Browsing through some posts it seems that there is still a degree of confusion over the marking system and who was responsible for what. The following may be of interest. (I should point out here that what I am including here is factual information from original period regulations and publications, and not just my own theorising)
The LDO
The origins of the LDO lay in a meeting held at the Präsidialkanzlei where it was decreed that in order to maintain the quality and thus the prestige of military awards and decorations, their manufacture was to be controlled and licensed.
A subsequent meeting held in the Russischer Hof Hotel in Berlin on 15 July 1940 chaired by Dr Doehle and representatives from the orders manufacturing industry formally established the LDO as the central organisation for the control of the manufacture of awards for private retail. The address of the LDO was
Leistungsgemeinschaft der Deutschen Ordenshersteller, 27 Körnerstrasse, Hagen-Westf. (Later moved to Eugen Richter Strasse 6)
A further notice on 1 November 1940 from the Präsidialkanzlei publicised the fact that the manufacture of orders and decorations for the private retail market was permitted only by Licensed firms.
Firms who failed to follow regulations could be and indeed on occasion did have their manufacturing licenses withdrawn (Petz and Lorenz and Otto Schickle of Pforzheim being two examples).
The actual LDO numbering was introduced on 1 March 1941 (ref. Uniformen Markt, 1.3.41) and required all awards from that date to be marked with the manufacturers LDO code. Regulations specified where each type of award was to be marked, though these seem to have been often ignore or misunderstood. Positions were
On one-sided awards – centre lower reverse
On two sided crosses – on the ring
On two sided stamped orders and medals on the bottom edge
Indeed you can find many originals where this rule fits precisely, but also many others where it doesn’t.
The regulations also covered the packaging in which the awards were supplied. These were to be clearly marked with the LDO logo and the underside of the case/carton was to have the manufacturers LDO number ink-stamped.
As far as Iron Crosses were concerned the following were specified.
“Full Case” (i.e. the good quality case with hinge, press stud etc).
Grand Cross, Knights Cross, Oakleaves, EK1, EK1 Spange.
“Half Case” (i.e. the cheaper type with paper hinge and no press stud)
EK2
“Carton” (i.e. the matchbox type with push out tray) in Gray
EK2 Spange.
Note that the regulations specify a case with LDO logo for the Grand Cross, RK and Oakleaves. It is well known that many wartime orders were not fully complied with, but, despite the fact that many have doubted the originality of RK or Oaks cases with the LDO monogram, original orders specified that these MUST be used for not only the RK and Oaks but the Grand Cross, not only that these did exist but that the Grand Cross was available for commercial retail sales.
The LDO was NOT responsible for awards supplied to the military EVER, only for private retail pieces. This is important. Comments are often made on the quality of awards such as “the LDO would never have allowed something like this to go out”.
Frankly, if the manufacturer supplied a Panzer Assault Badge in day-glo orange to the Präsidialkanzlei, the LDO couldn’t do a thing about it. Only the Präsidialkanzlei was responsible for official award pieces, the LDO only for restrikes/copies.
Even at the time (Uniformen Markt Issue 9, 1 May 1942) Dr. Dohle felt it necessary to publish an announcement making it clear the restrictions on the LDOs authority.
“………..the LDO is ONLY responsible for the manufacture and quality of orders etc FOR PRIVATE RETAIL BUSINESS. Orders made through the Präsidialkanzlei for awards, and all associated technical matters are NOT to be dealt with by the LDO………….”
To sum up,
At the top of the tree sat the Ordenskanzlei, part of the Präsidialkanzlei des Führers (The Orders Office of Hitlers Chancellory). This alone had direct authority for the manufacture of all official awards under the end of the war, and authority over private manufacture until this was delegated to the LDO in 1940.
The LDO was a subordinate body of the Präsidialkanzlei, established to control orders and decorations made as restrikes/copies for the private retail market ONLY.
Various notices were posted in, initially Schwert und Spaten. Here is an early cover of this publication.
And Uniformen-Markt
These were later amalgamated into Deutsche Uniformen Zeitschrift
In terms of official awards, in 1944 it was decided that in order to maintain uniformity in design and quality, one single firm would be designated to do all the development work on new war badges. This was C E Juncker of Berlin. All other firms wishing to manufacture a particular war badge had to order their dies from Juncker
Original period publications such as these are by far the best source of information and they are an absolute goldmine of facts rather than theory and facts which can give huge clues as to why some anomalies exist. For instance, ever wondered why the odd screwback EK turns up with the securing prong at the bottom when most are at the top ?
This announcement was posted in June 1941
This is the announcement authorising the manufacture of screwback EK1s which had been made previously of course but were subsequently prohibited. Note that the style shown is the one most commonly encountered and is described as the "vorschriftsmässigen Probe", or the official authorised prototype.
What isn't too clear in this rather grainy photocopy, is that the prong is at the bottom and the makers mark at the top. On 15 June, a small notice appeared stating that a printing error had led to the photo appearing upside down.
An official notice shows the authorised prototype with the prong at the bottom rather than the top, corrected within days. A small number of EK1s seem to have been made with the retaining prong at the bottom rather than the top. These are the facts - make of them what you will, but two plus two on this occasion, backed by factual period information, probably does make four, and these anomalies are the result of a printing error in the official proclamation.
The LDO
The origins of the LDO lay in a meeting held at the Präsidialkanzlei where it was decreed that in order to maintain the quality and thus the prestige of military awards and decorations, their manufacture was to be controlled and licensed.
A subsequent meeting held in the Russischer Hof Hotel in Berlin on 15 July 1940 chaired by Dr Doehle and representatives from the orders manufacturing industry formally established the LDO as the central organisation for the control of the manufacture of awards for private retail. The address of the LDO was
Leistungsgemeinschaft der Deutschen Ordenshersteller, 27 Körnerstrasse, Hagen-Westf. (Later moved to Eugen Richter Strasse 6)
A further notice on 1 November 1940 from the Präsidialkanzlei publicised the fact that the manufacture of orders and decorations for the private retail market was permitted only by Licensed firms.
Firms who failed to follow regulations could be and indeed on occasion did have their manufacturing licenses withdrawn (Petz and Lorenz and Otto Schickle of Pforzheim being two examples).
The actual LDO numbering was introduced on 1 March 1941 (ref. Uniformen Markt, 1.3.41) and required all awards from that date to be marked with the manufacturers LDO code. Regulations specified where each type of award was to be marked, though these seem to have been often ignore or misunderstood. Positions were
On one-sided awards – centre lower reverse
On two sided crosses – on the ring
On two sided stamped orders and medals on the bottom edge
Indeed you can find many originals where this rule fits precisely, but also many others where it doesn’t.
The regulations also covered the packaging in which the awards were supplied. These were to be clearly marked with the LDO logo and the underside of the case/carton was to have the manufacturers LDO number ink-stamped.
As far as Iron Crosses were concerned the following were specified.
“Full Case” (i.e. the good quality case with hinge, press stud etc).
Grand Cross, Knights Cross, Oakleaves, EK1, EK1 Spange.
“Half Case” (i.e. the cheaper type with paper hinge and no press stud)
EK2
“Carton” (i.e. the matchbox type with push out tray) in Gray
EK2 Spange.
Note that the regulations specify a case with LDO logo for the Grand Cross, RK and Oakleaves. It is well known that many wartime orders were not fully complied with, but, despite the fact that many have doubted the originality of RK or Oaks cases with the LDO monogram, original orders specified that these MUST be used for not only the RK and Oaks but the Grand Cross, not only that these did exist but that the Grand Cross was available for commercial retail sales.
The LDO was NOT responsible for awards supplied to the military EVER, only for private retail pieces. This is important. Comments are often made on the quality of awards such as “the LDO would never have allowed something like this to go out”.
Frankly, if the manufacturer supplied a Panzer Assault Badge in day-glo orange to the Präsidialkanzlei, the LDO couldn’t do a thing about it. Only the Präsidialkanzlei was responsible for official award pieces, the LDO only for restrikes/copies.
Even at the time (Uniformen Markt Issue 9, 1 May 1942) Dr. Dohle felt it necessary to publish an announcement making it clear the restrictions on the LDOs authority.
“………..the LDO is ONLY responsible for the manufacture and quality of orders etc FOR PRIVATE RETAIL BUSINESS. Orders made through the Präsidialkanzlei for awards, and all associated technical matters are NOT to be dealt with by the LDO………….”
To sum up,
At the top of the tree sat the Ordenskanzlei, part of the Präsidialkanzlei des Führers (The Orders Office of Hitlers Chancellory). This alone had direct authority for the manufacture of all official awards under the end of the war, and authority over private manufacture until this was delegated to the LDO in 1940.
The LDO was a subordinate body of the Präsidialkanzlei, established to control orders and decorations made as restrikes/copies for the private retail market ONLY.
Various notices were posted in, initially Schwert und Spaten. Here is an early cover of this publication.
And Uniformen-Markt
These were later amalgamated into Deutsche Uniformen Zeitschrift
In terms of official awards, in 1944 it was decided that in order to maintain uniformity in design and quality, one single firm would be designated to do all the development work on new war badges. This was C E Juncker of Berlin. All other firms wishing to manufacture a particular war badge had to order their dies from Juncker
Original period publications such as these are by far the best source of information and they are an absolute goldmine of facts rather than theory and facts which can give huge clues as to why some anomalies exist. For instance, ever wondered why the odd screwback EK turns up with the securing prong at the bottom when most are at the top ?
This announcement was posted in June 1941
This is the announcement authorising the manufacture of screwback EK1s which had been made previously of course but were subsequently prohibited. Note that the style shown is the one most commonly encountered and is described as the "vorschriftsmässigen Probe", or the official authorised prototype.
What isn't too clear in this rather grainy photocopy, is that the prong is at the bottom and the makers mark at the top. On 15 June, a small notice appeared stating that a printing error had led to the photo appearing upside down.
An official notice shows the authorised prototype with the prong at the bottom rather than the top, corrected within days. A small number of EK1s seem to have been made with the retaining prong at the bottom rather than the top. These are the facts - make of them what you will, but two plus two on this occasion, backed by factual period information, probably does make four, and these anomalies are the result of a printing error in the official proclamation.
Thanks Gordon
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