Cap badge question

[Aave Johns]

Hi all
I was recently researching Stalag 4B, as I have a POW ID tag from that camp. I was going through a list of camps that had photo's attached as some had pictures of ID tags, and I wanted to see the various styles of stamping. I came across a story from Stalag 8A. They started their own "foundry" to make cap and collar badges for POWs who had lost their own. The foundry was called "K.G. Foundries Ltd", I am guessing, but K.G was probably an abbreviation for "kreigie", the prisoners name for themselves. They made the badges using sand or soap as moulds. The fine work was completed using a penknife and file. The first batch was made of lead that was pilfered from the sink piping in the German's Electrical Workshop. As time went by they were able to get better metals as their scavenging abilities improved. A cap badge cost 30 cigarettes, and a collar badge 20 cigarettes. So I wonder how many crude badges have been passed over by collectors that actually had some history behind it !
If one camp did it, there is a fair chance that others were doing the same.

Regards;
Johnsy

[lnijherald]

Johnsy, great story! I've seen such "locally made" examples too, they are absolutely fantastic pieces.
I assume KG stand for kriegsgefangene.
Cheers, Luc

[Gary XXI]

My Grandfather was in Stalag 8B he used to talk about casting Badges using melted down German Army Buttons, so yes it was done in most camps.

Cheers

[sabertasche]

Hi all, the Museum of the Regiments - Calgary Tanks Hall, has a great POW display from their action at Dieppe. In the display is a Calgary Tank badge made by a POW from melted buttons and tin foil. It is a fantastic display and the museum is spectacular.
If in Calgary it is a Must See along with the Naval Museum and Air Museum.

Cheers.

Greg