Historical Collection

Seven German badges and tinnies of the 1930s, including a large Reichsparteitag 1936 badge, a 1933 badge with stylised eagle, smaller eagle and geometric designs and a miniature axe-shaped badge. Visible age, patina and a variety of pin systems.

Lot of six German badges and insignia: a 1934 “Deutsch ist die Saar” badge, a Reichsparteitag 1936 tinnie, a 1 Mai 1938 badge, an embroidered Army farrier trade badge and two further metal pieces not attributed. Political, commemorative and trade insignia of 1930s Germany.

Six German insignia of the 1930s and war years: a large silver-coloured visor-cap wreath and cockade of Luftwaffe form, two enamelled veterans’ association badges marked 25 and 40, a 1934 Tag der Arbeit commemorative badge, an eagle badge and a small circular insignia.

Mixed group of seven German badges, tinnies and insignia: a badge dated 1 Mai 1936, an oval enamel eagle-and-red-cross pin of German Red Cross type, a large oval badge with an anti-aircraft gun in a wreath, a small badge with the numerals 19 and 32, an eagle insignia, a mother-and-child medallion and a further circular piece.

Five German badges and souvenirs from 1928 to 1938: a textile souvenir of the 14. Deutsches Turnfest, Köln 1928, a Tag der Arbeit 1935 badge, a 1. Mai 1938 badge with maker information, and two further insignia. From the Weimar Republic to the pre-war Third Reich in one group.

War Merit Cross 2nd Class without Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ohne Schwerter), dated 1939, with its red, white and black ribbon. Distinctive dark grey-brown patina with strong surviving detail; untouched.

Matched pair of original WWII psychological-warfare leaflets: an Allied Passierschein / Safe Conduct pass coded US/GB-ZG61A.1944, with the printed facsimile signature of General Eisenhower, and the German “Dear Friends” counter-propaganda version that imitated it and rewrote its message.

War Merit Cross 2nd Class without Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ohne Schwerter), dated 1939, with a good length of its red, white and black ribbon. Bronze-toned finish with attractive natural patina and clear details.

Original German interwar-period aviation pin featuring a sailplane in flight beside the famous Fliegerdenkmal at the Wasserkuppe in the Rhön, one of the historic birthplaces of German gliding. Bronze-toned circular badge with surviving horizontal pin fastening, probably dating from the 1930s.

Original WWII German Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter 3rd Class in Bronze, commonly known as the Mother’s Cross or Mutterkreuz. Second-pattern example with blue and white enamel, period blue-white ribbon and the 16 December 1938 reverse with facsimile signature.

Original Imperial German Württemberg Silver Military Merit Medal from the reign of King Wilhelm II, bearing the inscription “Für Tapferkeit und Treue” – “For Bravery and Loyalty” – and the signed portrait of Wilhelm II by court medallist Karl Schwenzer.

War Merit Cross 2nd Class without Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1939 2. Klasse ohne Schwerter) with bronze-toned finish, clear 1939 reverse and a good length of red, white and black ribbon fitted with a pin.

Original postwar German 1957 Silver Wound Badge, the denazified Federal Republic version of the WWII Verwundetenabzeichen. Silver-coloured oval badge with steel helmet, crossed swords, laurel wreath and original vertical pin-back construction.

Rare WWII German Luftschutz-Ehrenzeichen 1. Stufe, the gold-grade Air Defence Honour Decoration dated 1938, with distinctive cross design, “Für Verdienste im Luftschutz” inscription and purple ribbon with black-white-red borders.

Original WWII German Heer metal visor cap eagle, manufactured in lightweight silver-coloured metal with detailed Wehrmacht eagle and wreathed swastika. Two original attachment prongs remain on the reverse.

Original German historical grouping of badges, tinnies, cloth insignia and a miniature wartime donation booklet, including an Ost-Hannover 1925–1934 NSDAP anniversary badge, 1935 Seefahrt ist Not maritime tinnie, Saar 1935 badge, 1937 DJH youth-hostel badge and WWII signals sleeve insignia.

Original WWII German Wehrpass issued to Willi Geller in Hannover in 1938, retaining his original portrait photograph, handwritten personal details, official military stamps and reserve classifications from 1942 and 1944.

Original first-pattern Deutsches Reich Arbeitsbuch belonging to Wilhelm Hils of Karlsruhe, with handwritten personal details and employment records including the municipal cemetery administration and post-war entries extending into the late 1940s.

Original WWII German Wehrpass of Heinrich Brockmöller, issued in Hamburg in 1940, with photograph, Landwehr I classification and rare accompanying Wehrpass-Notiz papers documenting his UK indispensable-worker status.

Original WWII German Heer Wehrpass for Johann Georg Zingler, born 1895, with Landwehr I classification, wartime fitness entries and official Ehingen military-office stamps dated 1937–1944.

Original German Arbeitsbuch issued to Werner Schmidt in 1938 by the Arbeitsamt Ludwigshafen, Speyer branch, with handwritten personal details, vocational information and period official stamps.