Pricey Bundeswehr Lot on sale in the UK

[Guardian 5]

Team - I was somewhat surprised when I opened the NOV/DEC 09 issue of "Armourer" Magazine to find that a lot of 1957 Bundeswehr militaria was priced considerably higher than a lot of medals awarded to a French soldier killed fighting on the Somme in World War One.

Has the Bundeswehr finally "arrived" as a "serious" collecting field, bringing with it serious prices?

All the best - TJ

[Huntzman]

Hey TJ

The '57 medals are certainly climbing in price, especially as the TR period stuff continues to rise. There is a growing demand on early '57 pieces, since these more likely would have been actually worn or issued to vets, as opposed to the later entries that seemed to be aimed at the collector market.

As this grouping appears to be in that category, the price is not unusual. In reality, it is a very nice grouping, considering the wehrpass and dogtags come along with it.

Andrew

[LuckyStrike23]

Early BW-stuff is rare. There are very few items on the market. Its for example more difficult to find an early BW-Affenjacke than a WWII panzer wrapper.

[Mike Yokum]

Just my two cents as a serious 57er collector, but I consider the price for the 57 lot to be very reasonable even somewhat low, particularly if they are early pieces. It's impossible to tell from the provided photos what period of manufacture they are from and that has everything to do with value. The LGAB appears to be a wartime, denazified version.

Sometimes "groupings" are put together to enhance value of individual pieces. This appears to be an honest, attributed grouping that I would love to have in my collection!

[Guardian 5]

Gents - Good points all; but I'm still having trouble getting my arms around the fact that a Bundeswehr lot would be double the price of a World War One lot ($404.00 USD vs. $202.00 USD).

I guess I developed an inferiority complex over the years. Bundeswehr collectors always seemed to have been looked down on by our "betters" in the TR collecting fraternity and even DDR collectors.

Thus, to see a Bundeswehr lot priced higher than one from the "war to end all wars, seems surprising to me, even now. Perhaps 2010 will herald in the decade of the Bundeswehr collector, where we will no longer have to play second fiddle to the TR and DDR.

All the best - TJ

[the.warlord1944]

i collect bundeswehr almost 3 years know and it is still fun, and it is affordable still collect ww1 and ww2 items also but when budget is low i go back to bw collecting.

i like the afghanistan,former yugoslavia missions , lot of patches to collect.

[Mike Yokum]

I guess I developed an inferiority complex over the years. Bundeswehr collectors always seemed to have been looked down on by our "betters" in the TR collecting fraternity and even DDR collectors.

All the best - TJ

Well said TJ! I refuse to sucumb to the complex and PROUDLY collect New Form/Bundeswehr pieces! TR guys still tend to look down on us collectors of "lowly 57er's" and BW items, but it bothers me none. The early awards were for, worn and handled by WWII vets who earned them and couldn't wear them because of legitimate laws concerning the display of the swastika.

Many of those vets also served in the BW and just because it's post-45 it doesn't lessen the legacy of the men! Their history was simply into a new chapter that should be honored by all. That's, in large part, why I collect.

Here's my small but proud New Form/BW tribute to the Deutschen Fallschirmjäger...

Note: the Collar Tabs, LW Marksmanship Lanyard, Romanian anti-Communism medal and the Czech Annexation Medal are TR pieces. See? I don't discriminate!

[Huntzman]

Mike

My sentiments exactly. Just because these items don't have the Swas does not lessen them in my eyes.

This is a field I'm hoping to finally break into this year. Just not much of it floating around.

Outstanding collection by the way !!!!!!!

....Many of those vets also served in the BW and just because it's post-45 it doesn't lessen the legacy of the men! Their history was simply into a new chapter that should be honored by all. That's, in large part, why I collect.......

[Kondor]

Ground Combat Badge

I'm just going to throw this out there, but if you take a look at the ground combat award in the auction, it appears that this may be a third reich era badge, looks to still have the swastica if you compare it to the one posted in the fine collection of Bundeswehr medals and badges. That could explain the differences in price. I served with a Major in the Bundeswehr that wore his 57 model panzer assault badge on his tunic, but had the 25 version from the war along with all of his other medals in his office. I worked overtime trying to get that 25 panzer badge from him, but he wouldn't part with it.

[Mike Yokum]

You're right Kondor and I actually pointed that out in post #4 of this thread. Oddly enough, to some anyway, de-Nazified awards sometimes sell for equal to or less than early New Form awards. It depends on the award of course, but I've seen it many times. By early, I mean those produced between 1957 and 1962. These early awards were meant for the vets and were often issued to them. The quality is exemplary.

[Gordon Craig]

TJ,

Interesting thread. Yes some BW items are inexpensive but then again some are climbing in value. As is mentioned above, early 57 style awards have really taken off in price. As for being looked down upon by TR collectors I don't feel that I am looked down on. Perhaps just the other way around. TR collectors come to us to authentic some of their items by asking if what they are looking at buying, or have bought, is really TR or is it a BW item. We don't have that problem so we can concentrate on collecting things instead of spending all of our time trying to figure out if it is real of a fake item. Besides, I can compare my BW items to my TR items for the evolution of uniforms over the years. A much more satisfying passtime.

Regards,

Gordon

[Mike Yokum]

we can concentrate on collecting things instead of spending all of our time trying to figure out if it is real of a fake item.
Regards,

Gordon

Amen to that Gordon!

57er's are beginning to be faked in earnest, but at this point they're still quite easy to spot. That will change in time.

[Guardian 5]

Mike - That is one eye-popping display. About how long has it taken you to acquire such a wonderful range of exquisite militaria?

While I still feel that Bundeswehr aficionados are the “red-haired step children” of German Militaria collectors, like Gordon, I enjoy collecting Bundeswehr Militaria because it is virtually stress free. Fakes are seldom encountered and much original research remains to be added to the body of knowledge that currently exists, especially of the immediate post-war era.

I too am intrigued by the evolution of uniforms, not only of the BDR, but the DDR as well. In 1956, two German governments, one a western democracy, the other a socialist state, began mining their collective heritage of German military history to forge new identities. I find the choices they made endlessly fascinating and look forward to a continuing sense of wonder and discovery as I pursue the hobby in the years to come.

All the best - TJ

[Mike Yokum]

Thanks TJ! I've worked hard to put this collection together. It has taken a little more than a year of very focused and concentrated effort along with some very fortuitous timing to make it happen. I have a second shadow box in the works as well. It will house the BW FJ Wehrpas and BW Witzig signed photo I shared here recently along with several other items. When it's complete I'll post it here for your review.

I've been spending more time in this section of the WAF and have a growing appreciation for this group of collectors and the history and items featured here. See ya soon!