Dansson's collection gallery

[Dansson]

I've decided to make a sort of a gallery of things I've owned or own.
My main collection area is Finnish and German militaria, but other interesting items tend to find its way to my cabinet as well (such as this 1920's Uranium-Glass that has a beautiful glow in UV light).


As some of you may know, the fingerprint of my photos is a sort of darkness.



I hope you will enjoy the ride

[Dansson]

Some of Alfred Polke's papers who served on U-502. The U-502 saw most of it's action in the Caribean Sea. During her two patrols in the Caribean U-502 sank 14 ships (78,843 tons) and damaged 2 ships (23,797 tons).


U-502 was sunk in the Bay of Biscay upon returning to France with all hands lost, U-502 is to the present day the grave of Alfred Polke and 51 others. Location of the wreck is at 46°10'N 06°40'W at the depth of 4827 meters.

Obermaschinenmaat (Senior engine NCO) Alfred Polke
Born: 31st January 1915, Frankfurt-Oder
Fallen: Aged 27, 6th July 1942, Bay of Biscay
Served on U-502
Married: 21st December 1940
Awards:
Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse (1.July 1939)
Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1939 (17. March 1942)
U-bootkriegsauszeichnung (?)

[Dansson]

A badge for from the Finnish Civil War 1918. Handed out for the soldiers of the White Guard who secured the city of Kuopio and with the city, the gold reserves of Finland. A small battle but of major importance to secure independence and the victory over the Red Guard.

It's a quite big badge, two alloy pieces fastened with rivets and enamel in between in both orange and black.

[Dansson]

Medal of the Hanseatic Legion 1813-14 on original ribbon. Just look at that detail on this gem.

[Dansson]

The heart of my collection must be this Napoleonic medal bar. Assembled most likely in the 1840's when medal bars started to become popular, the assembly might be earlier than that though. Consists of a wide frame Prussian 1813 EK2, a round edged Prussian 1814 commemorative medal (made of captured canon bronze) and a 25 year service cross.


It was found years ago hidden in a wall of an old house that was going to be demolished.


The sabre in the background is an Officers 1796 model light cavalry sabre, with gilt engravings and blueing. A rare one that was exported from the British empire to the USA just be used against the British themselves in the War of 1812.

[Dansson]

A Bavarian bravery medal, First World War model.

[Dansson]

I do really like the saw back model of the 98/05 bayonet. The n.A. model is easier to find than the a.A. model with long ears that I've mainly focused on the photos. I do have a scabbard for all my saw backs but they aren't included in the photos.

The saw teeth are quite spooky and cool in my opinion.

[Dansson]

Godet is nice, when you have an early (The early smaller model) leather case and the outer cardboard cover to go with it. The Godet EK1 here is the early model with a cast iron core with some beautiful cracks (Some like me do consider cracks on cast cores beautiful). The pin isn't sharp on the point, but rounder which is as well a sign of early production on the Godet award type.

[Dansson]

Aaand another one! A Godet. According own experience I find these oval double disc screw Godet's more seldom at offer than the more priced "fanged" version.

[Jeff V]

Gorgeous items and photography!

[AntiqueWW2]

Very nice Items, but the photography is wow. I wish i would be able, just one time make them like you did. Congrats

[Dansson]

Thanks AntiqueWW2 and Jeff for the compliments!

A bar that I've showed before on the forum, but I must show it again
A medal bar for a German (Saxon) who took part in the Finnish Civil war in the Ostsee Division. Received the Order of Liberty 3.Class 1918 which was awarded only 973 times in total.

He saw something that many in the west would never witness, what a nightmare the Bolshevism rising from the east was and how it luckily was stopped from spreading in Finland.


The bar has a trapezoid backplate with negative angles on the edges which is something I have so far seen mostly on bars of Saxon origin. This leads me to believe there was a certain Saxon bar mounter who preferred backplates of that style.

[Dansson]

Period jeweller repairs and engravings are a soft spot for me, well this one fits in that frame. A nice B14 1.Class Iron Cross from S-W, cast iron core with a small crack on it. This front fighter is quite worn as you can see on the beadings.

Awardee was someone most likely of Nobel heritage as the initials R.v.H. would suggest.


Thought provoking side note is that all the persons in the background photos are now resting in the soil.

[Dansson]

Another private purchase EK1. Heavily vaulted steel cored cross, the engraving is just stunning on this one.

[Dansson]

One of my all time favourites of Imperial Iron Crosses, the 1914 A14 variation.
I've got a few of the A14's as second classes, but the one first class that I have is hard to find.
What makes these so special? The only difference physically to an 1870 A cored cross is that the date has been changed to 1914. In my opinion these are the most early crosses you can come by from the First World War.