1943 AH GPBs-Production & Delivery

[bingo1]

While reading some of the NARA GPB material, I noticed an interesting time fram for the awarding of the 1943 A.H. honorary GPBs. The request for candidates was made from the Partei-Kanzlei the first week of January 1943 with a deadline of January 15th for submissions. From documentation available, the pair of badges to each recipient were actually sent by registered mail from Berlin on the 27th, for presentation on the 30th in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Coming to Power. A teletype message was also sent on the 29th to advise each responsible party, Reichsleiter, Gauleiter and so forth, of the shipment of the badges for presentation.

According to my calculations, there were 388 recipients in 1943 that required a total of 776 badges, large and small, that needed respective engraving. Everything was done in Berlin from the documentation available. So the Partei-Kanzlei had ordered a sufficient supply of both size GPBs to have on hand in order to have a turnaround of less than two weeks to have all properly engraved and packaged for shipment. One wonders if those in 1943 were from a large supply requested years earlier to begin the A.H. presentations?

In the first week in February, RL Schwarz's office was notified of the names of these recipients, requested to provide membership to all those non-NSDAP members and finally ordered to provide each recipient with the proper Besitzurkunde. Although the decision was made not to award any of these GPBs in 1944, one must wonder if there were any loose ones in the Kanzlei when the Russians arrived?

[Erich S]

Thanks for the info Joe, so if I'm reading this right, if you were a non party member and was awarded the HB you automatically became a member?

[bingo1]

The request to Schwarz's office, Amt f. Mitgliedschaftswesen, included these sentences:
Gleichfalls bitte ich, bei denjenigen Persönlichkeiten, die noch nicht der NSDAP angehören sollten, die Aufnahme veranlassen zu wollen.

Zur Vervollständigung meiner Liste wäre ich dankbar, wenn Sie mir die Mitgliedsnummern der auf meiner Liste verzeichneten Personen mitteilen würden.

For this issue badge, I am presuming instant membership if Bormann's office asked for it.

[bingo1]

Apparently there is some issue with my statement about the 1944 letter. Patzwall in his A.H. GPB book reports that both Donitz and Rendulic received AH badges in January 1944.
I must look at that letter again. Perhaps it was dated after the award of these badges and referred only to further awards in 1944.

[der-hase-fee]

We have seen a few examples of "unnumbered" badges. Maybe those are "undated" instead. There is no doubt in my mind that a stash - or even multiple - was kept somewhere, not only for HB's. Whether large initial supply or continuously/occasionally replenished would need to be substantiated with respective contemporary documentation.

[bingo1]

Apparently there is some issue with my statement about the 1944 letter. Patzwall in his A.H. GPB book reports that both Donitz and Rendulic received AH badges in January 1944.
I must look at that letter again. Perhaps it was dated after the award of these badges and referred only to further awards in 1944.

Sorry for the error. The notice from the Party Chancellory was dated 31.3.1944 but only concerned the awarding of A.H. GPBs for 20.4.1944.

[Erich S]

Andreas, that is my thought regarding the roto- engraved badges as well. I think that they were unnumbered until an order was placed.

[bingo1]

In Patzwall's book there is also mention of a behind-the-scenes business arrangement between Schwarz and the Deschler firm. Has anyone else read of this?

[John Pepera]

I believe that we have two separate issues here concerning unnumbered badges. It is well acknowledged that unnumbered badges have been found however, badges having roto-engraved numerals is a different issue. Badges having roto-engraved numbers had numbers previously impressed and subsequently ground away.

I have to take exception to the statement that 'roto-engraved' badges were unnumbered until needed which in practice would be obvious as in all badges.

Every badge that I have and have observed having roto-engraved numerals had the lower portion (below pin plate) of the reverse of the planchet ground as in the process for the removal of a previous number.

I am not certain of the reason for the removal of these previous numbers be it for reissue purposes or from an ineligible or disqualified member or for whatever reason.

Respectfully,

John Pepera

[Erich S]

John, another theory is that these badges were already produced as blank replacement badges and were Jeweler engraved and the sanding lines were done to remove the rough metal shavings after the engraving. I personally believe this theory.

[Br. James]

Friends,

This stimulating conversation about renumbering GPBs causes me to wonder about the look of such a badge. Having never seen one but imagining how it would look to have "the lower portion (below pin plate) of the reverse of the planchet ground as in the process for the removal of a previous number," given the depth of the original number placement being removed, wouldn't this grinding-off of the previous number create a significant step-down appearance to the reverse of the badge? And how would the lower portion and the new number be gilded in order to evenly match the original finish of the rest of the reverse and perhaps even the side of the badge...without being glaringly obvious? Many thanks for your further input!

Br. James

[John Pepera]

Erich,

I've never heard of the other thoughts or theories as you say or is this your personal theory? If as you say, these type of badges having the resulting grind marks or as you say, sanding lines, then why are these sand lines only below the pin plate and after the procedure of the attachment of the pin plate? Also as I said above, why are these grind-sand marks only on badges having the roto-engraving style of numeral attachment?

I'm not sure of what you are saying about the badges being manufactured as blanks in preparation for jeweler engraving. Weren't all badges produced as blanks and awaiting the application of their assigned numerals? I am also not sure what you are referring to about "after the jeweler engraved and then sanded to remove the rough metal shavings" Are you saying that the blank planchet was made then gilded then the face or the pin attached (or vice versa) then the numerals were engraved and then the jeweler sanded the reverse and the sanding took place prior to the application of the numerals? I'm confused with your comments.

However and as you know, theories and misgivings can be promulgated and one can believe what they want. We are all deserved of our opinions where myself, I believe that all of the badges having roto-engraved numerals (a term that I adopted) were originally engraved with a different number and for whatever reason or needed purpose these badges were returned to a jeweler for removal and the resulting grinding off of the original number and a new roto-engraved number applied as per regulation.

John

[John Pepera]

Brother James,

There is in fact a declining dimensional difference (step down) on the lower, reverse planchet portion relative to the depth of these badges in discussion as ever so slight and considering the fractional depth of these numerals. There is also visual evidence (not an obvious glaring difference) of regilding on the lower portion of the planchet to include the edge and again, ever so slight.

However, the fact remains there are badges as in this discussion having had their original numbers removed and thereafter a new number engraved.

Brother James, addressing the reason rather the effects, what is your take on the reason for the actions on these badges?

John

[Erich S]

John, you may be correct but like Br. James it seems that the depth of the stamp numbering would make it near impossible to remove without detection. The theory that I stated came after a discussion that I had with Steve Wolfe a few years ago about these engraved badges. Again, just a theory!

[der-hase-fee]

Badges having roto-engraved numbers had numbers previously impressed and subsequently ground away.

I have to take exception to the statement that 'roto-engraved' badges were unnumbered until needed which in practice would be obvious as in all badges.

Every badge that I have and have observed having roto-engraved numerals had the lower portion (below pin plate) of the reverse of the planchet ground as in the process for the removal of a previous number.

I am not certain of the reason for the removal of these previous numbers be it for reissue purposes or from an ineligible or disqualified member or for whatever reason.

Respectfully,

John Pepera

That is a most interesting observation, John. I'll need to go check.

[Br. James]

Dear John,

Thanks very much for your detailed responses. As to your question -- "what is your take on the reason for the actions on these badges?" -- this has me frankly stymied since the release of each individual GPB was as tightly controlled by the Treasurer's Office as it was! As I understand it, application was made through each Gauamt and payment was collected and passed along to Munich in the same way, so there should be no reason why anyone legally holding one or more GPBs would need to have a local jeweler work on a badge, except in the case where the pin system needed to be replaced. And I would think that anyone caught changing a numbered badge could find himself taking a long vacation at that "holiday spa" in the Munich suburb named Dachau! So doing would be tantamount to forgery, as I see it, and that would not be taken lightly by the Reichschatzmeister! Wearing or even possessing a GPB with a forged number on the reverse would be a major offense, plus the fact that that person would also have to forge the Besitzurkunde, as well.

I am wondering whether there was any requirement that a GPB had to be returned to the Treasurer's Office in the case of the death of the original holder? I believe we do know that in cases where a GPB holder lost his/her NSDAP membership for some reason, revoked because of criminal action or allowing one's dues to lapse, that the Treasurer's Office demanded the return of the badge(s) held by that individual. In such cases, there would be a number of returned badges returned into the Treasurer's hands, and perhaps in such cases they might have been reissued with a new number...? Just a question, really... But in the end, it would probably be easier to simply order new badges from Deschler or the Fuess manufacturer when orders came in; otherwise, reissuing renumbered badges would seem to call into question the status of the new recipient...almost like a 'second-class member!' These are just some thoughts on a fascinating subject; I certainly don't pretend to have the answer!

Thanks again for your expertise, John.

Br. James

[Erich S]

Again, I don't think that these badges were renumbered but rather were finished pieces in stock and when an order came in they were sent to a jeweler by Deschler for engraving and then sent to the recipient. We see a lot of this style badge in collections etc and it doesn't make sense to me that they were all returned to be renumbered. JMO!:confused:

[bingo1]

Br. James, GPB owners could be required to return badges for disciplinary reasons. The owner of my badge #98085, Willy Kőhler, was on April 1, 1941 found guilty by the Kreisgleiter and expelled from the party for abusing his rank and sexually harassing at neighbor, but because of his position as a Gold Party Badge holder, the Kreisleiter’s decision was reversed by the Kreisgericht and Kőhler was sentenced to three years probation from the party and required to return his Gold Party badges and Besitzurkunde for this time.

Perhaps the Moderator would modifiy the title of this thread and remove the reference to A.H. badges, as we are now discussing the numbering of regular GPBs. But we do know that when the order came from on high, blank GPBs were sent to Berlin for dispensing by the Boss.

[bingo1]

Photos would be of great help here John to understand your description.