Monday 30 September 2013

Front Line Soldiers Badge.


Front Line Soldiers Badge.

Instituted on. October 1943
Rarity – Very Rare.
Known Makers – Unmarked, silver content 830 s.

 

Front Line Soldiers Badge - silver - Obverse.
 
Front Line Soldiers Badge - silver - Reverse.

 
Front Line Soldiers Badge - Zink - Obverse.
 
 

Front Line Soldiers Badge - Zink - Reverse.

This award was designed, by Harald Damsleth, and comprises of a six sided badge measuring 43.5 mm by 34 mm.  It has a border with a 1 mm edge line to either side and a width of 6 mm.  The field between the tram lines is slightly convexed and on to this is superimposed, in raised sham runic script, 'FRONTKJEMPER', which translates to, Front Line Fighter.  The lower portion has nine pellets separated by eight parallel lines, placed on opposing diagonals.  At the centre is a Viking warrior, with his feet resting on the bottom edge line.  He holds a sword above his head pointing horizontally to the viewer's right and across his body he holds a shield bearing the sun cross. 

The reverse is flat with a slight dip behind the shield.  It has a barrel hinge, narrow flat pin and 'C' form hook soldered directly to the body of the badge. 

There are three forms of the badge.  One is produced in white metal that is artificially patinated and believed to have been produced in Germany.  The other form is produced in silver that is, likewise, artificially patinated, the silver content 830 s being stamped on the reverse. This type was produced in Norway. The third is a form produced in zinc, again produced in Norway. Most collectors in Norway thought the zinc version was made in 1947, and sold to those SS members who had lost their badge during the war or taken by soldiers of the resistance movement. But now there has been found papers from the Norwegian “Riks arkiv”, that states the badge in zinc was made during March 1945. In March 1945 Bjørn Noreger, Head of the Front Fighters Office ordered 2000 Front Fighters Badges in zinc in order to distribute them to the members who had lost their badges due to different reasons as stock of the silver badges were now unavailable. The Front Fighters Office decided to replace them with cheaper badges made in zinc. The job was assigned to the jewellery company Brilliant Ltd in Torggata 34. At first the company produced 1000 badges at 7.50 Norwegian Crown per badge. As the Front Fighters Office was latter invoiced for 2000 badges in total, it may be assumed that the other 1000 badges were produced by the same Company.

The jewellery company supplied the Front Fighters Office with the first 1000 badges on 24th March 1945. On 27th March 1945 Noreger sent a letter to the Minister Presidents Office explaining the reason for replacing the silver badges with zinc ones, a sample of the zinc badge and the invoice from the jewellery company were enclosed with the letter. The Minister President Vidkum Quisling did not agree with Noreger’s initiative and proclaimed his decision through the Chief Councillor ørnulf Lundesgaad as follows:
 
 “Such order was not authorised by me and thus I will not pay for it. The lost Front Fighter Badges shall not be replaced unless a duly explanation letter is submitted. V. Q. 28.3.45”. On 6th April 1945 Noreger received the letter. Thus the zinc version of the Front Line Soldiers Badge are extremely rare, considering only 1000 examples can be attributed and the date of their production and delivery being but days before the War was over.


The award was instituted in October 1943 by Vidkum Quisling and was awarded to all Norwegian military personnel who saw active service on the eastern front.  Women as well as men were eligible.  Nurses serving with the combat troops were also entitled to the badge. It was awarded in a large light brown card board box that had a base liner of pressed white cotton together with a miniature for civilian wear. It was accompanied by a citation. The badge was worn on the left breast pocket of the military uniform.
 
 
Front Line Soldiers Badge - silver - Obverse with miniature in case of issue.

 
Front Line Soldiers Badge - Citation.



Front Line Soldiers Badge  in wear.
 
 
 




 
 
 
AG Moxness frontsøster.

   Fake.
 
 

Sunday 29 September 2013

ROND Sports Badge


ROND Sports Badge - Gold.

Instituted.
Rarity – Extremely Rare.
Known Makers – Unmarked.


 
ROND Sports Badge - Obverse.
 


ROND Sports Badge - Reverse.

This award takes the form of an open ended wreath of laurel leaves. Each side has nine bunches of three leaves. At the base is an elongated ribbon bow with central tie. At the centre is a mobile swastika. The badge measure across 25 mm by 24 mm high. On the left of the wreath in raised Cyrillic capital letters are C N O P T and on the right S P O R T. On the ribbon bow on the right R. N. S. B. and on the left P.H.C.A. The reverse is flat with a horizontal pin construction, this comprises of an open hinge through which is wound a thin needle pin this is secured by a “C” catch.
The function of this award and if it was in three grades is unknown. However it can be considered that this was a military orientated Sports award, in possibly the same way as the SA Sports badge of the NSDAP.

 ROND – Rossiiskoye Natsionalno – Sotsialistcheskoye Dvizheniye ( Russian National Socialist Movement), was founded in Berlin by A.P. Svetozarov in February 1933, within weeks of Hitler’s coming to power. Svetozarov was replaced fairly soon after by Prince P.M Bermondt – Avalov, a veteran of the 1919 Baltic campaign which had driven the Bolsheviks out of Latvia. ROND members would parade alongside Hitler’s Storm troopers in their own version of Nazi uniform, this comprise a white shirt with black breeches and top boots. On the left upper arm they wore a red brassard with a white swastika on a blue square, the old Czarist colours. ROND opened branches in Paris, Prague, Belgrade and London in an attempt to form a united anti – Soviet front among the many exiles resident in those cities. In this it was wholly unsuccessful. The Nazis had been willing enough to accept support from the émigrés in the early days when anyone prepared to fight against the Red Front was welcome in their ranks. After 1933 and established in power, they tended to look down on these Slavonic caricatures of themselves. It was, after all, part of the Nazi ethos that all Slavs belong to an inferior breed. The ROND – Nazi relationship continued along uneasy until the German – Soviet Pact of 1939 brought all anti – Russian activities within the Reich to an abrupt halt, at least in their public manifestation. ROND was closed down, but one part of it, its Ukrainian Section, continued to function clandestinely under the patronage of the Abwehr. It was to play an important role in later operations in that part of the Soviet Union after Hitler’s invasion of Russia. The Ukrainian section was taken under the wing of Admiral Canaris, head of German Military Intelligence, the Abwehr. It was absorbed into an amorphous unit known at that date as Lehr und Bau Kompanie z. b. v. 800, Training and Construction Company for Special Purposes No. 800, which later, greatly enlarged, was to win fame as the Brandenburg Division. It was a combined commando and espionage formation which embraced a score or more different nationalities.
 
 
A.P. Svetozarov.

 
 
ROND - 1933 Berlin - May Day Rally.

Saturday 28 September 2013

Badge of Honour of the “Jeugdstorm”.


Badge of Honour of the “Jeugdstorm”.

Instituted on.

Rarity – Very Rare

Known Makers – Unmarked


 
Badge of Honour of the “Jeugdstorm” - Obverse.

 
Badge of Honour of the “Jeugdstorm” - Reverse.
 
 
The Badge of Honour of the “Jeugdstorm” follows the form of the membership badge of the “Jeugdstorm”. The award comprises a round badge that has a fine outer line and has a circumference of 17 mm. Onto this is superimposed a sea gull or sea mew whose beak and tail feather just break the circle by 2 mm at 3 and 6 o’clock. Its wing, in flight, breaks the upper portion by 14 mm. the overall measurements of the badge are height 30 mm by a width of 20 mm. The central field of the badge is in filled with blue opaque enamel and the sea gull in white. The raised portions of the outline of the sea gull and its fletching and the outer raised edge line are finished in guilt. The reverse is flat without marking to which is attached a needle pin all are gilded. it was worn above the left breast pocket of the uniform.

It was awarded to all those who had a membership number of below 1200, or to those who had joined the movement prior to 1st May 1940. It could also be awarded for any special act of merit within the “Jeugdstorm”.

 
 
Badge of Honour of the “Jeugdstorm”in wear.
 
 
Zondervan A.J. - Commandant of the W.A. presenting arards note the Badge of Honour of the “Jeugdstorm”in wear.
 
 
Dutch 'NJS' 'Nationale Jeugdstorm' Membership Label-pin (Dutch 'NJS Ledendraagteken') - Second Type.

 
The Dutch 'NJS' (or 'Nationale Jeugdstorm') membership label-pin (Dutch 'Ledendraagteken') being of the circular second type. This version was intended for both male and female members. The Dutch pro-German youth movement NJS (or 'Nationale Jeugdstorm') was the Dutch equivalent of the 'Hitlerjugend' and its management was completely controlled by the Dutch pro-German party, the NSB ('Nationaal Socialistische Beweging').


 
Dutch 'NJS' 'Nationale Jeugdstorm' Membership Label-pin (Dutch 'NJS Ledendraagteken') - First Type.  - Shield.
 

Tuesday 17 September 2013

Leader’s Bodyguard – Lijfwacht v. d. Leider Honour Pin.


Leader’s Bodyguard – Lijfwacht v. d. Leider Honour Pin.
Instituted on.
Rarity – Extremely Rare.
Known Makers – Unmarked


 
 
Leader’s Bodyguard – Lijfwacht v. d. Leider Honour Pin - Obverse.
 

Leader’s Bodyguard – Lijfwacht v. d. Leider Honour Pin - Reverse.

 

This badge comprises of a small diamond shaped badge that measures 25 mm high by 15 mm wide with edges that are shamphered. It is produced in silver. On to this at the centre is a small Leader’s emblem, the hand with the arrows. This produced in extremely high definition and gold plated. The reverse is flat with no markings. On the upper segment of the diamond is a small raised receptacle that houses the pin.
The purpose of this award is unknown, but can be suggested that it was an Honour award given for service in the Leaders Body Guard. As yet this is the only known example.

 Leader’s Bodyguard – Lijfwacht v. d. Leider.

In August 1939 a “Mussert Garde” was formed from selected W. A. men to act as personal bodyguard to the Party Leader. It was disbanded in 1940 but reformed after the German occupation under the name Lijfwacht v. d. Leider, Bodyguard of the Leader. Like the rest of the Para – military bodies of the N. S. B. it wore an all-black uniform. At first there were a modest eight ranks, the highest being only Captain, but later this was expanded to thirteen with the new rank insignia closely modelled on that of the SS, being worn on the left collar patch, gold on black. On the right collar patch the Leader’s emblem, the hand with the arrows was worn. This applied to all ranks except the three lowest which had the Leader’s emblem on both collars. This same emblem featured as a belt buckle and as the lower half of the cap badge set. The upper part, only worn by officers, was the lion rampant in gilt. Cuff titles: Lijfwacht v. d. Leider; Lijfwacht Mussert and Overste Mussert, each is gold lettering on black, exists and were worn at different periods.

 
 
 

 

 
Zondervan A.J. - Commandant of the W.A.with Mussert not the Leaders Pennant on the car.

 
Leader’s Bodyguard – Lijfwacht v. d. Leider.

 
Leader’s Bodyguard – Lijfwacht v. d. Leider wearing the NSB Five Years Service Badge .

 
Leader’s Bodyguard – Lijfwacht v. d. Leider - DE NEDERLANDSCHEUNIE.


Leader’s Bodyguard – Lijfwacht v. d. Leider on Guard.

W.A. “Old Fighters” Medal.


W.A. “Old Fighters” Medal.

Instituted on 1943
Rarity – Very Rare.
Known Makers - Unmarked

 
 
W.A. “Old Fighters” Medal - Obverse.



 
W.A. “Old Fighters” Medal - Reverse.
 

This comprises of a round bronze medal measuring 36 mm in diameter. The obverse shows the “Wolf hook” symbol of the W.A. within a wreath of oak leaves. The reverse has the wording, “Alles voor het Vaderland” all for the Fatherland the motto of the W.A. and the dates 1932 – 1935. It hangs from a red ribbon with black stripes.

The W.A. or Storm Troopers was formed in 1932, but disbanded in 1935 under a government decree prohibiting all Para military, political militias. The W.A. was reactivated after the start of the occupation in 1940. In November 1942 the tenth anniversary of its formation, Mussert instituted a “Strjdersteken der W.A.” literally “Fighters Badge”, but “Old Fighters” or “Veterans” Medal is closer to the sense of the original. Anyone who had served in the W.A. or in the militias of the NSNAP or “Dinaso” now absorbed into the W.A. was eligible, as were members of the “Mussert – Garde”. The first awards were made in January 1943.
 
 
Zondervan A.J. - Commandant of the W.A.
 
 
Zondervan A.J. - Commandant of the W.A. with Mussert wearing the W.A. “Old Fighters” Medal.
 
 
Zondervan A.J. - Commandant of the W.A. presenting W.A. “Old Fighters” Medals.

 
W.A. “Old Fighters” Medals in wear.


 
W.A. “Old Fighters” Medals in wear at an official meeting.

 
 
Dutch Volunteer in the German Navy wearing the W.A. “Old Fighters” Medal.
 
 
W.A. Members Badge.

Sunday 15 September 2013

Combat Sacrifice Badge of Honour Plaque.


Combat Sacrifice Badge of Honour Plaque.

Instituted on.
Rarity – Extremely Rare
Known Makers – ‘Koninklijke Begeer’

 
 
Combat Sacrifice Badge of Honour Plaque - Obverse.
 
 
 
Combat Sacrifice Badge of Honour Plaque - Reverse.


‘Nationaal Socialistische Beweging’ or Dutch Nazi Party so-called 'Next-of-Kin' Honorary - Plaque, 'Strijd en Offer - Plaquette' was introduced to commemorate NSB-members KIA in occupied Holland, and incorporated as its central motive the “Combat Sacrifice” Badge of Honour Badge. Mussert in December 1941, to comerate the 10th anniversary of the foundation of the N.S.B., instituted the Dutch equivalent of the German “Blood Order” the “Combat Sacrifice” Badge of Honour Badge. This was to reward Party Members who had made, “personal or material sacrifices on behalf of the N.S.B”. These plaques were made of “war metal, a zinc-based alloy and masseurs 70 mm by 55 mm. they were produced exclusively by one manufacturer the Dutch company: ‘Koninklijke Begeer’. The plaques are all accordingly hall-marked with the company’s logo, a so called “caduceus” stamp on the upper edge in the middle. It has the badge of the “Combat Sacrifice Badge of Honour in the center of a wreath of laurel leaves, which is tied at the bottom by a ribbon which also bears the words “Strijd Offer”. Below this is a recessed rectangle that has two lines upon which where normally inscribed the dead man’s name, date-of-birth, party-number “Stamboek” number” and date when KIA. At the right just above the ribbon is the makers mark, a capital “C” circling a capital “A”. This is the designer’s mark of artist and NSB member Cris Agterberg, the designer of the plaque. He joined the NSB in 1932 and remained a member until the end of the war in May 1945. Agterberg was born in 1883, an artist from the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands. He designed mainly furniture, jewellery and other small items. His artist gallery was officially accepted and became a platform for other artists. After the war Agterberg was sentenced in 1947 but was set free immediately because this was less than the time he had already been in jail. It was also taken into consideration that he was seriously ill. He died a year later in 1948.
 
 
Cris Agterberg, the designer's  makers mark, a capital “C” circling a capital “A”.
 
 
‘Koninklijke Begeer’. The hall-mark “caduceus” stamp on the upper edge in the middle. 

The reverse is flat with an open rivet that secures the badge. The plaque is presented in a black box with in the lower part purple lining.

 
 
Combat Sacrifice Badge of Honour Plaque in box.
 
 
Combat Sacrifice Badge of Honour Plaque box lid.


‘Nationaal Socialistische Beweging’ or Dutch Nazi party Plaque was given to next-of-kin of all those of the NSB-members, who had been killed, or executed, as a result of their political activities within the Netherlands. There for were only issued on a very limited scale.

 


Thursday 12 September 2013

“Jeugdstorm” Sports Badge for Females.


“Jeugdstorm” Sports Badge for Females. - Bronze, Silver, Gold.

Instituted on 1st April 1943.
Rarity – Rare, Very Rare,  Extremely Rare
Known Makers - Unmarked

 


“Jeugdstorm” Sports Badge for Females - Obverse.

 

The badge consists of a round wreath of stylised leaves that measures 26mm across. Onto this are three flower heads one at the bottom and one either side. Superimposed over this is a sea mew the emblem of the “Jeugdstorm”. The height of the badge is 34mm. It is finished in either  patinated bronze, silver or gold.

The reverse shows the impression of the obverse and has a hinge through which the pin is placed and turned over and a C typed hook. The issue number is stamped into the reverse. There was a very fine miniature of the badge to be worn on civil clothing. These are very rare.

 
“Jeugdstorm” Sports Badge for Females - Bronze - Obverse - Miniature.
 

It was instituted on 1st April 1943. Tests were graded according to age and had to be competed for annually.

 

“Jeugdstorm” Sports Badge for Males

“Jeugdstorm” Sports Badge for Males - Bronze, Silver and Gold. 
 
Instituted on 1 April 1943.
Rarity – Rare, Very Rare,  Extremely Rare
Known Makers - Unmarked
 

 
“Jeugdstorm” Sports Badge for Males -Silver - Obverse.

 
“Jeugdstorm” Sports Badge for Males -Silver - Reverse.
 

The badge consists of a wreath of stylised leaves that measures 38,5 mm across. Onto this is an arrow with the tips of the fights just breaking the bottom and the tip protruding through the top. Superimposed over this is a sea mew the emblem of the “Jeugdstorm”. The height of the badge is 52 mm. It is finished in either patinated bronze, silver or gold.
 
The reverse shows the impression of the obverse and has a hinge through which the pin is placed and turned over and a C typed hook. The issue number is stamped into the reverse and in this case is 171.
 
It was instituted on 1st April 1943. Tests were graded according to age and had to be competed for annually.
 
 
 
Jeugdstorm” Sports Badge for Males in wear .
 
 
 
“Jeugdstorm”  boys with Standart Flag.
 
 
A Jeugdstorm officer drills young recruits. A veteran from the Easter Frount he wears a German style belt buckle.