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Wehrmacht
(Das Heer)
Page 33
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German Army Officer’s Dress Dagger (Item WEHR 33-1) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a prime textbook example of the Heersdolch (army dagger) with the official hanger still attached. They really don’t come better than this one! This is a generic dagger as author Tom Wittman describes them when no maker mark is discernible. Even though there is no manufacturer’s mark, we believe it is a classic Alcoso example and a dagger in beautiful shape. The blade of this dagger is nice and bright throughout with needlelike tip. The pommel is the ‘flared’ type that is typical of the Alcoso firm. The oak leaves are extremely well done being the variety with 12 leaves. The crossguard eagle is brilliant and highly detailed. The talons, wreath, and noble swastika are the picture of Germanic perfection and excellence and it has the wonderful deeply toned pumpkin-orange grip with the matching color front and back. The scabbard is typically Alcoso, also. The throat of the scabbard is retained by two tiny screws having the small bore typical of Alcoso. The hanger is one of the normal type with aluminum tops on each side while the buckles and holding clips are in base metal. The back of the hangers show some real wear but are still quite fine. Overall, this is a beautiful dagger. Tom Wittman gets between $800 and $950 for one like this (without hanger). Our price (with hanger) is a bargain.
PRICE: SOLD |
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German Army Officer’s Dress Dagger (Item WEHR 33-2) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a fine example of the Heersdolch or army dagger. It is a textbook example of an Alcoso dagger with that manufacturer’s mark. The fittings—including crown top, crossguard eagle, and scabbard—are a bit grey looking after some 60 years in the veteran’s trunk, but when the dagger is withdrawn you can plainly see that the top of the throat is bright and this is the way the whole dagger will look upon a good, but light, polishing. (We don’t do that, preferring to leave it to the collector/consumer.) The grip is a pleasingly pumpkin-orange color and perfect! The scabbard is of the typical Alcoso type having good pebble design in the panels. The carrying bands are also excellent. The throat is retained by the two small screws on each side. The crossguard eagle is extra fine and beautifully detailed. There is also good detail to head, breast feathers, wing feathering, talons, wreath and raised swastika with excellent patina finish, but in need of light polishing perhaps? The blade would grade excellent with some minor scratches from the blade retainers within (Normal!). This is very nice example of the army officer’s dagger with the standard army hangers that are grey-velvet backed with some wear, but still in fine shape. Other dealers get about $800 for an example such as this (without hangers); we offer it with hangers at a bargain price.
PRICE: $795.00 |
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German Army Officer’s Dress Dagger (Item WEHR 33-4) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a real beauty of a Deusches Heersdolch in the textbook description. A real classic! It was manufactured by F.W. Hollor in Solingen and has all the noble beauty of that firm’s expertise in detailing. For example, the head of the eagle on the crossguard is detailed much finer than the other companies produce and the feathering is more precise, as well. Holler daggers are all par excellence in the family of German blades. The standing oak leaves are all crisp on the pommel. The crossguard and pommel have outstanding patina throughout. Tom Wittmann has said he likes the Holler eagle best of all of the predator birds that we see. There is not a better crossguard than can be seen in this example. The grip is a deep, orange hue and is unchipped and perfect. The scabbard is the typical Holler type with 100-percent silvering that could possibly use some polishing; otherwise, it’s perfect with no dents. The dagger would rate the near-mint rating. This dagger has the original portepee in excellent condition and the original deluxe-style hanger. Tom Wittmann offers a dagger almost identical for $995.00 (without) hanger. We offer ours with hanger for a hundred dollars less.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Charging German-Type Soldier in Bronze (Item WEHR 33-5; BRONZEMET 3-11) |
| DESCRIPTION: Why do I say “type”? Because he is not a German WWII soldier at all; he is an Argentine soldier. Under the Perón regime the Argentine army patterned its entire armed forces after the German Wehrmacht. The helmet on this sculpture is much like the German style. The tunic, field pack, ammo pouches, collar tabs, and shoulder boards are all similar to the German counterparts. The shoes are similar to the ones worn by the German Africa Corps. He has a Mauser model 98 rifle, but only the bayonet is different. It looks like a Japanese bayonet, actually. However, at an earlier point in German military history they did have a bayonet like this. The entrenching shovel, canteen, and bread bag are virtually identical to German WWII issue. Overall, it is a fact that the average person who knows a little about WWII would take this figure to be a soldier of the Deutsches Vaterland. The figure stands 16 inches. The base is measures 7 ½ x 4 inches. The length of the rifle and bayonet measure 13 inches long. This is a very dramatic sculpture, and will look great on your desk or your display case. We offer this wonderful bronze for a most reasonable price.
PRICE: $1,200.00 |
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War Merit Cross With Swords (Item WEHR 33-6) |
| DESCRIPTION: Adolf Hitler directed that a decoration be struck recognizing the service in the furtherance of the war effort that fell short of the award of the Iron Cross. The resultant War Merit Cross was instituted on 18 October 1939. The basic criteria for the award centered around bravery and service in some cases not in direct connection with combat. The award was authorized for military personnel and for civilians who performed outstanding service. The addition of swords to the cross reflected bravery, while the medal without swords was rendered for other service. The First Class was a pin back identical to the Second Class worn suspended from a ribbon, but worn on the tunic. We offer here the First Class award with swords. The reverse side has the date of the institution of the medal “1939.” This one has the letter and numeral "L/11" stamped on the back.
PRICE: $175.00 |
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Army Antiaircraft Badge (Item WEHR 33-7) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a very nice antiaircraft badge by Rudolf Souval in Vienna. The L-58 mark shows up clearly, but only under magnification on the back at the base of the gun. It is said that this badge was only on paper and that none were produced, but this one came to Germania from the widow of a deceased GI. Did he bring it back or was he a limited collector? The lady did not know. So we offer it with none of the usual guarantee. It is a fine-looking badge with nice crisp detail throughout. It’s hard to believe it could be made today but mighty clever those Chinese! We will price it cheaply considering the controversy, but if it turns out to be the real McCoy and the “experts” (X-spurts) are wrong do contact us to pay us the difference, OK?, and I just know you will, right?
PRICE: SOLD |
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Skizzen aus dem Ostfeldzug (Sketchs from the Eastern Front) (Item WEHR 33-8; ART 17-20) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a nice little hardcover military-art book that chronicles the German army’s fighting the Reds in the East (Russia). It has about 60 pages of real art from memories by frontline artists depicting these German soldiers as they valiantly fought against the “forces of Hell.” This was truly the greatest and bloodiest struggle the world has ever seen and, as we know, they lost because of Western support for the communists coming from the nations closest related to their race, nationality, and religion all for the sake of Stalin’s Red hordes. The book measures 5 ½ x 7 ½ inches. The spine and binding are a bit tattered, but the pictures and pages are in great shape. The images—some in color; some in black and white—are simply wonderful. Great is the fantastic portrayal of this horrendous war to save Europe from the clutches of the “devil incarnate” (Stalin). Some of the pictures depict Russian prisoners. Compare their dismal looks with the noble Aryan faces of the German soldiers and it’s quite a contrast, to say the least. This is a great little book, a treasure of memory of the Deutscher Freiheitskampf in the East.
PRICE: $125.00 |
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Panzergrenadier Ring (Item WEHR 33-9) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is one of the rings that we were able to purchase in Stuttgart a few years back. Please read the narrative at “About our Rings and Silver Insignia” and you will understand how this came about.
Panzergrenadier is a German term for the soldiers who were transported in combat vehicles specialized for such tasks. The concept was introduced in World War II, and the term was adopted in 1942 when infantry regiments were renamed as grenadier regiments by Adolf Hitler as a historical homage to the army of Frederick the Great, whom he admired so greatly. Therefore, it was with great pride that these elite units went forth in the shadow of the soldiers of “Der Alte Fritz.” The ring has the skull that was commonly used by elite special-fighting units such as the Panzer Corps, the Waffen-SS, etc., but the positioning of the bones that flank the sides of the leering skull are laid out quite differently—side by side instead of crossed; could this be indicative and suggestive of armored vehicle treads? The ring is struck in 800 silver and is so marked. It’s quite handsome in a macabre way. When we unearthed the Schnell collection the greatest number of rings were these particular ones, thus we price them the most reasonably of all the rings purchased. It will not be long until some of the forgers out there will copy this ring. Some of these contemptible “blackguards” will make copies of this ring after ordering from us in a false name, of course, but the difference will be obvious. They have purchased others and immediately they will attempt a good copy although it can’t be perfect as ours are. Why? Because no matter what they claim, their rings are made in lost-wax molds whereas the originals that we carry were made in steel dies back then in the Reich, much too expensive for these scoundrels. Some of the copies are coming in from China and Poland (especially from Poland). We handle only original-period pieces at Germania and this Panzergrenadier ring is exactly that!
PRICE: $425.00; this one is truly a remarkable bargain! |
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Book Die deutsche Militärelite 1939-1945 (The German Military Elite) with Translations from the German Language (Item WEHR 33-13; GERMBOOKS 1-2; BOOKS 1-16) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is one of the most brilliant of the color series on the Third Reich by the Pour le Mérite press. Its title translated is The German Military Elite and there are dozens of full-color photographic masterpieces of the famous field marshals, generals, aces of the Second World War, German Wehrmacht, army, navy, and air force. It is a hardbound, large-format book with amazing color photographs; the text and captions are in German with a separate English-language photo caption (translation sheets separately included). This superlative coffee-table photo album shows for the most part unpublished, striking color photographs. The collection includes military photographs of the elite of the Third Reich—all the highest-ranking officers of the greatest army the world ever saw assembled. The book measures 12 x 8 ½ inches and has 158 pages of full-page, color pictures. Many of these men will be instantly recognizable to you, and others will reveal themselves when the book is in your possession. We have shown 19 of them, there are many more. This is a great and colorful book.
PRICE: $58.00 plus postage |
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Visor cap does not go with the tunic. |
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Amazing Panzer Wrap-around Tunic for an Officer of the 1st Panzerjäger Battalion of the 43rd German Infantry Regiment (Item WEHR 33-14; SPECIAL ITEMS) |
| DESCRIPTION: We at Germania do not usually do uniforms unless they would be so exceptional as to be graded Fantastic and this one we recently acquired is all of that and then some! It’s a Panzerjäger assault wraparound tunic and it is of fine officer-quality wool in its body. All stitching and cut and button placement in this wrapper are 100-percent correct and is with the pink, piped collar tabs with a dark-green base with each of the metal Panzer Totenkopf symbols applied with the prongs going through to inside the collar. The collar tabs are machine sewn with pink, piped slip-on shoulder boards with NCO tress and one pip. Also on each shoulder board are the number 43 cyphers. The top button hole on the left lapel has a small ribbon bar for the awards of the Iron Cross Second Class and the Eastern Front Medal. The grey-blue satin interior is also correctly applied. Each shoulder has an interior, course fabric stiffener as all known originals must have. The collar measures correctly and has the proper stick rows. The right sleeve has a period-stich row. The right sleeve has a period, machine-sewn Jäger troop’s patch. There are just a few very small holes that can be found in the back of the wrapper. This was acquired from a veteran’s estate 25 years ago. This is by all definition a 100-percent original, scarce, and wonderful wraparound Panzerjäger troop tunic. History The 1st Panzerjäger Battalion was part of the 43rd Infantry Regiment Group North (von Kleist) and thus part of Grossdeutschland Infantry Division. Its fighters were considered Panzerjäger troops and were almost 70 percent motorized. Panzerjäger is a German term for tank hunters. It was an infantry division with its own engineers who were transported in combat vehicles specialized for such tasks. They employed mechanized tank-destroyer vehicles (also named Panzerjäger). This whole concept was introduced in WWII. They were among the bravest of Germany’s soldiers at the Front. The bravest by far were the Panzerjäger. They were often called upon to provide direct high-explosive supporting fire to infantry by destroying machine-gun and artillery positions, particularly in urban fighting. They were always at the most-extreme front of any terrific action. To them the laurels of bravery belong. This outfit remains as a testament to that noble corps. PRICE: SOLD |
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“Scharnhorst”: A Field Marshal Series Sword by the Solingen Firm of Eickhorn (Item WEHR 33-15) |
| DESCRIPTION: During the mid-to-late 1930s the Carl Eickhorn firm produced a series of swords named for famous men in German history. Collectors refer to this group as the field-marshal series even though only four of the nine actually held that rank. This one that we offer here was dubbed pattern 1706 and named “Scharnhorst” for Gerhard Johann David Waitz von Scharnhorst (12 November 1755-28 June 1813). He was a Prussian general and chief of staff noted for his reforms of the army and for leadership during the Napoleonic Wars. The sword is of beautiful design with the lioness-head pommel with glass inset eyes that shine brilliantly. The detailing is superb both on this pommel and the Wehrmacht eagle on the languet. The sword shows much use and the crossguard is slightly (very slightly) bent thereby lifting the back strap slightly from the oak-leaf band above the crossguard. Some of the silver wire is slightly loose on the grip, as well. The sword has not been polished; however, since it is genuine brass I am sure it could be polished up to be pretty, again. The blade is practically pristine and is brilliant. The scabbard is undented, but the original paint is scuffed from years of age and usage. Just like the historical advisor who describes it. This is a good, honest army sword although it is a bit campaign worn, but will clean up well. Take advantage of the very special price.
PRICE: $550.00 |
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Gorget of the NSKK Traffic-Control Service (Ringkragen ‘Verkehrs Erziehungsdienst’) (Item WEHR 33-16; SA 14-27) SOLD |
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DESCRIPTION: This type of handsome gorget was introduced in 1931 for the Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps (NSKK) (National Socialist Motor Corps), a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party and existed until 1945. The group was a successor to the older National Socialist Automobile Corps that had existed since the beginning of 1930 and was headed by Adolf Hühnlein. It was the smallest of the N.S. Party organizations and had originally been formed as a motorized corps of the Sturmabteilung (SA). On 20 July 1935, the group had approximately ten thousand men and separated from the SA to become a distinct organization. The primary aim of the NSKK was to educate its members in motoring skills. They were mainly trained in the operation and maintenance of high-performance motorcycles and automobiles. In the 1930s the NSKK also served as a roadside-assistance group comparable to the modern-day American Automobile Association. Almost every facet of automotive travel, racing, and autobahn services had some NSKK involvement. The gorget that we offer here was worn by traffic controllers and enforcement personnel in emergency situations, traffic control at huge NSKK rallies, and exhibitions such as the annual Nuremberg party rallies. With the outbreak of WWII in 1939, the NSKK served in the transport corps of the various branches of the Wehrmacht and this gorget was even used on the front combat lines. The gorget on the obverse is quite nice with practically all of the black finish intact. The individual wearer’s personal membership number is seen there. The gorgets were constructed in light-gauge aluminum so weight would not be a factor as the NSKK man worked long shifts at this very necessary service. The back in green felt shows that this one was heavily used in military duties. The ones for homeland service were backed in black felt. The felt backing is rather well used and not pretty, but it was probably worn on a daily basis during the entire war. I have always thought this was the sharpest gorget of the whole gambit of various Third Reich paraphernalia. This item measures 7 x 4 1/2 inches and its condition is–excellent.
PRICE: SOLD |
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“Westwall” Miniature-Book Charm (Item WEHR 33-17) |
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DESCRIPTION: Here is a neat minibook from WWII. The item is something a German soldier might keep in his pocket as perhaps a lucky charm! It says on the front Westwall above a picture in metal of one of the pillbox fortifications fashioned in high relief. Under this it says “1939-1940.” It’s hinged like a book cover. The body of the piece, except for the metallic cover, is constructed in what I think is Bakelite material. When the cover is opened, a tiny book is revealed that is separate and removable. It has lettering on its cover saying “Gott schütze Dich!” (“May God protect you”); however, the pages of the book are blank. The little booklet is comprised of several pages. I believe it was something that a German wife, mother, or sweetheart might send to a frontline soldier stationed at the Westwall—better known as the Siegfried Line—that was originally built by Germany as a section of the Hindenburg Wall during 1916-1917. In the 1930s, another Siegfried Line was built opposite the French Maginot Line and it served a corresponding purpose. It really was a propaganda ploy by the German <>Führer, Adolf Hitler, and he planned it from 1936 and had it built between 1938 and 1940. Many a German soldier served one time or another at these fortifications. The little book measures about 1 inch wide and 1 ¾ inches tall and maybe ¼ inch thick. This is a great petite relic of the great fratricidal war that should never have happened.
PRICE: $150.00 |
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Armband of the Deutscher Volkssturm Wehrmacht (Item WEHR 33-18) |
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DESCRIPTION: Here is what was considered the complete uniform of the citizen volunteers that enlisted in this national 1944-1945 militia. It was set up not with the traditional German army, but by the National Socialist Party on the orders of Adolf Hitler and its official existence was not announced until October 18, 1944. It conscripted males of 13 to 60 years who were not already serving in some military unit as part of the German home guard. These brave and loyal people (Volk) embodied a last-ditch effort and heeded the call for a “Widerstand.” The Volkssturm comprised one of the final components of the “total war” promulgated by propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and this was part of Germany’s endeavor to try to overcome the cruel enemies’ military strength through the force of sacrifice and will. Germany lost not because this “will” was ever lost, she lost because of the gigantic mechanized force against hereby those who should have been with her. The German soldier and even the Volkssturm had strong loyalty and heroic determination and intense will, but the communist juggernaut with its so willing accomplices of the “democracies” had set out to destroy the Blessed Land, its people, and its Western culture. They entirely succeeded in this agenda but not by any fault of the Teutonic peoples. They fought the good fight in the “bad war”!
PRICE: $185.00 |
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German Army Officers Dagger (Heersdolch) (Item WEHR 33-19) |
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DESCRIPTION: This is a rather fine specimen of the army officer’s dagger and it is by the famed firm C.F.W. Höller of Solingen. The matching patina on the scabbard and all other fittings are actually not found too often. The blade is really bright. The scabbard has the nice, crisp, pebble patterns and is in perfect condition. The carrying bands retain their raised oak leaves in nice condition. The hilt can be said to be the Höller textbook style and the pommel and crossguard have outstanding patina throughout. The pommel rim is nice and crisp. The standing oak leaves are all crisp. Just about every advanced collector loves the Höller crossguard eagle over all the other birds that we see. This example could not be nicer and has a new-like appearance even though it’s an original-period piece—a superior relic in every way. The hanging straps are of the usual standard style with the oval buckles and snap-on attachments that grab the scabbard rings. The dagger hangers are of silver brocade. Every army dagger ever issued came with a set of these hangers, but try to find such a dagger today with hangers!—it’s almost impossible. Most dealers strip the hangers if found with the dagger and sell them separately at a pretty-good price at that. When we purchase a dagger with hangers that is where they stay, with the dagger. Here’s is a first -class Heersdolch with hanger at a bargain price.
PRICE: $875.00 |
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Want a Bargain? A Nice Heers Army Dagger with its Hangers (Item WEHR 33-19) |
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DESCRIPTION: Here is what I would consider a real bargain; you know we just have to give one now and then, right? A German army officer’s dagger with hangers by Robert Klass in Solingen. This has the very desirable deep-orange-colored grip that most collectors covet. The only problem of any mention is what we call “door damage” so common to many daggers—army, navy, air force—that suspend from hangers. Here is the scenario: The officer gets into the staff vehicle, seats himself and then slams the auto door-bang!! Guess what’s hanging low and gets slammed with the door? I have seen it on so many of them and this one is no exception. The damage is about three inches up from the tip of the scabbard and is basically a dent! The blade is average with the usual scratches. The crossguard is the light-color, white-metal style, but the base ring and crown are darker. The hangers are of the usual type as well, but you just don’t find them with hangers anymore. This dagger is really neat and easily of grade two plus. It’s completely original and a great buy for the guy who doesn’t want to come up with $1,000 to $1,200 or even more for a fine Heersdolch.
PRICE: $650.00; bargain price |
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German Fallschirmjäger (Paratrooper) Ring (Item WEHR 33-20; LUFT 22-8) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Fallschirmjäger is the German word for paratroopers. They played an important role during WWII, when, together with the Gebirgsjäger (Alpine or Mountain troops), were perceived as the elite infantry units of the German military. After WWII, they were reconstituted as parts of postwar armed forces of both West and East Germany, mainly as special troops. In WWII, German Fallschirmjäger were the world’s first paratroopers committed in large-scale airborne operations. They came to be known as the “Green Devils” by the Allied forces for their distinctive jackets, as well as for their uniquely distinct morale and proficient fighting ability. Along with the Waffen-SS they were the real elite of all the fighting forces of WWII. We have only one of these rare rings and it is in size 11 ½. One of these brave airborne warriors obviously wore it as it shows wear, but most of the details are quite discernable. The eagle’s head and upper wingtips are pretty much gone, though. But it is what it is!. This is an extremely rare WWII ring from the bravest of the brave, “the real band of brothers.” This is a real war relic, but also I see it as a sort of a tribute to those who fought for Europe’s freedom from what could have been a total Bolshevik takeover of sacred Europe.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Old, Captured Polish Ring - (War Trophy) (Item WEHR 33-21; POL 1-7) |
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| DESCRIPTION:
Here is a ring that bears the likeness of the white eagle of Poland which is the oldest of Poland’s national symbols and goes back to the formative period of Polish statehood. The crown on the head of the eagle is said to be the coronation crown of Swen Przemysl, Duke of Wielkopolska, who assumed the crown of Poland in Gniezno thus bringing about the reunification of the country and the golden crown of Poland’s symbol on the head of the eagle would represent the power of this king. The white eagle was adopted on June 26, 1295. The eagle and crown were lost when Poland lost its independence when it was partitioned in three stages by Russia, Prussia, and Austria in 1772, 1793, and 1795, respectively. The use of the white eagle was forbidden at that time, but the eagle was revived during the insurrections of 1830 and 1863 and it was instituted as the official state symbol in 1927. It is the one which continues in use to this day. However, during the Communist Soviet Regime the crown, considered a symbol of royal heritage, was injudiciously removed from the restored white eagle emblem. In 1989, when the solidarity movement caused the downfall of the Communist regime, one of the first acts of the new government was the restoration of the white eagle’s crown. The white eagle once was an emblem of absolute power of kings over the centuries and Polish people even today are thrilled to see it fly on the Polish national flags and banners, seals, coins, on soldier’s caps and uniform buttons. We German patriots, though, would appreciate it if it were not to be seen flying in our sacred Danzig, the ancestral home of the Teutonic Knights. If you don’t mind and even if you do we would like to tear down the city signs that proclaim “Gdansk” and put the proud word “Danzig” once more in its place. Be a Polish patriot if it suits you, but I am a “Germanophile.” The Ring This ring is definitely an old one crafted in genuine silver. Its eagle is clearly defined perched inside a relief square framing. The shank or sides are fashioned in pure art deco motif. The size is about 10 ¼ and we have only one. I am sure that it predates WWII or is possibly even pre-WWI. It is far from being a souvenir ring. I am sure it is military and probably was the property of a Polish officer. It was bought in Germany from the widow of a German veteran who participated in the Polish Campaign of 1939, but the ring that was possibly surrendered dates in all probability earlier. This is unique and historically important. PRICE: SOLD |
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Set of Cigarette Case and Watch Fob for a German Cavalry Officer (Unique!) (Item WEHR 33-22) |
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| DESCRIPTION:
Here is a great matched set of watch fob and cigarette case that are both beautifully engraved and probably a presentation to a cavalry officer who evidently served in the Kaiser’s Imperial Cavalry Corps in WWI, or even possibly the Franco-Prussian War. The items seem to have been presented by comrades of the officer corps that he served with. Both on the watch fob and the case is this notation: “Gew.v. Uffz. Korps 3.Esk. M.U.P.D. Hilg. 11.10.34.” “Gew.v.” means “Served with #5.” “Uffz. Korps” means “Officer Corps.” “3.Esk.” means “Third Squadron.” “Eskadron” was a cavalry unit first named thusly in the army of Frederick the Great and used throughout the First World War. The letters “M.U.P.D. Hilg.” are unrecognized. “11.10.34” is the date of presentation. Actually, in 1926, there was a German silent war film that played by the name “Die Dritte Eskadron” (“The Third Squadron”). Actually, the Third Squadron was the famed Prussian Garde Kurassier Regiment. Today the word “Eskadron” is often used in conjunction with riding boots and horseshoes. Of course this has direct historical reference to the German cavalry regiments that carried that name. The Articles The cigarette case is in excellent condition and it measures 3 ½ x 3 inches. It has the joined initials that look like “J.M.C.” In the upper-left corner is an applied horse’s head with tack. On the back of the case are the words of presentation. The watch fob also has the horsehead on the largest of the silver bars and on the bottom bar, you can see the tiny swastika indicating the veteran was an N.S. patriot. On the middle bar on the back you can again see the same inscription that is on the cigarette case. The fabric of the fob is shown as the German national colors as brought back by the National Socialists in the name of German patriotism. The fact that these two items are still together after 80 some years is incredible! This is a beautiful and prodigiously rare set of beautiful military relics from the better age. “Wohlauf Kameraden! Aufs Pferd, aufs Pferd!” PRICE: SOLD |
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Book Männer und Waffen des deutschen Heeres 1941 (Item WEHR 33-23; ART 18-1; RAREBOOK 2-5) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is the best and finest art collection of the entire Second World War in book form. Here we present the war-art etchings of Reich’s artist Josef Arens (1901-1979). A screw, a bolt, the "smallest detail,” everything was registered by the eye of the artist. Arens became a war illustrator in 1939 and Adolf Hitler, who all his life had wanted to embrace art, commissioned him as the official army war artist. Arens progressed right along with the German army, registering with meticulous care all of its heroic actions in his drawings. He took photographs and sketches, which later turned into works of art; all those drawings had targeted the desktop of the Führer, but with the fall of Germany his artistic renderings became war booty. When they advanced on the Rhine, U.S. troops made a POW of this notable German artist and seized his collection of drawings. “I'm against the war. I wanted to show the ruin, the destruction, the waste," Arens declared to his American captors. According to what was reported in the Spanish journal Excelsior, "Arens painted with masterly hands the ravages of war and the heroism of the German soldier.” Why was he held by the Yanks? Because it was deemed by army “intelligence” that his drawings glorified the enemy war effort and although that was a stretch, his drawings did glorify the German military tradition. Adolf Hitler entrusted him to perform a graphical history of the war and the German people were able to learn much about the war through the books like the one we offer here. However, these German drawings were not just ordinary; they were nothing short of spectacular! In addition to the ability to capture detail, the artist was concerned about capturing the reality of the war, and he did think that the war that was forced upon his fatherland was a sublime atrocity in itself: "I tried to paint soldiers as they are. Propaganda does not intervene in my drawings. Everything is presented as I saw it, making use of the sketches made in the field of battle and the photographs that I took,” said Arens. The most amazing thing of lithographs is the pathos, but also the nationalist pride that can be seen in the way that Arens observes the German soldier. In these drawings, admirable revelation is observed in these German soldiers: not merely to the victorious warrior, but also the details to the wondrous and advanced equipment and weapons available through Teutonic ingenuity and scientific advancement that was so far ahead of its time. Arens described himself as a "man of gentle face.” It is not difficult to imagine the artist as he carries his camera, notebook and pencils nestled in every corner, that could give him some security while surveying the scene with suspense and trepidation in his heart while trying to record every detail as he viewed them. From the siege of Rotterdam until the withdrawal in France, each step of the German forces was registered by his pencil. The drawings were hailed at the time as the "most amazing scenes of war that were known to date.” The description of the scenes in the pages of this book are replete with moving passion and with these very limited editions the Germans had demonstrated to the world their excellence at warfare tempered with courage and largely the thought remains that this Deutsche Wehrmacht was viewed at the time as an unbeatable army—terrible at warfare, but always honorable to the last. Please don’t even bother to mention alleged atrocities until you have availed yourself of the knowledge of the same and worst committed by the allied forces against the Germans. Arens’ charcoal drawings sometimes were fierce; for instance, the drawing of the moment in which the artillery soldiers activated a giant mortar, accurately delineated, and it ably exemplifies that Teutonic marshal spirit: The weapon was of such power that some of the gunners used a long lanyard to accelerate the firing and had to be crouching among the weeds rather aware of the mighty impact achieved. Many such superb and moving details appear in the drawings of Josef Arens. The book is in large format and measures 12 by 10 inches. It has 45 pages of text describing one after the other the following drawings and an explanation of the great conflict and the role of the German Wehrmacht Heeres. Then there are 40 full-page illustrations accomplished as only Josef Arens could ever do. The book is in excellent * plus condition and the beautiful cover is crafted in a fine textured cloth material. This without a doubt is the most sought-after art book that chronicles the life and style of the noble German Landser in his element. Vorwärts meiner Kinder!: Field Marshal (Pa-Pa) Blucher, 1813.
PRICE: $750.00 |
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German Nahkampfmesser (Trench Knife) (Item WEHR 33-24, WWI 13-2; KWEP 5-14, ANTWEP 4-8) |
DESCRIPTION: The nastiest knife of the wars and in this statement I do include the equivalent pieces in the American and British models of this horrible weapon of personal murder (up close, one on one) it really takes a special persona to come up behind a sentry (a living human being) and stab him or cut his throat and this knife wielder has to be I would think without any human emotion and I would think also of animalistic intelligence at best. OK, we know that these vicious weapons were developed as stabbing devices for use in close-combat encounters with enemy personnel and in WWI they were used in trench warfare when the enemy actually leaped into the trench occupied by Allied or Axis soldiers. This was the ultimate murder fest and the revelation of horror of genocidal and fratricidal mayhem. The knife we offer is in very good condition with some old-age rust on the blade. I’m positive it would clean up well with some fine steel wool and some elbow grease. Right under the top (pommel) there is a small hole that is drilled and I think it was meant to have a personal escutcheon that the owner would have placed there since these same knives were used in WWII, also. It could have been  runes that might have been present there??? The grip seems to be of Bakelite or maybe highly polished wood: what do you think? What is really rare on this knife is that the leather belt device and the leather fastener with snap grommet are both completely intact. Practically all of these we have ever seen have been broken and torn. The leather washer between the crossguard and blade is also there and intact. The scabbard is fine showing some old corrosion, but still nice. The knife in its scabbard measures about 11 ½ inches long and the blade is about 6 ½ inches long. Actually to find one of these stabenstickers in this remarkable condition is quite a rare occurrence.
PRICE: $495.00 |
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German Army Tunic (Feldbluse) for Enlisted Ranks (Item WEHR 33-25) |
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DESCRIPTION: Here is what seems to be as rare as a hen’s teeth in the militaria field; the uniform a private’s, the GI of Deutschland, the soldier who fought so valiantly to turn back the beast of Bolshevism and to save the western world. This stalwart soldier who, when the political correctness and sickening liberalism is only a memory, will be remembered as the hero of our century. The German soldier was the sharpest-looking warrior in his particular neat-looking dress to say nothing of the obvious fact that he was the finest soldier in every way of the belligerents of the First and Second World Wars, and had not America, Britain, and France supported the red Communists against Europe, this brave soldier and his Allies would have completely prevailed and as for me I believe the world would be a safer and a better place (author’s opinion). The Tunic This tunic is in what I would have to honestly say is quite ravaged by the nasty little moths that had found it delicious at one time (since then cleansed). The very bottoms of the pockets are ravaged by the little monsters. You can see some of the damage in our pictures. We hide nothing. There is also some moth damage near the left collar. Because of its red piping, the tunic is the type issued to an artilleryman and appears to be an M-36 Model (correct us if we are wrong). We do know that the M-36 (Feldbluse) was used until the very end of the war although successive patterns became predominant. Regardless of the condition this 100-percent original tunic is actually rarer than the officer’s models and sought after actively by collectors. Is this because GIs thought the officer uniforms were prettier and thus more desirable as souvenirs? Hard to say, but here it is and I believe the price is fair and equitable regardless of the general condition. The moths don’t go with it they were arrested and disposed of as enemy partisans. PRICE: $1,750.00; Special sale: Reduced to $1,200.00 |
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Generaloberst “Hans” von Seeckt: Various Ephemera (Item WEHR 33-26; PERS 5-27; RAREBBOOK 2-5; WWI 13-5) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Johannes Friedrich “Hans” von Seeckt (April 1866-December 1936) was an important historical personage and German military officer noted for his organization of the German Army (Reichswehr) during the Weimer Republic. He was a thorough aristocrat. He joined the army in 1885 at the age of 18 and served in the elite Kaiser Alexander Guard Grenadiers and then joined the Prussian General Staff in 1897 at the outbreak of the First World War. Seeckt held the rank of colonel and served as chief of staff in the Third Army Corps. Seeckt marched with the corps in the WWI German offensive and distinguished himself in fighting near Soissons, then in March 1915, he became chief of staff to General von Mackensen of the German Eleventh Army. Seeckt fought in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive, where he was credited with engineering Mackensen’s breakthrough and he received the Pour le Mérite, Prussia’s highest military honor. In June 1915, Seeckt was promoted to the rank of general-major and on 1 September he became chief of staff for the Austro-Hungarian Seventh Army in Galicia. Reichswehr After the end of the war and the dissolution of the old Imperial Army it fell to Seeckt to organize the new Reichswehr within the strict restrictions composed by the Treaty of Versailles. He successfully laid the basis for a strong Reichswehr and disguised the new leadership effectively with the forbidden general staff, under the name the Truppenamt, or Troop Office. He is also known for this hostile attitude towards the Second Polish Republic, and he was all for seeking an alliance with the Soviet Union against Poland. After seeing encouraging signs from the newly established War Commissar’s Office of Leon Trotsky, Seeckt sent out members of a secret staff to conduct a military alliance with the Soviets, unbeknownst to the Weimar government. After the Allies sent the German government a list of “war criminals” to be tried, Seeckt called a conference of staff officers and department heads on February 9, 1920, and said to them that if the German government refused or was unable to reject the Allied demands, the Reichswehr must oppose this by all means even if this meant the reopening of hostilities! He further said that if the Allies invaded Germany—he believed they would not—then the German army in the West should retire behind the Weser and the Elbe, as this was where defensive positions had already been built. In the East, German troops would invade Poland and attempt to establish contacts with the Soviet Union, wherein they would both march against France and Britain. He added that German war material would now no longer be sold or destroyed and that the army should be refused on paper only. An interior minister of Prussia, Albert Grzesinski, wrote that members of Seeck’s staff said that Seeckt desired a military dictatorship, perhaps headed by Gustav Noske. Seeckt’s role during the Kapp Putsch of March 1920, remains uncertain; he refused to either actively put down the rebellion or cooperate with it. His remark to the leaders of the republic, that “Reichswehr do not fire on Reichswehr”, was controversial. From 1920 to 1926, Seeckt held the position of Chef der Heeresleitung—in fact if not in name, commander of the army of the new Weimar Republic Reichswehr. He was working to build a nonpolitical professional army as a state within a state. He was an admirer of the British concept of a small, highly trained, regular army within which political activity was forbidden. This matched the conditions of the Versailles Treaty which was aimed at creating a long-term, professional army with a ceiling of 100,000 volunteers and without significant reserve; a force which would not be able to challenge the much larger French Army. Seeckt was a monarchist by personal inclination who encouraged the retention of traditional links with the old Imperial Army. With this purpose he designated individual companies and squadrons of the new Reichswehr as the direct successors of particular regiments of the emperor’s army. After Seeckt had met Adolf Hitler for the first time on March 11, 1923, he wrote: “We were as one in our aim; only our paths were different.” However, he firmly resisted Hitler’s Putsch on November 8-9, 1923, insisting that the Bavarian Division of the Reichswehr remain loyal to the Republic. He strongly opposed the Locarno Treaties, which he viewed as appeasement of France and was skeptical of German membership in the League of Nations because he thought it was selling out to West Germany’s connections with Russia. Seeckt was eventually forced to resign on October 9, 1926, after permitting Prince Wilhelm, the grandson of the former emperor, to attend army maneuvers in the uniform of the old Imperial First Guards without first seeking government approval. While running the military, von Seeckt only allowed skilled men to be in the 100,000-man army. He locked them into a mandatory 12 years of confirmed military service with full board and pay, allowing for a stability that rarely existed in the midst of massive economic depression of Germany. He gained the loyalty of his men by paying them six times the amount of a French soldier. Von Seeckt made the training standards of the Reichswehr the toughest in the world. He trained them in antiair and antitank battles by creating wooden weapons and staging mock battles under the guise of training the soldiers for reintroduction into civilian life. Von Seeckt disciplined this small army much differently than past German armies. Rather than beat or shoot a soldier for infractions, von Seeckt forced minor offenders to spend off-hour duties lying under a bed and singing old Lutheran hymns. The chief also had his men taught in seemingly useless topics like horse anatomy and the art of beekeeping to allow them to be citizens with skills as well as military support crews. Later Years: From 1930 to 1932, Seeckt sat in the Reichstag as a member of the DVP, after failing to be adopted as a candidate for the Centre Party. In the presidential election of 1932, he wrote his sister, urging her to vote for Hitler. From 1934 to 1935, he served as an adviser to Chiang Kai-shek. However, on returning to Germany from China he became disillusioned with Hitler. Contained in this offering is a book by Hans von Seeckt entitled Gedanken eines Soldaten (Thoughts of a Soldier). It comprises 157 pages of text with a nice picture of the author on the first page. It’s in almost mint condition and measures 6 ¼ x 9 inches. The book is dedicated in the first inner page to Mr. John Fletcher Hurst commemorating a meeting in Berlin in 1932, and again in 1936, signed by hand in ink by von Seeckt. Also, there is an invitation for the Fletcher family to visit the von Seeckt home at 9:30 in the evening on a Tuesday in March and we assume this was the 1936 meeting when the book was presented. The formal visit was requested by both Herr and Frau von Seeckt. There is a noted music reference. There is also a postcard that pictures some eighteenth-century Chinese artifacts and it is sent with postal cancellation to Mr. J. Fletcher Hurst in Paris. Seeckt wrote in French to Hurst and thanks him for a certain souvenir and he dates it 1935 and hand signs it. Why do I spend so much time and effort to present this particular group of ephemera? Because this old and noble Prussian monarchist was the very epitome of the spirit of Frederick the Great, Blucher, Scharnhorst, et al. When one looks at him with his monocle staring back, you can almost hear the refrain of Deutschland, Deutschland über alles. PRICE: $385.00; Price for the group |
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