The Golden Party Badge "facts and figures"

[Wim Vangossum]

Hi everyone,


I asked Raymond for permission to start a nice thread about the facts and figures concerning the Golden Party Badge. Meaning is that everyone who has a nice story, or some interesting information about the GPB post this to this thread. So after some time we could have a great fact book about this interesting award. The only thing I ask is: give your information a clear start and end and a following number and when possible a source. The following number make it more easy to discuss a posted fact when it is necessary .

The Golden Party Badge (Goldenes Parteiabzeichen) "Facts and Figures"


1. Authorized by Hitler with a decree of 13 October 1933 as special award for members of the NSDAP with a registered, unbroken membership in the range from 1 to 100.000
(Source: Die Auszichnungen des Grossdeutschen Reichs, Dr. Heinrich Doehle)

2. After some research of the Treasure Department of the NSDAP, under authorization of Party Treasurer (Reichsschatzmeister) Frans Xavir Schwartz, only 22.282 of the first 100.000 members were eligible for this award.
(Source: www.geocities.com/goldpartypin/ )

3. Only 1.795 receivers of the Golden party Badge were Women.
(Source: www.geocities.com/goldpartypin/ )

4. The first awards were made on 9 November 1933, on the 10th anniversary of the Beer Hall Putch.
(Source: www.geocities.com/goldpartypin/ )

5. There were two manufactures involved by the production of the Golden Party Badge: the prestigious Munich located firm of Deschler and Sohn and the jeweller and early sympathizer of Hitler named “Jos Fuess”. It is almost for certain that this jeweller was the designer of the first common party badge. A few words in Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf “ give some credit to this theory. The Deschler firm made both the 30mm and 24mm size. Fuess only the small 24mm size.

6. The Golden Party Badge (or one of the dress copies) of Richard Wendler, the former governor of Krakau and Lublin is still in the possession of Gebhard’s Himmler oldest daughter. (Gebhard was Heinreich Himmler’s oldest brother)
(Source: Die Brüder Himmler, Katrin Himmler)

7. The Golden Party Badge (or one of the dress copies) of Hitler’s pilot Josef Bauer was bought from Frau Sophie Bauer by one of the older generation of collectors, Ben Swearingen. He bought the Golden Party Badge together with Bauer’s Blood Order. In the mean time the GPB changed hands one then more time. Present location unknown.
( Source: Unknown. This story is not confirmed)

Regards, Wim :)


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[Wim Vangossum]

8. One of the nicknames of the GPB was "Die Angstbrosche" meaning "the brooch of fear"

9. Wearers of the GPB were sometimes called "Goldfasane" meaning "Gold pheasant"




Regards, Wim :)

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[RaymondG]

Excellent, informative information, Wim.

Many thanks for taking the time to post this and I hope other members can add any more information

Raymond

[StephenL]

Hi everyone,

1. Authorized by Hitler with a decree of 13 October 1935 as special award for members of the NSDAP with a registered, unbroken membership in the range from 1 to 100.000
(Source: Die Auszichnungen des Grossdeutschen Reichs, Dr. Heinrich Doehle)

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Good start Wim - one correction of a typo in your post. The authorization date was Oct 13, 1933, not 1935.

[Wim Vangossum]

Your right, Stephen. 1933 instead of 1935. I will correct it immediatly. Hope this thread grows out to an interesting database of all kind of facts and figures... :001_rolleyes:

Regards, Wim :)

[StephenL]

We haven't really discussed the "AH" Honour version of the GPB. Patzwall in his book on the Honour GPB lists 902 (if I count correctly) recipients of the non-numbered GPB, awarded annually on Jan 30th. There were also odd date awards to commemorate events (victories, birthdays, etc.)

Here is one from my collection. 1939 seems to be one of the most popular award dates.

[Wim Vangossum]

Of course Stephen. Facts about the the Honour version belongs in this thread! That's a nice one by the way. Not for my budget I'm afraid. :001_rolleyes:

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10. Edwin Bechstein, son of the famous Berlin piano manufacturer Carl Bechstein, wrote on Februari , 4 1937 a letter to Führeradjudant Wiedemann.
In that letter he complained how embarrassing it was for him that he –as only living male member of the Bechstein family- not had a party number below 100.000.
Adolf Hitler was a good friend of the family and during the difficult years of struggle he suggested the family not getting members of the party. This was around 1925. Maybe he wanted to protect the famous family against a bad name when things went wrong? The actual reason for this strange proposal is not known.
However the daughter of the family, Lotte Bechstein joined the party in 1928 and requested for a low number and received the approval of Hitler. This was hard for Edwin and during several occasions he tried to get a low number for himself. Even his mother, Helene contacted the officials to set things right.
How important people found the Golden Party badge in that time you can read more towards the end of Edwin’s letter when he wrote:

“For me it is particularly embarrassing that I, Edwin Bechstein, the only male member of the family, is not allowed to wear the Golden Party Badge, just because I haven’t got a number below the 100.000 but only number 3.204416”

So Lotte Bechstein is one of the 1.795 female members who received a GPB. Here party number is not known by me and neither of Edwin finally got his GPB and beloved low number.

( Source: Die Rückseite des Hakenkreuz,Beatrice & Helmut Heiber )

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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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11. One of the most dangerous fakes of the Golden Party badges is made back in the early eighties and were produced in Austria. It took the form of a very convincing 24mm Jos Fuess badge. In Cone’s book “One people, one Reich: Enameled Organizational badges of Germany 1918-1945” (written in 1983) you can see this copy as a presentable example of the 24mm Jos Fuess. Even today there are respectable dealers who offer these fake badges as perfect accepted originals. For recognizing this fake I advise to take a visit to Stephen’s website: www.geocities.com/goldpartypin/


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Regards, Wim :)

[StephenL]

Here is the fake Fuess. It can be identified by the uniformly thick letters on the front. Real Fuess badges have thin letters of varying widths, including a "P" in "DAP" that has a square top and the "I" looks like a spike.

The below badge is in my opinion a fake, although some collectors are still in denial about it. A number of collectors suggested it was a variation by Fuess due to the high quality. Then several people posted their examples and we found several with the same number on the back - so unlikely in originals that opinion turned in favour of being fakes. The back also has a variant pinplate lettering. Most of the examples of this fake badge that have shown up have repeated numbers on the back - "33333", "66336", etc. Another sign of a lazy faker.

A story came out that one collector saw a box of them being sold in Austria in the 1980s, and they quickly then made it into the secondary market when resold as originals.

[StephenL]

Here is what genuine Fuess GPB letters look like -

[StephenL]

Here is the reverse. The pinplate resembles the newer fakes of this badge that have the lines from under the wreath on top of some of the leaves. You can see on the detail photo how the number have puffy edges from improper stamping.

The composite photo below is the modern repro from the late 1990s / early 2000s, which may actually be a copy based on the 1980s copy.

[Wim Vangossum]

Thanks for pointing things out, Stephen :)



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12. Party member 68.393, Adam Klinger was one of the many victims of a failing safety pin on his 24mm Golden party badge. Probably due to several fixing on clothes and taken it back off, the pins often broken off. Adam lost his badge on a commuter train in Breslau-Kassel. The award was found and send back to Munich headquarters with a letter dated 3 April 1944:

“The accompanying Golden Party badge № 68.393 was found by a captain Hanno Paetzhold of Wetzlar, Brülsbachstreet in the D-train Breslau-Kassel”

From Munich the Badge was send back to it's owner.

(Source: somewere on the net but lost :001_unsure:)


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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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13. Notice from Stabsleiter Saupert (25-2-1937)

“Standartenführer Rattenhuber brings the personal order from the Führer to take off the Blood Order and the Golden Party Badge from party member Toni Lehner. Besides that it is Lerner forbidden to wear the uniform and he has to take off his brown shirt. On order of The Führer, Lerner will stay in prison.”

Reason for this all was that old comrade Lerner (party member № 154) drunk way to much and offended other party leaders. It was Heinrich Himmler who took care of this lost son and who tried to bring him back on the right path: Lerner became housekeeper in KZ Oranienburg and had to swear never drinking alcohol again.

( Source: Die Rückseite des Hakenkreuzes, Beatrice & Hemut Heiber )

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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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14. The materials used for manufacturing the Golden Party Badge:

Brass (a yellow coloured alloy based on copper and zinc) was used as the solid base metal for the wreath. On a engraved badge you still keep seeing the yellow colour of this alloy

Tombak (a copper and zinc alloy with a higher percent of copper) was ( IMO ) used for the disc. Due to the higher copper percentage it has a more reddish colour and that’s visible when the enamel is damaged or when the silver on the lettering is gone. Other opinions about the use or non use of tombak are always welcome.

Silver was used for plating the double borders of the disc, the borders of the swastika and the surface of the lettering.

Gold was used for gilding the wreath with a technique called Fire Gilding. This was a very dangerous way of gilding but common practise in the past centuries. The use of mercury in the gilding process poisoned the men who did this job. Fire gilding has a thickly and warm yellow appearance. Albeit a dangerous method of gilding it is still existing nowadays. In a strictly controlled environment, with industrial ventilation, manufactures make all kind of antique looking ornaments for fancy hotels, restoring ancient buildings etc…

Enamel was used for colouring the outlined fields in the central disc. Enamel is glass with a low melting point (800 -900 °C). In its pure composition it is transparent and called “Flux”.
It receives its colour due to mixing it with metal oxides.
If the flux is mixed with Iron an Gold you have red enamel. (circle with lettering)
If the flux is mixed with Tin you have white enamel (double outer border of the disc and field around the swastika)
If the flux is mixed with Iridium you have black enamel (swastika)

( Source: www.geocities.com/goldpartypin/ ,other internet sites and "First steps in Enamelling" by Jinks Mc Grath

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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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15. A small part taken from the interrogation of Albert Speer by his own lawyer Dr. Hanns Fläckner during the Nurnberg trials were some questions were asked about his Golden Party Badge (I suppose the Honour version considering Speer’s high party number? )



(…) Dr. Flächner: The accuser claims that you were a Reichs Leader?

Speer: No, that’s a mistake from the side of the accuser.

Dr. Flächner: You wore the Golden Party Badge? When and where did you received it?

Speer: I received the Golden Party Badge in 1938 from Hitler. That was because I finished the design of a building program in Berlin. Besides me on the same time five other artists received this Golden Party Badge. (…)

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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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16. On January 2, 1934 the Honour version of the Golden Party Badge was bestowed to female party member Hermine Hoffmann. The award was engraved “2.I.1934” and “Adolf Hitler”. It was also stamped Jos Fuess and ‘585’. It had a long needle system wit a security lock on its reverse. When this prized collectible changes hands, this Golden Party Badge together with the large version, is accompanied with a copy of a letter written by Erwin Fuess back in 1972. In this letter Herr Erwin Fuess claimed that both the large and the small party badge were made in the Fuess House and that on Hitler’s special demand were made of 585 gold.

( Source: A German site. Fact or fantas?y: At least the bestowal of the award seems to be traced in the Bavarian Archives)


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Regards, Wim :)

[Erich S]

Very interesting Wim. I thought that Deschler was ever the only maker of the 30mm badge.

[Mike Peters]

Maybe Fuess was only talking about that special "585" Gold set ..could it have been a one-of-a-kind deal ? ...that would be interesting since I never heard of any pattern variations. I'd love to see that set .

[Wim Vangossum]

You're not the only one who want to see that set, Mike. That's way I create this thread. I search around a little bit and if I find an interesting fact about the GPB I post it here with the meaning that collectors have some kind of data base with all the common or more exotic stories together. These facts can than be used to start looking for further information. Some of these stories we will never be able to confirm, with others we could have more luck. On the other hand it is my personal feeling that we often break our head about the existing of thess rare things like in this case with this Feuss set and that the answer just lay in the hands of one rich collector who never comes on forums like these but has a safe filled with this kind of exotic belongings. This is the truth IMO; there are more of this kind of wealthy men then we may think and they are simply not interested to show these treasures hidden in their closets. :rolleyes:


Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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17.

A small part of ( just a free) translation of a German text originated from a Russian document concerning what was found on the bodies of Joseph and Magda Goebbels.

(…) On that (Goebbels body) were the remains of a burned party uniform and a fixed Golden Party Badge. Near the body of the burned woman there was a golden cigarette case and on the body a Golden Party badge of the NSDAP together with a fixed golden brooch. On the head of the two bodies lay two Walther pistols (…)

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Regards, Wim :)

[Mike Peters]

You're not the only one who want to see that set, Mike. That's way I create this thread. I search around a little bit and if I find an interesting fact about the GPB I post it here with the meaning that collectors have some kind of data base with all the common or more exotic stories together. These facts can than be used to start looking for further information. Some of these stories we will never be able to confirm, with others we could have more luck. On the other hand it is my personal feeling that we often break our head about the existing of thess rare things like in this case with this Feuss set and that the answer just lay in the hands of one rich collector who never comes on forums like these but has a safe filled with this kind of exotic belongings. This is the truth IMO; there are more of this kind of wealthy men then we may think and they are simply not interested to show these treasures hidden in their closets. :rolleyes:


Regards, Wim :)

I couldn’t agree with you more Wim ! I’m also sure there are many examples in collections that would surprise us. For example , I’d love to see a Book done on John P’s collection …we’re so lucky he’s willing to share with the “community” .

Besides the exotic stories , I know there’s a lot we can still learn from the Badges themselves . Two Companies making them and yet so many unanswered questions and variations (thanks to Jeweler modifications) . One thing I’ve always found interesting is how many were re-issued and had been ground flat and re-numbered. To me that shows they were not highly mass produced and sat in bins by the hundreds just waiting to be numbered.

About 2 years ago I started documenting some of the Die Flaws and started a Thread on what I found -- http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146766

[Wim Vangossum]

Hi Mike,

I know that thread of you for a long time :thumbup1:

I think the re-issued thing was something very logical in that time. We are used to throw everything away. In those days this was out of the question. I mentioned somewere else on this forum that even in richer families everything was repaired. Like the Himmlers who send their underwear back to mam to fix it. :D

Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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18

Rotograving: Not all the large Deschler Golden Party Badges received impressed numbers. It is acceptable to assume that Deschler produced GPB’s without numbering. The first reason to do this is the ability to offer replacements pieces. Based on documents it is very clear that loosing a Golden Party badge happened very often. The second reason is to create the possibility for additional purchases.
Another theory is that at a certain point Deschler decide to farmed out some of the badges to jewellers who rotograved the blank badges.

In the case of an full assembled Golden Party Badge it was impossible to impress the number because it would damaged the enamel work. So they rotograved the numbers. Typical for this kind of engraving work is the existence of small swirls inside the engraving left by the engraving tool. There is also a difference in the font; an open “4” in the impressed numbers is now closed and a round topped “3” is flat topped in its engraved shape.
All rotograved badges have lines going horizontally across the back of these badges. These lines are possible sanding marks to remove the sharp shavings after the engraving was done.
However it is still an open question why there are no 24mm badges found with this kind of engraved numbers.
Pictured is a small part of a rotograved number were you can see the sanding lines and the swirl pattern into the digits (don’t want to show the complete number because this badge nor the original picture is mine). Maybe some other collectors can post pictures of rotograved numbers?

(Source: mainly based on the conclusions made by fellow collectors Stephen and ErichS)

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Regards, Wim

[Erich S]

The conventional wisdom like Wim has said was that these possible replcement engraved badges were done by a jeweler and not by Deschler. As Wim states all original badges have sanding lines to remove the shavings from the pin plate down. From what I have seen a lot of these engraved badges tend to be in numbers under 40,000. Here's the reverse of the 30mm badge from my matched set. Please keep up the great work Wim on this thread! Best, Erich

[Mike Peters]

There are still many collectors who feel that the Roto engraved plates have had their old numbers ground off ..and then they were re-plated and finally the new number roto engraved . The marks are deeper than sanding ..the lines can be clearly seen and look more like a grinding wheel (or belt) effect. This would explain why we see some that have an uneven gold finish or a 2 tone effect on the back. One "theory" (of old) was that Deschler had done a pretty complete production run and then numbered them..but not everyone got or needed a matched set. Easier to renumber than fire up the production line . I also don't believe that anyone has found one blank GPB ....if these were distributed to Jewers in Major Cities , we'd have seen them by now. There were also other styles of engraving and , I can't see different Jewelers all over Germany all picking the flat bottom Roto style by accident . I wonder what we'd find if we compared the measurements/thickness of the back plate of an imprinted example ..with a roto engraved back plate.
That could give us the answer

[Erich S]

We will probably never know the answer but their remains two standard textbook number styles for 30mm badges.

[Mike Peters]

We will probably never know the answer but their remains two standard textbook number styles for 30mm badges.

I hate to say I agree with ya but , we might all be long gone by the time the answer is found.
Imagine 100 years from now when the "new generation" on these Forums won't be able to easily find anymore artifacts ---and the only thing left for them will be to sort through the "Ocean" of NS documents stored in the archives.
But ...by us working together today and comparing notes ...we can still unravel some of it.

[Wim Vangossum]

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19

Gregor Strasser who was born on 31/05/1892 and member of the party since 1921 (number ?). He received on Februari 1934 his Golden Party Badge. A bit later he was taken in prison by the Gestapo. On 30/06/1934 he was murdered by the SS during their actions against the Röhm - Putsch

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Regards, Wim :)

[StephenL]

I've never been convinced that GPBs were ever re-issued. The impressed numbers are deep enough that grinding them out would leave a serious depression (see photo), and I've never seen such a thing. Replating an assembled badge would be a considerable challenge as well. Attached is a photo of a badge someone has tried to take the number off of and you can see how deep they had to go to get the number off.

I'm in favour of the idea that rotograving was done by Deschler (or a single sub-contractor) for replacement badges, or for badges issued after the initial run of 22,282 authorized GPBs. The technique and form of numbers is too consistent to be done by different jewelers.

The key to genuine rotograved numbers are the swirls inside the numbers, seen in this example (especially the 0's).

Be warned that the new generation of fake large GPBs have attempted to recreate the rotograved numbering style, because it is easier to copy that the impressed numbers. Often you'll see a pair, with a genuine small badge and a newly-engraved fake large GPB.

[Wim Vangossum]

I agree that -considering the depth of the impressed numbers- Stephen has a point here.

Regards, Wim :)

[Erich S]

I also agree with Stephen. The sanding lines are not deep enough on the badges to hide a first issue number. Stephen, were the fake engraved badges done well? So far all the fake badges I have seen are not close to originals.

[StephenL]

Here is an example of a fake engraved reverse paired with a fake small Fuess.

[StephenL]

Here are the fronts of this pair of fakes.

[StephenL]

Here's another fake "rotograved" job.

[Erich S]

Thanks for posting the photos Stephen. The first one is very easy to see that it's a fake and the 2nd one is better but has the usual traits of a fake as well. Both of these badges would only fool a novice collector IMO but they're getting better!

[StephenL]

You'd be surprised who these badges have fooled.

[Wim Vangossum]

Erich, I'm afraid Stephen is right. Even very experted collectors in other TR-Stuff were the victem of the last showed GPB. I think it's a bit like Knight Crosses; besides the **** you see some very nice looking pieces. Pieces you think the might be the original stuff. One look of an experted Knight Cross collector and he can point several things out that are wrong on that beautiful Cross. :blink: The same case with Luftwaffe Badges and Combat Awards.


Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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20


Hitler's Golden Party Badge :
Hitlers Party Badge bore the number “1” on its reverse. He had several pieces of the award on various locations and on various uniforms. One such a badge was found in his Munich apartement by the Americans.
Also reported is that he received an example made from real gold as a gift from friends in his inner circle.
Another famous example is the one that was found by the Russians on Magda Goebbels body or in the bunker (It is not known for sure that she wore Hitlers Badge the day she commit suicide). It was only in 1996 the Russian secret service admitted they had this badge in their possession.
The badge was displayed for the first time on a remembrance of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second Word War. Almost unbelievable but true: The badge was stolen during this exhibition.
For more detailed information about Hitler's Golden Party Badge I refer to Stephen’s website: www.geocities.com/goldpartypin/ . The text above was based on the info of this site.


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Regards, Wim :)

[Erich S]

Wim, one of these Hitler GPB's numbered 1 along with his Blood Order is owned by Stephen Wolfe. Both these items along with his uniform brown shirt came from his Munich apartment. The badge is a standard GPB.

[Wim Vangossum]

Thanks for sharing that picture, Erich. In my Schiffer book "Uniforms of the Third Reich" on page 218-219 there is also a picture of Hitlers' Brown Shirt (made by Wilhelm Holters) with belt, cross strap, brown tie with eagle stick pin, Blood Order EK 1 and WB in black like it was found by Ben Lieber in the apartment. I think it's in the Bill Shea collection? There were more than on of these shirts in his apartment


Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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21.

I guess we never find the Golden Party Badge of Karl Waldeck…

Karl Waldeck was born on Mai 1, 1890 in Hohenkirchen. He spent some of his life in South West Africa were he was a POW during World War I and sent to camp ‘Aus” in Namibia. Many little stories pointing out his sense for humour and his peaceful humane thoughts.
After the war he went back to Germany (and at a certain moment he must have joined the NSDAP which is not mentioned in the text).
He worked for the police in Melsungen were he more then once came in conflict whit the local SA.
During the Second World War he had some difficulties with his health, a ‘souvenir’ from malaria. So he was placed at a desk in the cityhall for distribute ration coupons on the German people.
One day a local political leader showed up in full uniform. He was not intended to wait for his turn and jumped a queue of waiting ladies with their children on their arm. Waldeck was not impressed by the man’s behaviour and simply said that only from the leather of the fancy belt he wore, many children behind him could let themselves made a decent pair of shoes. Very angry the political leader turned his heels and left the desk. He immediately complained by a higher authority. The only answer on his complain he received was: “Be careful. Did you take a close look at the man behind that desk?. Diden’t you notice that man wears the Golden Party Badge ?” The political leader had no other choice than going back to the desk and wait for his turn in the queue just like all the other people.

The story ends with the fact that, even before the war was over, Waldeck laid down his Golden Party Badge and smashed it to dust with a sledge hammer.

Source: Text based on local testemonies of people who knowed him personal and the documents of his son Siegfried

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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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22.

Nazi mayor, GPB wearer and hard-liner of Meldorf: Ferdinand Diekmann


On May 11, 1945 a delegation of men from different political background came together in the wine store of Herr Friedrich Jansen. The wanted to discuss the future of their city now the war has comes to an end. One of the problems the had to deal with was that of nazi mayor Ferdinand Diekmann. Diekmann, a NSDAP hard-liner and wearer of the Golden Party Badge, was still in function and refused to accept the changed situation.
However, on May 15, a small delegation of man walked to the city hall in an attempt to talk common sense into Diekmann. The found him in the garden behind the building. A certain man –Friedrich Jansen- took word and demanded Dietmann to lay down by the new facts and to give up his title of mayor of Meldorf. As a reply Dietmann grabbed his gun and fired twice to Jansen. The poor man was heavy wounded. His companions run away and warned the city guard. One of them, Heinrich Kammrath, took a rifle and went to the city hall. He also received a warm welcome of gun fire. Heinrich replied the fire and shoot the mayor a bullet through the head and so the last resistance came to its end. Unfortunately it caused the also the life of Friedrich Jansen who died from his injuries 4 days later. One of the many unnecessary deaths in the final stage of war. Or in this case: even after the war. After this terrible incident there were still some troubles in this city. British tanks were stationed in the city for a while to let the German population feel they were definetly defeaded and resistance was not an option.

The pictures showing Dietmann, Jansen and a city map of Meldorf located in North Germany

(source: based on the info sites of the city of Meldorf)


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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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23.



The Golden Party Badge of Emil Maurice?

Pictured below is the possible Golden Party Badge of one of the earliest Party members, Emil Maurice. He was number “39” of the Party and member number “2” of the SS. Maurice was Hitler’s driver and personal body guard and spent his time with him in the prison of Landsberg. Maurice stayed one of Hitler’s closest friends until he made the mistake of starting an affair with his boss’ favourite niece Geli Raubel.
This 24mm Golden Party Badge coming from an entire group of personal belongings of Maurice and is the start of many controversies in the collectors world. Big problem is that the badge in almost every detail differs from what we normally would expect of a 24 mm Deschler Badge. The reliable story speaks in favourite for the badge, its manufacturing characteristics just the opposite.

The Third Reich related personal belongings of Emil Maurice were almost destroyed by his family. One of his sons is an Orthodox Jew and it is quit logic he wanted to get rid of his fathers Nazi – things. His other son preferred to keep them in the family. Finaly the decided to sell them. The group of belongings came not on the open market. They were bought by one man and came then directly in hands of advanced collector, Bob Coleman. Besides the Golden Party Badge the group consisted also an extreme rare predecessor of the Blood Order, the so called Stosstruppe Blutorder (see picture).

The originality of this Golden Party Badge is very difficult to tell. Because it was in the group it has some positive proof and maybe there are things we still don’t know and still have to discover. However it is advisable -and the opinion of most GPB experts- never to buy a badge with this characteristics when it not comes directly from an unaltered source.




The link to this thread: http://worldwarmilitaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1733


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Regards, Wim :)

[Erich S]

Another interesting fact was that he was at least part Jewish.

[Wim Vangossum]

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24.


The Deschler 24mm Golden Party Badge; a study in pictures







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Regards, Wim :)

[StephenL]

Nice series of photos, Wim.

I often see that the vent hole nicks the pinplate on the smaller badges, giving an insight into how they were assembled (ie: the pinplate is put on before the hole is drilled).

[Wim Vangossum]

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25.



Wearing of the Golden Party Badge.


According to regulations the large Golden Party Badge had to be worn just in the middle of the left breast pocket of a uniform. This uniform could be one of the many that were in use by all kind of organisations during that period.
The small variant was intended for wear on civilian cloths. It was forbidden to wear it on a coat neither to wear it next to a Traditions Gau Abzeichen.

(Source: 1937 Organisationsbuch der NSDAP – posted by Stephen)


These regulations were negotiated many times. Period pictures exist from persons who wear the large GPB on the tie or on a collar tab or wear both badges together.
The following link shows different styles of wear:
http://worldwarmilitaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=373

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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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26.


The large Deschler Golden Party Badge with military style pin (broad version), a study in pictures...


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Regards, Wim :)

[RaymondG]

It ia a wonderfully informative thread that is of interest to new and old collectors alike. Thanks for all the input and I hope others can add any facts and figures about the GPB

Raymond

[Wim Vangossum]

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27.


The Golden Party Badge (honour version) with tab attachment

Not all the Golden Party badges used a safetypin or a military style pin for attachment. Besides the many private modifications, done by the owners themselves or by local jewelers, there was one official alternative: a button hole tab back.
Pictured are two Deschler badges 30mm and 24 mm with such a device.

(Many thanks to Stan for his pictures and also thanks to Stephen for his GPB website were I based my text on)

__________________________________________________ ________

Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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28.


Golden Party Badge Lists

Finding the name that's connected to the Golden party Badge(s) in your collection is not always easy. Lucky enough there are some dedicated researchers spending their time in the archives to find things out. Pictured below is the front page of an original GPB list. The title says: The Wearers of the Golden Party badge of the NSDAP in the Gau Hessen-Nassau.
The second picture is an example of a page with names and corresponding numbers. On top stays, from left to right: Memberschip number - family name & first name - place of living - street - date of joining.

( With special thanks to reseacher Ross Kelbaugh www.ssdaggers.com , www.ss-numbers.com )

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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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29.


An overview at thus far...

Post #1………………( Numbers 1 to 4 ) A few facts…
Post #1………………( Number 5 ) Manufacturers of the Golden Party badge.
Post #1………………( Number 6 ) Richard Wendler’s GPB.
Post #1………………( Number 7 ) Josef Bauer’s GPB.
Post #2………………( Number 8 & 9 ) Nicknames.
Post #6………………( - ) The “AH” Honour Golden Party Badge
Post #7………………( Number 7 ) The Bechstein Family
Post #8, 9, 10 &11…..( Number 11 ) A dangerous Fuess fake
Post #12……………..( Number 12 ) Adam Klinger lost his Golden Party Badge.
Post #13……………..( Number 13 ) Bad behaviour of GPB wearer Toni Lehner.
Post #14……………..( Number 14 ) The materials used for manufacturing the GPB.
Post #15……………..( Number 15 ) A small part of the interrogation of A. Speer.
Post #16……………..( Number 16 ) Fuess Golden Party Badge made of real gold?
Post #20……………..( Number 17 ) The burned bodies of Magda and Joseph Goebbels.
Post #23……………..( Number18 ) Rotograving.
Post #28……………..( Number 19 ) Gregor Strasser.
Post #32,33 & 34…( - ) Fake Rotograved Badges.
Post #38……………..( Number 20 ) Hitlers’ Golden Party Badge.
Post #41……………..( Number 21 ) I guess we never will find the GPB of
Karl Waldek
Post #42……………..( Number 22 ) Nazi Mayor, GPB wearer and hard-liner of Meldorf
Ferdinand Diekmann.
Post #43……………..( Number 23 ) The Golden Party badge of Emil Maurice?
Post #45……………..( Number 24 ) The Deschler 24mm GPB; a study in pictures.
Post #47……………..( Number 25 ) Wearing of the Golden Party Badge.
Post #48……………..( Number 26 ) The large Deschler GPB with military style pin; a study in pictures.
Post #50……………..( Number 27 ) The GPB (honour version) with tab attachment.
Post # 51…………….( Number 28 ) The Golden Party Badge Lists.


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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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30.

The man who refused the Golden Party Badge (Honour) Award.


This is a small part of an interrogation of Herman Göring on 18 March 1946 concerning the awarding of the Honour version of the GPB to members of the Cabinet.


Dr Kraus: I should like to deal with another series of questions. Were you present at the meeting of the Reich Cabinet on 30 January 1937, during which Hitler gave the Golden Party Emblem to those members of the Cabinet who were not members of the Party, among them also Herr Von Neurath?
Göring: Yes, I was present.
Dr Kraus: And do you know that Hitler declared on this occasion that it was purely a distinction such as the conferring of an order, and that the gentlemen concerned did not thereby become Party members and had no obligations toward the Party?
Göring: I would not put it just that way. The Führer was speaking spontaneously, since it was the anniversary of the seizure of power, and he said it was his intention in this way to show his confidence in those members of the Reich Cabinet who did not belong to the Party. I believe he used the words, "I should like to ask them to accept this Party Emblem." He said at the time that in his opinion this was a decoration and that he intended, as he actually did later, to develop additional grades of this decoration. The first grade of this decoration was to be the Golden Party Emblem. Then, on the spur of the moment, he stepped up to the various ministers and handed them this emblem. In doing so he neither emphasized that they were thereby to consider themselves members of the Party, nor did he emphasize that they were not Party members. When he came to Herr Von Eltz-Rubenach, this gentleman asked whether he was thereby obliged to stand for the partly anti-clerical tendency of certain Party circles, or something to that effect. The Führer hesitated for a minute and said, "Then you do not wish to accept it?" Whereupon Herr Von Eltz said, "I do not wish to say that. I just wish to make a certain reservation." The Führer was taken aback; immediately he turned around and left the cabinet room. In this connection it is not correct, as has been maintained, that Herr Von Eltz resigned voluntarily because of this. I followed the Fuehrer immediately and felt, as did all the other gentlemen, that this incident was an insult to the Führer, since membership in the Party had not been mentioned at all. In addition, and this is very important, the Fuehrer was already considering a plan to divide the Ministry of Transport and to re-establish the old Post Ministry and to put the railroad expert Dorpmuller into the Ministry of Transport. The Fuehrer had told me this previously and, as he had left it to me to tell Von Eltz about it gradually, in a diplomatic way, I took this opportunity and went to Herr Von Eltz and said: "Your behaviour was impossible, and I think the only thing for you to do is to resign at once." He said, "I did not mean it like that," and he was not willing to hand in his resignation right away. I then asked him abruptly to do so by that evening. I also sent State Secretary Meissner to him to say it would be advisable for him to leave the Cabinet, and hand in his resignation immediately, especially in view of -- and then I gave the explanations concerning the post and railroads as I have just given them. That was what happened at that conference with regard to the Golden Party Emblem.




I also found this English translation of a letter written by von Eltz-Rubenach to Adolf Hitler dated at the same day of the meeting.
This letter reads as follows:


"I thank you for the confidence you have placed in me during the four years of your leadership and for the honor you do me in offering to admit me to the party. My conscience forbids me however to accept this offer. I believe in the principles of positive Christianity and must remain faithful to my Lord and to myself. Party membership however would mean that I should have to face without contradiction the steadily aggravating attacks by party offices on the Christian confessions and those who want to remain faithful to their religious convictions.
"This decision has been infinitely difficult for me. For never in my life have I performed my duty with greater joy and satisfaction than under your wise state leadership.
"I ask to be permitted to resign.



"With German greetings
Yours very obediently, "(signed)
Baron v. Eltz"



Paul von Eltz-Rubenach, Reichsminister of Post and Traffic couldn't keep his job, had many troubles with the Gestapo, lost his pension for a while because his wife layed down her mother cross and he finally died on 25 August 1943 in Linz am Rhein.

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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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31.


The Golden Party Badge in the book “The Book Hitler”



“The book Hitler” was written between 1948 and 1949 by the Russians under the authority of Luitenant-Colonel Fjodor Karpovitsj Paparov just for the pleasure of one man, Josef Stalin. It was based on the intensive interrogations of two men, Otto Günsche and Heinz Linge, who were always very close and loyal to Hitler; even until his last days of his life in the Führerbunker.


The following facts about the Golden Party Badge are mentioned in this book:


The head of the Polizeicommando, Peter Högl (NSDAP Nr. 328992 and SS Nr. 249998) received the honour version of the Golden Party Badge for his interrogations of the Juli, 20 conspirators.

Hitler bestowed the Austrian born General Lothar Rendulic with the hounor version of the Golden Party Badge for his endlles loyalty to the National Socialism.

He also bestowed the honour Golden Party Badge to his controversial medical doctor Theodor Morell.


At 6 o’ clock in the morning of April the 29, intensive Russian artillerie fire rained down on the Berlin governmental area. Heavy bombs exploded on top of Hitler’s bunker. Hitler woke up immediately and went to Joseph Goebbels room. In the room he found also the just arrived wife of the little “ propaganda doctor”. She was in a terrible panic due to the heavy bombing. Hitler send one of his guards to Linge with the command to remove his Golden Party badge of his jacket. Linge brought the badge to Hitler and he in turn bestowed his badge to Frau Goebbels with the words that he praised her for her valiant behaviour.


When Bormann and Linge entered the private room after the suicide they saw the dead Führer who wore his grey coloured military overcoat with fixed Golden Party Badge, Iron Cross First Class and black wound badge.



__________________________________________________ ________


Regards, Wim :)

[Kyle Harrington]

Wim,
With regard to Lieslotte Bechstein her GPB number is 94.
Regards Kyle

[Wim Vangossum]

Many thanks, Kyle. Much appreciated.:thumbup1:

Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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32.


A 24mm Deschler Golden Party Badge without party membership number


This genuine 24mm Descher Golden Party Badge never received a party membership number. Although this paticular badge was worn and received at a certain moment a replacement pin. The traces of the original pin are still visible.

Source: Jason

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Regards, Wim :)

[TxGauleiter]

"The Party's insignia in gold ought to be superior to any distinction granted by the State. The Party distinctions cannot be awarded to a stranger. When I see a man wearing the Blutorden I know that here is somebody who has paid with his own person (wounds or years of imprisonment)."

-A Hitler
Hitler's Table Talk
2nd printing, 2000
page 120

[Wim Vangossum]

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33.



The Golden Party Badges in the book "Hitler's dead"


I bought this interesting book yesterday. It's filled with repeating testimonies of people close to Hitler about the circumstances of his dead and those of Eva Braun and the Goebbels family. It even includes all the dental describtions and research on the bodies. However, I only want to show the few pictures of Golden Party Badges that are shown in this book. The quality of the pictures is low but the first one I can identify as a good Deschler badge by its specific lettering.
It also makes clear that there were several GPB's found by the Russians. What always comes back is the fact that both Joseph Goebbels and Magda wore a GPB at the moment they commited suicide. And that several uniforms of Hitler were found, probably all with a GPB on it.

ISBN number of this book is: 1-904449-13-1

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Regards, Wim :)

[Wim Vangossum]

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34.


Replaced pins on Golden Party Badges.


The safety pin was a very weak point on Golden Party Badges. That's why so many are found with all kinds of replacements pins. For example this 24mm Jos Fuess GPB attributed to Herbert Rehwagen shows one of those variants.


Regards, Wim :)

(Source: with thanks to Jason)
__________________________________________________ ________

[Wim Vangossum]

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35.


The 24 mm Jos Fuess Golden Party Badge; a study in pictures



Here are a few close -up pictures of an original 24mm Jos Fuess Golden Party Badge. However keep in mind that the reverse of this example was cleaned which create a shiny appereance normally not encountered on most others. The lady who brought this one to a Munich antique shop expected to see real gold that was too muted! So she decided to clean it up a bit :blink:

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[peteras]

Is there any book or list that gives the names of the first 100.000 members?

[StephenL]

The short answer is no. There is no composite list of the first 100,000 members or the 22,000+ GPB awardees. It was either destroyed in 1945 or is yet to be discovered in some archive of wartime records. NSDAP membership records exist as individual card files, but not well organized or accessible.

Small lists appear from time to time, and many people have tried to recreate a list from them (like the SS Seniority Lists, or some local party lists), but most GPB lists stall at about 5000-10000 names, and then they seem to be jealously guarded by some of their creators.

If you think about it, even with 50 names to a page, the book with the first 100,000 NSDAP members would be 2000 pages!

[Erich S]

Most of the researchers use Gau lists to put numbers to names.

[Wim Vangossum]

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36.


Matched pair of The Golden Party Badge with a brooch pin


Showed below is a matched pair of the Golden Party Badge with a seldom-seen costumized brooch-type attachment. The first two picture shows the front an reverse of the large 30mm Deschler Badge. The last pictures the front and reverse of a 24mm Jos Fuess.

With a special thanks to forum member, John

Regards, Wim :)


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[Jo_Rivett]

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25.
Wearing of the Golden Party Badge.
It was forbidden to wear it on a coat neither to wear it next to a Traditions Gau Abzeichen.
http://worldwarmilitaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=373

__________________________________________________ ________


Regards, Wim :)
Hi Wim,
This is actually an Order that came through from Bormann through Hitler. His reason for this, was simply that he did not like anyone wearing too many madals/awards at the same time.
If you have the Detlev #3 catalog, turn to page 546. There is a photo of a Luft officer wearing 30 awards all at once !!!!!
(The footnote from Detlev states that this guy awarded all these to himself after the war, and that he only actually ever won the EKII)!!!! funny :-)

[History-buff1944]

I hope you guys will forgive this newcomers ignorance on Golden Party Badges but-is there a list of peoples names available anywhere of those who got this award?

Reason why im asking is because I know a person who has two of these badges and is wanting to get rid of one of them-which I am hoping to get if affordable? I do not know what numbers are on his badges because we have not discussed that yet nor have I been able to stop by his house in order to view them.

Any help on locating a list of names would be helpful. Thank you for your time.

[StephenL]

Hi Buff,

Welcome to the forum.

The short answer is no - there is no complete list of who the 22,000+ Gold Party Badges belonged to (see my post #63 above). There are several partial lists that private collectors have painstakingly put together, but I would estimate that 2/3rds to 3/4s of the numbers are still unknown. None of the lists are published, so the best you can do is put your number up here and see if anyone has a match. There are also private researchers who will look through the microfilm card indexes or original NSDAP records (for a fee) to see if they can find it (not as easy as you think as the files are not well organized).

If you have a number, you can post it in this thread: http://www.worldwarmilitaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141

Maybe you'll get lucky.

Also, you would be well advised to post good photos of any badge before you buy it - this area is a minefield of fakes (see also: http://www.worldwarmilitaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=192).

[Jo_Rivett]

I hope you guys will forgive this newcomers ignorance on Golden Party Badges but-is there a list of peoples names available anywhere of those who got this award?
time.
The Dienstaltersliste der SS, See example pic below) list names, ranks, membership numbers and GPB recipients.. but only within the SS of course. So if the recipient was in the SS, then the chances of finding out his name/number through consulting these lists are good. Otherwise, you could ask someone. Jamie Cross has a List on his website, of known GPB recipients other than just SS, so have a look at that, and if you find your number there, it would be worthwhile paying him the few pennies he asks in order to find out who it was.
Here i sthe link to his site. Scroll down and look in the left colum.
►►►http://www.thirdreichmedals.com/
26908

[Wim Vangossum]

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37.


Wilhelm Frick's Golden Party badge in American museum




Wilhelm Frick born on March 12, 1876 and died (executed) on October 16, 1946 was one of the important people around Hitler.
Wilhelm Frick became Germany’s minister of the Interior in 1933. After some struggling with Himmler he lost this position in 1943. Then he was appointed as Protector of Bohemia and Moravia. He held this post until the end of war. Frick was found guilty at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trail and sentenced to death on October 1, 1946. His execution took place about two weeks later on October 16, 1946.

His Golden Party Badge, together with a few other belonging came into the hands of the American veteran, Robert Pasley who arrested Frick. The family of this WWII veteran donated the Golden Party Badge together with the original award document (Besitzurkunde) to the Iowa Gold Star museum at camp Dodge. The reverse of this party badge is marked with Frick’s very low NSDAP number “10”.

__________________________________________________ ________


Regards, Wim :)

[George Stimson]

Is there any chance of getting a closer look at Frick's badge?

[Wim Vangossum]

Here's a link to the story, George. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090809/NEWS03/908090332&theme=CARLSON
But we have to consider that it is only one of his GPB's that survived the war. I googled a while to find a picture of Frick wearing a GPB but without any luck

Regards, Wim :)

[George Stimson]

Thanks, Wim!

[Erich S]

The only photos that I have seen of Frick he's wearing the 24mm on his uniform lapel and not the 30mm in the usual location.

[der-hase-fee]

This one would go along very well: http://www.craiggottlieb.com/data/inspect.asp?Item=2732&Filter=Gallery&Name=Blood+Order+Set%2C+1st+Pattern%2C+to+Wilhelm+ Frick

[Wim Vangossum]

This one would go along very well: http://www.craiggottlieb.com/data/inspect.asp?Item=2732&Filter=Gallery&Name=Blood+Order+Set%2C+1st+Pattern%2C+to+Wilhelm+ Frick

I also noticed Frick's Blutorden on Craig's site. :001_tt1:

Regards, Wim :)

[BOB COLEMAN]

A little over a year ago, one of Frick's white double breasted tunics was found in Ohio. The only insignia on it was the standard kampfbinde. It was tailor made with a name tag in the pocket. It supposedly came out of the Obersalzburg area. Possibly these items came from the same vet. The tunic was offered to me. However, I declined as the asking price was more than I would consider paying.

[der-hase-fee]

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16. On January 2, 1934 the Honour version of the Golden Party Badge was bestowed to female party member Hermine Hoffmann. The award was engraved “2.I.1934” and “Adolf Hitler”. It was also stamped Jos Fuess and ‘585’. It had a long needle system wit a security lock on its reverse. When this prized collectible changes hands, this Golden Party Badge together with the large version, is accompanied with a copy of a letter written by Erwin Fuess back in 1972. In this letter Herr Erwin Fuess claimed that both the large and the small party badge were made in the Fuess House and that on Hitler’s special demand were made of 585 gold.

( Source: A German site. Fact or fantas?y: At least the bestowal of the award seems to be traced in the Bavarian Archives)


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Regards, Wim :)

Had anyone ever posted the pictures ? Not sure I like the look of the obverse ...

[der-hase-fee]

Had anyone ever posted the pictures ? Not sure I like the look of the obverse ...

Doesn't this one look quite similar to Emil Maurice's (#39) ? But the wreath, that is.

http://174.133.221.235/forum/showthread.php?t=1733

[Mike Peters]

There's that fake disk again ..that's showing up on some high end "named" GPB's lately isn't it. :001_rolleyes:

I know I know ..someone's bound to say - " Mr Fuess made a special set of Dies for these special GPB's that were only given to special people"

guess that makes it special

Here's a real Fuess ...look at the Fonts. the H , I , shape of the "S"

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff54/MilitaryChef/DSC01004.jpg

and here's the (fake) stickpin for comparison --

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff54/MilitaryChef/fakefuess.jpg

[Mike Peters]

They really tried to copy the wreath ...no Cigar though

[Wim Vangossum]

They really tried to copy the wreath ...no Cigar though

Indeed. but they make bad work of the lettering. :001_cool:

Regards, Wim :)

[der-hase-fee]

Somebody spend 4,200 Euro and then some for fees on Hermine's Ehrenzeichen ! And that at an auctioneer like Hermann Historica. I am stunned.

[Mike Peters]

Somebody spend 4,200 Euro and then some for fees on Hermine's Ehrenzeichen ! And that at an auctioneer like Hermann Historica. I am stunned.

That's a shame ...
I would like to know the story behind the Fuess Letter . Either that's a complete fake as well or Mr Fuess was paid for the letter ...or at his age he really didn't remember .
You'd think a craftsman like Fuess would have recognized his own work even after 50+ years so , maybe he was well paid to sign it.

Anyone check the dates to see if it was signed after he died ?

[der-hase-fee]

That's a shame ...

Anyone check the dates to see if it was signed after he died ?

No picture of the letter, but straight from the description:

Quote: With the copy of a confirmation by Erwin Fuess in 1972 to the former owner of the party badge on the manufacture of both the big and small versions of the badge in Fuess's jewellery store, as well as a letter of information by Erwin Fuess of the same date referring to Hermine Hoffmann (transl. "well-known in our house") and the two golden party badges, which were (transl.) "made of gold ... by explicit order of Hitler". Both letters with the heading "Jos. Fuess München". Unquote

And his heirs are still having that business: http://www.pointoo.de/poi/Muenchen/Erwin-Fuess-Soehne-476377.html

[Mike Peters]

It’s a little strange that Erwin didn’t keep the original “Josef Fuess” company name …I just did a “Gargle” search and found the Erwin Fuess Jewelers in Munchen. I could not find anything about "Jos Fuess" post war.

Now ..that makes me wonder if or when the original Company closed and exactly who Erwin is. I could not find any Family History or History of the Family Business . If he was Fuess’s son and a child during the War, how would he know or remember what markings were used and what was made for who ? That casts more of a shadow on this whole story.

[der-hase-fee]

Not much to be found on Josef Fuess'es family.

Paul Bruppacher reports Josef and his wife joining the party May 1st, 1920. And in August - in close cooperation with Hitler - he designed the party badge based on the new swastika banner.

Also, per another source, Frau Fuess (and Eugenie "Jenny" Haug) sewed the swastika flags and armbands designed by Hitler and Herr Fuess in the early days.

But that's about it.

[Wim Vangossum]

Not much to be found on Josef Fuess'es family.

Paul Bruppacher reports Josef and his wife joining the party May 1st, 1920. And in August - in close cooperation with Hitler - he designed the party badge based on the new swastika banner.

Also, per another source, Frau Fuess (and Eugenie "Jenny" Haug) sewed the swastika flags and armbands designed by Hitler and Herr Fuess in the early days.

But that's about it.


It's more then I ever found. It has been always one of my interests who designed the first party pin. I only came across a little mentioning about Fuess made by Hitler in his book "Mein kampf". A few yers back I tried to find more about Fuess on the net but without much result. Only that there are more then one Fuess jeweller family works in Munich today.

Regards, Wim :)

[Richard Kimmel]

As a novice on these GPB's ... what was the metal type used in their construction?

FOUND MY ANSWER

[Erich S]

As a novice on these GPB's ... what was the metal type used in their construction?

FOUND MY ANSWER

Hi Richard, it's brass.

[bingo1]

Thanks for pointing things out, Stephen :)



_____________________________________-

12. Party member 68.393, Adam Klinger was one of the many victims of a failing safety pin on his 24mm Golden party badge. Probably due to several fixing on clothes and taken it back off, the pins often broken off. Adam lost his badge on a commuter train in Breslau-Kassel. The award was found and send back to Munich headquarters with a letter dated 3 April 1944:

“The accompanying Golden Party badge № 68.393 was found by a captain Hanno Paetzhold of Wetzlar, Brülsbachstreet in the D-train Breslau-Kassel”

From Munich the Badge was send back to it's owner.

(Source: somewere on the net but lost :001_unsure:)


_____________________________________-

Regards, Wim :)

Earlier Pg. Adam Klinger was an Ortsgruppenleiter and later a Kreisamtsleiter in Gau Hessen-Nassau.

[der-hase-fee]

Earlier Pg. Adam Klinger was an Ortsgruppenleiter and later a Kreisamtsleiter in Gau Hessen-Nassau.

And there were two more Klingers, Philip and Georg, with the numbers right before and after respectively. They joined Oct. 6, 1927.

[Wim Vangossum]

Cool detective work! :thumbup1:

Regards, Wim

[der-hase-fee]

... Most of the examples of this fake badge that have shown up have repeated numbers on the back - "33333" ...

Here it is ! Pictures I saved on my HD on 2009-10-23.

[dernemi]

hi,
is anything known about the number 8744?
the badge is offerd to me, but i am not sure if it is fake or not.
will post picture in different thread.
regards,
nemi