1931 Stahlhelmbund Badge

[Albion]

Hello All,
Picked this 1931 Stahlhelmbund badge up along with a couple of WW2 death cards at Saturdays Flea-market.
Regards

[derjager]

:) I have yet to collect a dated example. Could we see the reverse, or would you rather not?

I do have this example.
--dj--Joe

[wilhelm saris]

This is an extremely nice field to collect. I am prepairing an article about it with as much as possible "ins and outs", to be published one day in the Military Advisor. I was helped and assisted enormously by a former Stahlhelmbund-member who does collect them in depth. Here a view of what he owns (he even has more these days, including the documents). Most have the date and abbreviations at the reverse.

[wilhelm saris]

I did forget to include a reverse, so here enjoy

[derjager]

WOW. That's something. :) Thank you and please thank the collector.
Wilhelm, when you complete your article could you post some of the information here? I see some smaller sized and an undated small one with leaves that I've not seen before.

--dj--Joe

[wilhelm saris]

First the article should be published, okay?
From many of the badges he knows from who he got it as he also has the document from them. I photographed some for use in the article, but he had many more (as there are two versions). Have you seen the 1918-version: small and big. From these he knew the recipient.

[Albion]

Hello Joe,
As requested here's a couple of photos of the back.

Hello Wilhelm,
Great collection you show there. Turns me quite green with envy. I should also be interested in your write-up.
Regards

[derjager]

Albion, thank you for the reverse photos.

--dj--Joe

[Wim Vangossum]

Albion, that's a nice one. Have a 1931 too but it is much more tarnished then your's. Actually I never saw one simply with a number. Mine has "V Ba 57" and the date 21. 9. 31 engraved.


Wilhelm, that collection is just amazing! How big is the chance to find a 1918? Maybe 0,0000001 %. :w00t:


Regards, Wim :)

[wilhelm saris]

The change is small to get a 1918 version, as only (what was it) 17 were handed over by Franz Seldte to his comrads on November 11, 1933 at the Stadthalle at Magdeburg (two days before the official institution). They all
were members from the Magdeburg free-corps Einwohnerwehr (also known as the Zeitfreiwilligen-Battalion)
recepients were: Bünger, Fahlbusch, Fischer (Helmut, Max and Johannes),
Fölsche, Görnemann (Erich, Karl and Max), Oppermann, Schaper, Schröder. Seldte (Eugen, Georg and Franz), Stern and Velten.
As far as known too me these did not have an inscription, but they were from
silver always (as other years could be from silver, tombac and alpaca - the last always recognizable by the letter A at the reverse)

[wilhelm saris]

I forgot to mention my friend, the Stahlhelm-member, got them from his comrads or the relatives from those that got one.
Do you people know these badges were worn after the war, by the new Stahlhelm-Bund? No, I think not. The old ones were worn (no new ones were having manufactured). Would you like to see a photograph from a new (after the war) Stahlhelm-member, so here is one of the Landesverbandsführer.

[Gaspare]

that's the way to collect,,specialize!

I congratulate you on a fantastic collection and knowledge of these badges..:thumbup1:

[derjager]

Well worth another look at this excellent thread. I'm looking forward to learning more about these badges.

--dj--Joe

[derjager]

Wilhelm, will your article go into all the variants that can be found in these badges? Variants even within a single years examples. I was considering purchasing a 1924 example and noted so many distinct differences I decided to hold off untill I know more. From comparing I saw different numeral fonts, differently formed helmets and different reverses (placement of GES. GESCH. and STH, plus silver marks or the lack of). This just on 1924's.

--dj--Joe

[wilhelm saris]

Practically all of the badges were made on orders of Der Stahlhof, but by all kinds of different manufacturers. That's for example one reason for the many variations, but even from one manufacturer (there is never a manufacturers marking on the reverse) the badges can vary. Also the material can be different. I will show a lot and explain things, but the difficulty is one hardly can see who the manufactuer was.
One reason for example the year-numbers look different, is the way of enameling and after that the polishing.

Look for the STH and best is that at the reverse it is engraved with unit/year of entry. Until the later 1980's and even in the 1990's my mentor told me there were no fakes made. Even these days hardly any are made, as there are lots to be found on the market.
The new Stahlhelm used even the old patterns, which they bought all over Germany and when was allowed to wear one.

[derjager]

Thank you, Wilhelm.

--dj--Joe

[wilhelm saris]

I would like to show a reverse from a so-called Rohling, unfinished badge, which already is being cut out. This one is from 1920. I visited my friend again in south-Germany last week and so I was able to photograph this one, and also 1918 and 1919. All three have different basic material. The 1918 will come in a planned article, which I still am working on.

Did you know guys that when a specific badge of this kind is being made by a manufacturer about 30-40% is waste for many reasons. Espesially a lot is going wrong when enameling (blistersm, wrong polishing etc.). So you know that lots were made extra to see the order is being completed.

[Colin Davie]

I have an event badge from the Jungstahlhelm, dated 1925, there was originally a overstamped new laterdate stamped on it, but is very hard to see now.
Colin

[wilhelm saris]

Hello Collin,

this thread is meant for the Stahlhelm-badges with year-numbers and anot all those vent badges or whatever. But thanks you showed it.

[derjager]

Hello Colin, my thanks also. Do I see a sword on top or through a helm. and oak leaves?
Another link with some Jungstalhelm information.
http://worldwarmilitaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=888&highlight=jungstahlhelm

--dj--Joe USMC.

[wilhelm saris]

you see it right, but the word Jungstahlhelm is said with the consecrating for the flags and so it is anyway an item for the Jungstahlhelm

[Weibliche]

I realize that this isn't in the correct place but it fits with the current thread. This is a Stahlhelm bund contribution book that we've had laying around. I finally got around to making scans of it and wanted to share it. It looks like he contributed 35 Pfg. in 1935 up until November; this is the only year that has any stamps.

*I'll move this if it is not wanted here...........

[wilhelm saris]

that is correct as in 1935 the Bund was abolished and so there can't be any further stamps in it. a series of month for 1934 could have been included, but maybe he got his new pass late!

[Weibliche]

that is correct as in 1935 the Bund was abolished and so there can't be any further stamps in it. a series of month for 1934 could have been included, but maybe he got his new pass late!

Great information Wim! See, I am glad I posted this here!:thumbup1:

[wilhelm saris]

After consideration I think the stamps for 1934 must have been in his old contribution-book and he did not get sooner the new 1935-version as about early 1935.