Collector Basics - The Nurnberg Badge of 1929

As far as Hitler was concerned, a Nazi member who had a Coburg
Badge and a Nurnberg Partei Tag (Party Day) 1929 Badge had it all. They were the top two badges anyone could wear on their uniforms.

The Coburg Badge is covered elsewhere. But what made this little
1929 Party Day Badge so special?

In 1928, the Nazi Party was “going to hell in a handbasket". The Party was in a steep decline . . . it took a spectacular beating at the pulls that year. Things were so bad that there was no rally in 1928, . . there really wasn't much to celebrate. The Weimar Republic, which Hitler had criticized so blatantly, was whipping the Nazis badly in one political victory after another. Hitler had ranted about the occupation of the Ruhr — the French left it and the Weimar officials got the credit. Hitler raged about law and order. lt was restored, temporarily, and the Weimar officials took the bows. Hitler screamed about inflation. The Weimar leaders got the currency fairly stable.

A forecaster in 1928 would have had to have predicted nothing but
gloom — and doom — for the Nazi Party, if he had read the results of
the voting in 1928.

The Social Democrats increased their vote from 7.8 million to 9 million, whereas the extreme right wing German National Party dropped from 6,2 million to 4.3 million. The Nazis? They managed to put together only 810,000 votes, giving them only 12 of the 491 seats in the Reichstag.

lt is almost impossible to believe that before 5 years had passed they had all of the seats in the Reichstag. But this was not 1933. This was 1928, and things were very bad.

But closer analysis reveals that this defeat, which was dragging down all right wingers, was by far the best thing that could happen to Hitler, considering the circumstances. As right wingers lost more and more positions and power through the elections, they began to search around for
another cause around which to rally.

And so by 1929, things began to change in favor of Hitler. Germany's big industry began to support him. Alfred Hugenberg, a millionaire, led the pack. But he was more than just a rich man. Hugenberg owned a huge propaganda empire that he had bought with his profits from inflation, which included a chain of newspapers, news agencies, and the leading film company in Germany. lt became largely through Hugenberg's propaganda machine that Hitler managed to gain power.

Following Hugenberg's lead were other important groups, not the least of which were the Stahlhelm, the Pan-German League, Alberg Voegler, president of the United Steel Corporation, and finally Hjalmar Schacht, president of the German Reichsbank.

So the things that whipped Hitler in 1928 backlashed in his favor in 1929.

And thus the Nazis deduced they could hold their rally after all. And they did. lt was held in August. And it beat all spectacles until that time.

There were 34 new standards, 60,000 men, 2000 Hitler Youth. The City of Nuremberg had completed a statue in honor of the dead of World War I in 1927; little did the city fathers know it would be used by the Nazis as the centerpiece of their rallies from thenceforth.

On August 2, 1929, the Nazi Party convened its rally and began the next cycle of its tumultuous life that was to collapse in ruins only sixteen summers later.

At 11 am on that day in the Kulturuereinshaus, Gregor Strasser convened the congress. Julius Streicher welcomed the delegates and Adolf Wagner read Hitler's opening statement as Hitler sat passively by — it rehashed all of the old lines, including the injustice shown to German soldiers by the home front during the first War, the Versailles Treaty injustices, and finally turned his tirade against the Communists and, of course, the Jews.

Gottfried Feder spoke during the afternoon, discussing the Young Plan which required Germany to pay reparations for 59 years. Historians have always felt this was an oppressive idea, even though the reparations were less than those imposed under the previous Dawes Plan, but they
were cannon fodder for the Nazis and were used to great advantage.

The highlight of August 3 was a fireworks display at night, preceded by a huge torchlight parade. . Nurenberg was seeing the first of the pageantry that it would watch in amazement over the next years. The most spectacular display featured a swastika surrounded by a circle of green leaves and topped with a huge eagle. This appeared as five bands accompanied the crowd in singing the national anthem.

The following day the spectators and participants took part in a memorial celebration for the dead of World War l. In front of the aforementioned War Memorial, a stone coffin was topped by a helmet and covered with hundreds of wreaths. Hitler arrived with dozens of flags and there
General von Epp made a short speech. Then the highest leaders of the Party and the standard bearers made their way onto the huge field while the band played a march. As new standards passed, Hitler touched each with the "Blood Flag" of the 1923 Putsch. This segment of the rally concluded with the huge crowd chanting in unison "Deutchland Erwache"
(Germany Awake!) which was to become its rallying cry for the years to follow.

This day was the occasion for Hitler`s major speech and though it sounds tired today, in 1929 he made it sound energetic as he recounted the history of the Party.

What made the spectacle impressive was the number of participants from all over Germany and even from other countries: Delegates marched from northen Germany and the middle and southern provinces . . . it took delegates from the south more than an hour just to march by! Many Hitler Youth marched. Delegates came from North and South America, Sudentenland, South Africa, Sweden and Austria.

That evening the participants met again in the Kulturuereinshaus and heard Alfred Rosenberg lash out against his favorite foe — Communism, to the roars of the crowd.

One of the most prophetic speeches came from Konstantin Hierl, who virtually proclaimed that the Nazis would cause the state to be ready — and willing — to resort to war, if necessary, once the Nazis had achieved power. This was strong talk at a time when the whole world was making an attempt to recover from the "War to End All Wars", but Hierl left no one in doubt when he said "As long as free nations exist that are willing to work toward their political goals, only war will be able to achieve the ultimate political aim."

Hitler closed the congress with a final address on the evening of August 5, when he spoke on the deterioration of German national power and said Germany’s leaders to date had turned a great nation into nothing more than a stale tourist country.

As he called his country to his version of greatness, which banished the weak, the political opposition, and the Jews from any role in society and included the resort to war if necessary to obtain what was rightfully Germany's, Hitler watched with pride as the audience roared its approval, One can assume that in his own mind he had no doubt that he had taken the first step toward superstardom. Little did he know this was his first giant step toward infamy.

And that brings us to the badge.

The badge measures 21mm wide by 48mm high and was worn on the left breast. The Nurnberg Watchtower is featured on the top, with the word NURNBERG in capital letters beneath the tower. An eagle stands on a helmet in the center of the badge. surrounded by the wording
19I4-1919 NSDAP PARTEITAG 1929.

lt was produced in bronze, zinc (silver) and gold.

Additionally, there was a non-portable award measuring 35mm wide by 80mm high in bronze, silver and gold. It was given to individuals who participated in events at the rally.

There are, in this writers opinion, fewer fakes of this badge on tables at shows than of many others. True, 60,000 were awarded, which would make them rather plentiful (as compared t0, say, the 436 Coburg Badges).

Collectors should remember that the Germans were fanatics for detail . Look for the highest quality you can find, Look for high relief of the details and unblemished backgrounds in the badges.

Mickey Huffman, Hitler's Favorite Political badges and decorations, vol.1, The Promethian Press, 1990

German Army Reversable Winter Uniform

Reversible Winter Uniforms -Umkehrbare Winteranzug des Deutschen Heeres

Introduced during the winter of 1942-3 as the result of the bitter experiences of the previous winter when thousands of German troops fighting on the Eastern Front suffered from the extremes of cold.

These uniforms proved to be extremely comfortable and, as a combat uniform, they gave freedom of movement and use of equipment whilst at the same time affording protection against severe cold as well as overheating during periods of exertion.

Both patterns consisted of a heavy reversible double-breasted over jacket and matching over
trousers. The uniform and trousers were designed large enough to be worn over the normal Field Service Uniform including basic field equipment, although German troops favoured wearing their equipment over the Winter Jacket.

Because it was a completely reversible item of clothing, including the trousers, features such as
pockets, draw strings and buttons located on the camouflage or mouse-grey side were duplicated on the white side.


The jacket was double-breasted for extra frontal warmth, with double buttoned overlaps to the flaps of the jacket at the front which when securely fastened provided a windproof closure. There was a 'hidden' waist belt which could be gathered in around the wearer’s waist from the outside of whichever side of the jacket was being worn outermost. The bottom edge to the jacket also had a draw string and the ends of the cuffs were also adjustable. The jacket had long sleeves as well as an attached draw-string adjustable hood, also reversible. Six buttons were visible worn down the front of the coat and there was one button to each pocket flap on both sides of the coat 'skirt'.

These metal buttons were field-grey when used on the camouflaged/mouse-grey side of the coat and white painted on the white side. Two small fibre buttons were located approximately 20cm from the shoulder seam on both sleeves and positioned on the two seams of both jacket sleeves. These were intended to be used to button on the bands of coloured cloth used by forward German Forces to help identify friendly troops. Like passwords, these bands of cloth were changed every day and a new colour was used for this purpose.

This arrangement could be used on both sides of the jacket as the small fibre buttons were sewn on to the white side as well as the coloured side of the jacket. The trousers worn with this jacket were of the same quality, colouring and manufacture. They were shorter in the leg than normal cloth trousers and could be worn either tucked inside the German Army marching boots or worn over the top of the boots with the ends of the trousers gathered in by the draw strings and tied around the calf of the boots.

The trousers were extra thick, as was the jacket, and was completely reversible—which included the pockets. The buttons used on the trousers were large smooth black plastic ones each with four eye holes and used stitched on to both the camouflaged and the white side. There were built in braces made of white webbing. They were sewn into the waist of the trousers at the rear and crossed behind the wearer’s shoulder blades passing over the shoulders and being buttoned in the front on either side of the front opening. The braces were adjustable to one of three
positions on the front of the trousers.

The trousers had two reversible pockets with large reversible button down pocket flaps. There were four buttons used down the fly front. Two tapes were sewn into the rear of the waist to allow the waist band to be drawn in tight. There were tapes at the bottom of each trouser leg.

Both the mouse—grey and the camouflage reversible winter uniforms were identical in design and manufacture. Both patterns of German Army camouflage were used for the camouflaged version, i.e. the green splinter pattern and the tan water pattern.

No form of insignia decoration or badge other than the special rank insignia designed for this type of clothing was worn on this uniform.

Brian L. Davis, "German Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945", The World Publishing Co., 1972

The Fakers Are Getting Better!

This is a tough hobby for new collectors and all the fakes out there don't make it any easier. Below is an example of some fakes currently available to anyone with some cash. Some of them look pretty good and from the photos many experienced collectors could even think they are real.. not so. They can be bought, aged a little, then sold to the "newbie" as the real thing... all for a nice profit. The copy describing each item is from the manufacturer, not me. It is obvious, errors not withstanding, that whoever is behind these fakes knows something about Third Reich relics. I made comments on a few pieces.

A word to the wise; if you don't know what you're doing, be careful.

Knights Cross of the Iron Cross

Very high quality replica of the Knight’s Cross, marked “800” on both the back of the cross and the suspension loop. Made of correct three piece construction with magnetic center, lightly aged. Come with a full neck ribbon with tie straps that have been sewn in, also with very light age. Currently available




Reichsfurher SS Heinrich Himmler Collar Tabs New Version

A new version of Reichsfuhrer SS, the highest rank in the SS, which was most famously held by Heinrich Himmler. Silver bullion wire embroidery over a very fine black velvet backing. This new version has thinner piping and very good detail. The wreath is complete with tiny glass beads, very carefully replicating one of the original examples. (This is pretty close!)



Reichsfurher SS Heinrich Himmler Shoulderboards

New versions of the RFSS shoulderboards with the correct, accurate silver oakleaf cluster rank devices (Himmler wore these silver clusters from 1934 -1939, and then again from April 1942 through 1945). Boards are slip-on version with silver grommets and sold as pairs. Tone of oakleaf devices varies from age darkened silver to brighter silver. Currently only darker versions are available.



Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring Shoulderboards

Massive shoulderboards for Hermann Goring’s unique rank of Reichsmarschall, which was the highest military rank of any nation in World War Two. Triple gold braided cords in bright bullion over the Luftwaffe white underlay that was reserved for General officer rank. Large, solid cast gold board devices of a Wehrmacht eagle surmounting crossed Reichsmarschall batons.



Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring Collar Tabs

An excellent pair of matching collar tabs for Goring’s rank of Reichsmarschall. These are unlike any other replicas made to date and are incredibly accurate to the original design, right down to the backing material. The tabs are embroidered in gold wire and bullion in the 2nd pattern RM design which was introduced in March of 1941, consisting of crossed Reichsmarschall batons on both the left and right tabs. Newer version with all gold embroidery.



Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring Breast Eagle

Goring was probably the most flamboyant character in the Third Reich and exercised his own personal touches in development of insignia for his many uniforms. One of those was the creation of a special breast eagle for use on all of his uniforms. This eagle was a little larger with wider wingtips and was always on a white background during the time he served as Reichsmarschall. This replica was faithfully reproduced from that design and has incredible detail.



Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring’s Utility Uniform Shoulder Straps

At the close of WW2 Hermann Goring had a very unique and rather spartan uniform tailored for his rank of Reichsmarschall, which was more closely resembled the Allies uniforms in its simple nature. The only rank insignia exhibited on this uniform were on a pair of shoulder straps, each embroidered with the Reichsmarschall eagle and crossed batons similar in design to the gold devices on his standard shoulderboards. These shoulderboards were designed and created using surviving pictures and illustrations as reference. Straps are slip-on style, embroidered in gold bullion and wire, with gold twist piping over gray wool.



Generalfeldmarschall von Rundstedt Colonel-in-Chief Shoulderboards

Special shoulderboards for GFM von Rundstedt when wearing his uniform as honorary Colonel-in-Chief of the 18th Infantry Regiment. Standard General officer shoulderboards of intertwined gold and silver cords over a white branch underlay for Infantry designation. Crossed batons affixed at the base with regimental ciphers “18” positioned above the batons.



Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall Collar Tabs

New inventory with a revised design to the batons. A matching pair of Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall collar tabs, accurately produced in fine gold bullion and wire over a fine, soft white wool underlay. A pair of silver embroidered, raised crossed batons are overlayed at the base of the wreath. (A little too gaudy looking.)



Luftwaffe Generalmajor Collar Tabs

A matching pair of Luftwaffe General der Flieger collar tabs, accurately rendered in fine gold bullion and wire over a white backing to indicate General Officer rank with single rank wings.



Luftwaffe General’s Breast Eagle

Premium quality gold wire hand embroidered Luftwaffe eagle with dark brown thread highlighting over a blue-gray backing for General Officers in the Luftwaffe.



Army (Heer) Generalfeldmarschall Shoulderboards, 1940 pattern

A matching pair of Heer GFM shoulderboards in standard General officer construction of two outer gold bullion cords and silver aluminum inner cord over a red underlay, with crossed baton devices in the 2nd pattern design. This regulation combining the 2nd pattern batons with standard general officer boards only lasted from September of 1940 until April of 1941, yet was widely utilized as can be seen in many period photos. (Damn!)



Army (Heer) Generalfeldmarschall Collar Tabs, 1941 pattern-gold wire

In 1941 collar insignia was created specifically for Heer Generalfeldmarschalls to set them apart from the other General officers by elongating the tab with the addition of a third prong in the middle of the design. This replica is beautifully executed to mimic the style of one of the more well made original manufacturers, in all gold wire similar to Manstein and Brauchtisch examples. There are only two of these in stock.



Army (Heer) General Officer Collar Tabs

Standard pattern Heer General officer collartabs used for all ranks of Generals throughout the war (including GFM, until 1941). Two tone gold wire with buff highlights. (So well done it's spooky...)



Waffen SS Obergruppenfuhrer Collar Tabs

Pair of SS General Officer collar tabs with three oakleaves rendered in fine silver wire over a black velvet backing. Two silver bullion pips to indicate rank of Obergruppenfuhrer. (Close, but no cigar! Shape of the leaves is just not right.)



SS Officers Arm Eagle

High end, extremely accurate reproductions of aluminum wire and silver bullion SS officers arm eagles. These are very well made and hard to discern from originals. Only have two examples remaining.



SS Visor Cap Eagle

Very convincing, high end copy of a SS visor cap eagle. Nice, aged matte finish with patina around the edges and two prongs on the reverse. Looks much more real than all of the shiny cheap reproductions currently on the market. (these are all over the market like a rash!)



SS Officers Brocade Belt and Buckle

Complete brocade belt for the dress uniform of an SS officer. Single piece construction buckle. Belt is green felt-like badge cloth backed. Only two of these are available and are on consignment. (I wonder... with who?)



Totenkopf Sanitats Collar Tabs

Pair of vertical collar tabs for a Scharfuhrer in the Sanitats (medical services) of Totenkopf. White cotton embroidered thread over a black felt backing. Right rank tab has a single pip and tresse. Edge piped in a silver/black twist piping.



NSDAP Reichsleiter 1st pattern Collar Tabs

Extremely well made matching pair of 1934 style, 1st pattern Reichsleiter collar tabs, accurately produced in a mixture fine embroidered bullion and wire over a fine, soft red wool underlay and edge piped in gold. Only one pair available. Excellent copy.



NSDAP Reichsleiter Collar Tabs

A matching pair of late pattern Reichsleiter collar tabs, accurately produced in fine embroidered nylon over a fine, soft red wool underlay. Only one pair of these is available. (They even used green bullion to replicate the corrosion found on originals)




Diplomatic Official Sleeve Rank Insignia in Silver

Sleeve insignia as used on a diplomatic dress uniforms. Silver Wehrmact eagle with outstretched wings, surrounded by a laurel wreath on a black background. Another rare piece of high ranking political insignia manufactured in detail worthy of the original and never before seen replicated. Price reduced. (They said this was Ribbentrop's insignia... guess they don't know everything.)

If you would like REAL THIRD REICH RELICS you might want to give our web site a try.

Bob Treend, The Fakers are Getting Better", MILITARIA BLOG, 2009

Why is Allegemeine SS Headgear So Rare?

With modern computers and fine color printing, many new collectors don't realize how primitive reference material was just a few years ago. Here's an article from 1971. The text is hand printed and the magazine was produced on little better than newsprint. It was the best that could be done at the time and collectors were glad to have it. Below is the text reproduced... by computer...so it's a little easier to read. GMC

DURING THE LAST OF THEIR DAYS AS HITLER'S ELITE' AS BOTH RUSSO AND ANGLO AMERICAN FORCES DREW NEARER THEIR BELOVED BERLIN. THE SS MAN WAS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, MADE TO RECOGNIZE HIMSELF. REALIZING HIS ENEMY WOULD NOT HONOR BUT DESPISE THE MEN WHO MOST STOOD FOR ADOLF HITLER.THE SS OFFICER AND ENLISTED MAN, IF CAPTURED, WOULD BE MADE TO ENDURE SUCH TREATMENT AS EVEN HE COULD NOT PERCEIVE.

MULTITUDES FOUND DESTRUCTION OF THEIR UNIFORMS A POSSIBLE MEANS OF ESCAPE. . . RE-UNIFORMING THEMSELVES AS MEMBERS OF THE ARMY... OR EVEN AS CIVILIANS! MANY SUCCEEDED...THOSE WHO DID NOT SOON WERE IN THE . HANDS OF THE VENGEFUL RUSSIANS. THEIR FATE UNKNOWN.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE COLLECTOR?

...BY POINTING OUT THAT, THOUGH ONCE A PLENTIFUL AMOUNT
OF ALLEGEMEINE SS UNIFORMS CERTAINLY DID EXIST, THE WAR
ITSELF BROUGHT ON A MASSIVE REDUCTION IN ITS' QUANTITY.. .
AND THAT THE GREATEST VOLUME OF EXISTING ALLEGEMEINE SS
EQUIPMENT IS, IN ALL PROBABILITY. PRESENTLY IN RUSSIAN HANDS.

THIS BRINGS US TO THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FACT... WHICH IS, THAT THOSE COMPANIES, IN THE BUSINESS OF REPRODUCING NAZI MILITARIA, ARE WORKING "DOUBLE TIME" IN PRODUCTION OF ALL PHASES OF ALLEGEMEINE SS HEADGEAR! IN THE NEXT OF MY ARTICLES ON HEADGEAR, I SHALL ATTEMPT POINTING OUT SOME 'RULES OF THUMB" IN IDENTIFYING SUCH REPROS.

Dennis Lewis, Why is Allegemeine SS Headgear So Rare?, Der Hakenkreuz, 1971