Favorite piece?

[lee-clark]

Which piece out of your whole collection woud you say is your favorite?
Doesn't matter what it is, it could be a dagger or a tinnie or a tunic or even a RK!
Mine is a unmarked E.k1 from the maker Souval, probably because it was one of the first items i came across!
Lee

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Lee, I would say my named 1936 SS chained dagger (featured on the forum).

Cheers, Ade.

[Allan Pilch]

My favourite piece(s).

I just love cased EK1, packeted and cased EK11, and RK.

Here are some of mine.

Allan

[lee-clark]

Hey Allan that is some pile you got there!
Regards.
Lee

[Bob Hartman]

My favorite item isn't German, but it is a relic of WW II. How it came to be mine is what makes it so special to me. In late 1958 I was well into my sophmore year of high school in Ft Lauderdale FL. I didn't like school very much but I did love history, and especially the history of the Second World War, probably because I had grown up in its shadow. Many of my dad's friends were ex servicemen.

At that time my dad owned an airplane and kept it out at Red Aircraft, then the principal flying service at what is now Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. (Also the airport that during the war had been the Naval Air Station from which the infamous "Flight 19" had departed to their doom in the so called "Bermuda Triangle".) But fifty years ago the airport, known to locals simply as "Lauderdale Airport" was a mere shadow of what it was to become. That is why it was so special when 3 P-51 Mustangs rolled up to the ramp one crisp Fall Friday afternoon. I was in heaven as I circled each one, studying the markings or the outlines of where the markings had been. They were obviously ex USAF airplanes but over the faint US markings were fresh insignia of a different sort. Not military exactly, but not civil either.

As I stared at the planes I listened to the interplay between the lineboy who was fueling the aircraft and the pilots who spoke with a Latin accent. Now you have to remember that back then South Florida was not a hotbed of Latinos and anyone speaking English with a Spanish accent was bound to raise a couple eyebrows. After all there was a full blown revolution going on 90 miles south on the island of Cuba. From the conversation it became clear to me that the planes would remain till Sunday. The pilots inquired as to where the tie-downs were and were directed to a spot to the northwest of the gas pump that had 3 spots suitable for parking the 51s for the weekend. If the planes were going to be leaving Sunday I vowed that I'd see them off.

By Saturday night I had talked my dad into going flying early Sunday. I figured that any self respecting pilot wants to get going early for a trip and I was hoping to see the fighters leave before we got our plane out of the hanger. We arrived at Red Aircraft around 7 AM and I made a bee line for the 51s. Something didn't look right though as I made my way along the line of parked aircraft. The noses on the 51s were poking skyward at an unnatural angle. As I got nearer I saw why. Each airplane had been the recipient of an explosive device placed right beneath the cockpit; their backs had been broken. Strangely enough there was no yellow police tape or even any police to keep me away. I knew I had only a few golden seconds to grab a piece of a real live (dead?) P-51. I noticed that the covers on the gun bays were loose. I opened one and ripped the gun loading placard from its fasteners. I still have it today.

Postscript: We found out later that the airplanes were to be used by Fidel's rebel airforce and were "disabled" before they could help his cause. Turned out it didn't matter as his rebel army chased Batista out of the country and he marched into Havana on 1 Jan, 1959.

[Santi]

What a story, Bob! I enjoyed the reading! Do you have any photos of it to share?
Thanks for that.

PS: Sweet EKs Allan!!!! :)

[Bob Hartman]

Hi Santi...if I could ever figure out how to post the pics then I would send some. I will try to get my wife to help me wilth the posting. She has done it before.

Bob

[Santi]

Hi Santi...if I could ever figure out how to post the pics then I would send some. I will try to get my wife to help me wilth the posting. She has done it before.

Bob

Hi Bob. Its easy, believe me! :D

The FAQ forum (http://worldwarmilitaria.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=93) has some great things to learn.

This is the direct link to the "How to attach photos":
http://worldwarmilitaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232

Any questions, just pm me or any other member of the staff.

[Rob Johnson]

One of my favorite and most significant items in my collection would have to be my cased 1st pattern Blood Order (or 'Blutorden') #274 issued to a SS Officer who served 16 years in the SS, and who appears in a photo at the 1937 Reichspartitag with this very Blood Order in wear.

The ‘Blutorden’ you see bellow was originally awarded to a man by the name of Otto Ertl. Ertl was born on 17 July, 1902, and at just 17 he joined Bund Oberland in 1919 with whom he participated in the 8/9 November 1923 putsch. Ertl joined the SA in 1927 serving in SA-Standarte ‘Leibstandarte München’ until 1929 when he joined the SS (SS number 4,564) serving with the 1.SS-Standarte "Julius Schreck." He was a SS-Totenkopfring recipient and served with the LSSAH in the invasions of Poland and France, SS-Hauptamt VoMi from 1942 to 1944, and by 1945 was serving as an inner-camp guard at KL-Flossenbürg.

Ertl was the Standard bearer for the 1-SS Standarte from 1935 to 1938, and on page 265 of Ulric of England’s “Deutschland Erwache” there is a picture of Ertl holding the “Julius Schreck” standard at the 1937 Reichspartitag, with this very Blood Order in wear.

It’s an amazing feeling to own an original 1st pattern Blood Order to an SS officer with such a low SS membership number and lengthy career in the SS, but to have a period photograph of him with the actual Blood Order in wear gives me a feeling words fail to describe!

Rob

[Rob Johnson]

another shot:

[Rob Johnson]

one more :thumbup:

[Bob Hartman]

Wow Rob...that is really something!! You are very fortunate. A very rare award and with the photos quite remarkable.

Bob

[Rob Johnson]

Thanks for the kind words, Bob... Much appreciated! It really is a true joy to own. Sadly, it spends most of its time sitting in a safe deposit box at the bank (with the rest of the valuables!) but every now and then I like to take it home for a few hours so I can stare and smile at it :drool:


Rob

[Santi]

Thanks for the kind words, Bob... Much appreciated! It really is a true joy to own. Sadly, it spends most of its time sitting in a safe deposit box at the bank (with the rest of the valuables!) but every now and then I like to take it home for a few hours so I can stare and smile at it :drool:


Rob

:laugh: :laugh:
I think that happens to everybody with some items. When i got my first items, i couldnt stop staring at them! I had to take a look at them everyday :biggrin:
Sweet blood order! :thumbup:

[djr]

AMONG my favorites are the attached.....
1st is my collection of aluminum fitted Armys.
2nd are 3 of my 17 - EPack Armys.
3rd is my Early JAHenckels (slant grip, tapered tang, EPack1st style fittings), complete with original storage bag.
One could look a lifetime for things like these......

[Erich S]

I have three pieces which are most special to me. They're a 1st pattern Blood Order, TK Honor ring and 1st pattern Coburg Badge.

[Erich S]

Heres' a few photos.

[Erich S]

Also forgot to mention a 2nd pattern cased Blood Order too.

[Jody]

Hello,
This is one of my favorite items. It is a Heer M-35 DD that was captured by my great uncle in Normandy and was sent to my grandmother in October 1944 for a B-day gift.

This helmet was given to me when I was around 8 and I will always keep it. It is my 1st true piece of 3rd Reich militaria. Not bad for a 1st item.

BTW, the national colors were not dug out, that is exactly how my grandmother recieved it. I even have a photo of it on a shelf in her living room that was taken in the late 40's.

Regards,
Jody

[Don Doering]

My favorite item if the Wuertemburg Gold Military Merit Medal and award doc of Unterofficer Isaak Huber, awarded for leaving a relatively safe place in a forwrad observer post to repair cut field telephone lines in the midst of an artillery barrage. He repaird one line going out and a second coming back, all the time exposed and under fire. He completed the repairs just in time to allow the forward obsrever to call down fire upon a British attack, breaking it up and causing the enemy lots of casualties.

[jim arrasmith]

I wonder if it will be thrown in the casket with me.Found in a SS barracks in France.Well marked,it just talks to you.

[Richard Kimmel]

Nice piece, resembles a watch fob?

[Santi]

Very nice everybody ! :thumbup:

[jim arrasmith]

Yes it is a watch fob.:thumbup1:

[Mark C. Yerger]

My HIAG Ehrennadel in Gold document, first to an American. Recommended for it by Otto Weidinger for SS/VT and Waffen-SS research.

[Mike Peters]

My HIAG Ehrennadel in Gold document, first to an American. Recommended for it by Otto Weidinger for SS/VT and Waffen-SS research.

Now that's a fantastic Honor Mark ...and well deserved.

[Mark C. Yerger]

close 2nd would be my office walls in general, decorated with larger format Waffen-SS KC photos, each signed by them with personal dedication to me by name. Allows to remember old friends, visits to Germany, and motivates writing. Other items are awards from various Waffen-SS vet groups for research.

[Mark C. Yerger]

image 2

[Mark C. Yerger]

image 3. The 3 pics show about 1/2 of them in total

[RaymondG]

Hi Mark

This is quite a display. I can see why the ehrenurkunde is your most prized piece.

Thanks for sharing

Raymond

[Richard Kimmel]

This is the most unique item in my collection.

Sent home from a serviceman who was serving with the United States Forces on the war-torn island of New Guinea in the South Pacific in 1944. This coconut was sent home through the mail just as you see it, addressed to his parents on the surface. I doubt today if this would go through the mails unpackaged as this did.

[Santi]

This is the most unique item in my collection.

Sent home from a serviceman who was serving with the United States Forces on the war-torn island of New Guinea in the South Pacific in 1944. This coconut was sent home through the mail just as you see it, addressed to his parents on the surface. I doubt today if this would go through the mails unpackaged as this did.
Very unique indeed and very interesting, thanks for sharing.

[Richard Kimmel]

Hi Santi

Thanks for you comments, appreciate it. I rid myself of almost my entire collection about 20 or so years ago, then I was collecting anything and everything. I did specialize for a few years in Luft badges and was a guest speaker at the MAX Show on them back in the early 90s. I then began to collect only special items for reasons other than the militaria aspect, as you will see if you view my website.

http://hometown.aol.com/ww2po/index.html

Richard

[Santi]

Very interesting website, Richard!