Original WWII German Militaria Insignia Lot – RLB, DAF, Ribbon Bars & WHW

Description

WWII German Militaria Insignia Lot: Overview

A varied grouping of German stickpins, miniature decorations, ribbon bars, organisational insignia and Winterhilfswerk ephemera of the Third Reich period. Rather than a single branch or award, it gives a cross-section of the small badges and lapel insignia found in German civilian and veteran life. Where a piece cannot be identified with confidence from the photographs, I have deliberately not assigned it.

What the Lot Contains

RLB and DAF stickpins

A Reichsluftschutzbund (Air Raid Protection League) stickpin with the silver sunburst device on dark blue enamel and RLB initials, and a Deutsche Arbeitsfront (German Labour Front) membership stickpin in openwork form, with the cogwheel surrounding the central emblem. Both have their long pins.

Ribbon bars and miniatures

A multi-place ribbon bar with a blue ribbon and miniature cross, consistent in appearance with the Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen (Faithful Service Decoration), together with black, white and red ribbons and a crossed-swords device. Also a two-place ribbon bar, three button-mounted red ribbons with black buttons, and a long miniature combination stickpin including an Iron Cross-style device. Because several devices are very small and their reverses are not shown, not every ribbon is individually attributed.

Veterans’ or association badge

An elongated silver-coloured badge with a central sword, wreath and cross. Its design belongs to the family of German veterans’ insignia of the period; without a readable maker mark it is listed conservatively as a German veterans’ or association badge.

WHW “Das Deutsche Lied” booklet

A miniature illustrated song booklet titled “Das Deutsche Lied”, its cover listing Volkslieder, Lieder der Bewegung, Soldatenlieder, Feierlieder, Liebeslieder and Kinderlieder. These booklets were part of a Winterhilfswerk donation series of the 1942/43 campaign. A separate red lion-shaped hanging piece is included as supplied.

WWII German Militaria Insignia Lot: Description

• Type: mixed lot of German insignia and ephemera
• Maker marks: none read from the photographs, so no maker information is given
• Inventory code: INS53

Condition

Varied, as expected in a lot assembled from individual pieces: age toning and oxidation to metal, minor finish loss, scratches and handling wear, ageing to plated surfaces, slight fraying to ribbons and wear to the booklet. The RLB enamel remains attractive, the DAF cogwheel is intact and the miniature devices remain attached. The photographs show the actual items and form part of the description.

Provenance

No further provenance is recorded.

Authenticity

Offered as period pieces on the basis of construction, materials and wear. Identifications are made only where design and inscriptions allow it.

Further Reading

For the wider context of German decorations and insignia, see my Complete Collector’s Guide to WWII German Medals.

For historical background, see Deutsches Historisches Museum, LeMO: “Das Winterhilfswerk (WHW)” (A. Scriba).

Please study every photograph carefully: the images form part of the description of this militaria insignia lot, and any further views are available on request.

Historical Responsibility Notice: this item is offered as a historical artefact for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology.