probably rare dog tags! Very neat!!! Having collected in Holland and Germany for many years, I advise folks to be wary of fakes-When the wall came down the old soviet factories went nuts making **** to sell to Americans WW1 and WW2! I bought some of this stuff (I knew they were fakes)-Everything- helmets, weapons, medals, badges, swords, knives- you name it- they have faked it. Now that about 80 % (+) of the units are out of Europe more of his stuff will be sold digitally. Not a problem as long as you aren't paying for an original- yet getting a fake.

 

[the ringo kid]

Probably rare dog tags! Very neat!!! Having collected in Holland and Germany for many years, I advise folks to be wary of fakes-When the wall came down the old soviet factories went nuts making **** to sell to Americans WW1 and WW2! I bought some of this stuff (I knew they were fakes)-Everything- helmets, weapons, medals, badges, swords, knives- you name it- they have faked it. Now that about 80 % (+) of the units are out of Europe more of his stuff will be sold digitally. Not a problem as long as you aren't paying for an original- yet getting a fake.

The exploding fake market is partly who im getting out of collecting. Baldes got me good once--only once. It wasnt a fortune, but none the less more than I want to lose. Hes got a very bad reputation just like Peter von Lukacs from Sweden.

Ive seen faked everything (not made as repo) but outwardly faked stuff from GI condoms to German ""toilet paper cloth strips"" which were made to be used, washed and reused.

There is at least 85% or more faked stuff out there than ever originally produced. And that's a conservative estimate--and more for the WWII items. Imperial is greatly faked, but not as much as WWII items.

 

[brucev]

Stunning! Thank you for this post!

 

[gdnagle]

The exploding fake market is partly who im getting out of collecting. Baldes got me good once--only once. It wasnt a fortune, but none the less more than I want to lose. Hes got a very bad reputation just like Peter von Lukacs from Sweden.

Ive seen faked everything (not made as repo) but outwardly faked stuff from GI condoms to German ""toilet paper cloth strips"" which were made to be used, washed and reused.

There is at least 85% or more faked stuff out there than ever originally produced. And that's a conservative estimate--and more for the WWII items. Imperial is greatly faked, but not as much as WWII items.

Sad but if there is a dollar to be made the fakes come out. I see where the fake K98's are burning a lot of people now.
and not to mention the Magpul, Eotech, Surefire and all the others. So much information that you have to keep on tap to keep from getting burned.

The internet brought access to lots of items unlike before but and brought the prices up as it opened the market up to world wide status, also brought out the lowlife.

Nice collection, I've always like German memorabilia.

 

[Warren Sear]

Well, I have this Model 1883 Reichsrevolver:

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I started collecting WWII German Memorabilia in 1968 at flea markets in central Ohio. Fakes were everywhere back then! You learn fast and move on. At the time there were lots of veterans from both sides around to tell you all about the real ones. Items awarded over 100 years ago, you are at the mercy of authors, self proclaimed experts, and very questionable family legends. I admire the collection you have amassed. Ivan

 

[the ringo kid]

Sad but if there is a dollar to be made the fakes come out. I see where the fake K98's are burning a lot of people now.
and not to mention the Magpul, Eotech, Surefire and all the others. So much information that you have to keep on tap to keep from getting burned.

The internet brought access to lots of items unlike before but and brought the prices up as it opened the market up to world wide status, also brought out the lowlife.

Nice collection, I've always like German memorabilia.

One pf the saddest part is that thieves are actively digging up graves robbing the dead. Ive been offered high end grave dug items and never have and never will buy anything like that. I despise those who sell and buy that stuff. To me, thats a big slap in the face of those soldiers being robbed of their stuff. Those in Russia and the eastern countries are making a fortune doing that.

Thank you for the kind words, ive quite a few other items as well, and would like to get them up online some day. I also have a good amount of WWII stuff as well, some given to me by the vet who earned them. Some interesting stories behind those too. )

I forgot to add, that I remember when a WWII Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, which is the slightly larger cross worn at the neck) were going for about $150.00, they now average around $8,500.00 or more.

I had the chance to buy a few, but I never bought any thinking that was way too expensive, so I always bought other stuff. I kinda regret not buying them. However, I do have two 1957 reissues. One is a cased KC w/ Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds-which were allegedly made for Erich Hartmann back in the 70s and still nice--not the earlier quality. I have another 1957 KC, which is an early restrike and is nice, and I have early restrike Oaks, and Oaks and Swords--which are made of almost pure silver. )

 

[the ringo kid]

Well, I have this Model 1883 Reichsrevolver:

Fantastic revolver. Does it have any regimental or other unit markings?

 

[the ringo kid]

I started collecting WWII German Memorabilia in 1968 at flea markets in central Ohio. Fakes were everywhere back then! You learn fast and move on. At the time there were lots of veterans from both sides around to tell you all about the real ones. Items awarded over 100 years ago, you are at the mercy of authors, self proclaimed experts, and very questionable family legends. I admire the collection you have amassed. Ivan

Thank you Ivan. Also, fakes were being made before the war ended. Those fakes are actually accepted as the real deal because they were made using the real manufactured pieces. Those are impossible to tell. If I collect anymore in the future" it will only be cloth insignia. Im burned out on the medals and badges.