German Labour Service insignia

[Gordon Craig]

Gentlemen,

Some of you may remember a large lot of early Labour Service insignia was posted on the forum. I made several aborted attempts to buy the entire group and the stories that I got from the vendor over a few months would make a great book. Recently, this large lot of insignia has been offered on ebay.com one piece at a time. I have managed to buy what was reasonably priced and past on the other pieces. I'd like to show both pieces of German Labour insignia that I have in my collection now.
First up is a long service pin. Nico tells me that it is for three years. The hangers go up to 40 years and these are only recorded as being issued twice. My piece is metal but it also comes in a cloth embroidered version. One of the cloth ones was sold on ebay from this lot. Any way, here are pictures of the front and the back which shows the makers name.

[Gordon Craig]

The other piece I have, and this one came from the large lot, is cloth rank insignia. It measures 90mm by 55 mm. It is interesting to note that the backing on this piece of insignia appears to be part of a page from a book from the Third Reich period or earlier..

Regards,

Gordon

[uscob]

The first is the so called "Geduldsfliege" for 3 Years of Faithfull Service. and the Cloth one is an Industrial Police Rank of a Staff Sergeant.
I decided to sell lot of my Stuff, so in the future I'll post it here:
http://www.berlin-military.com/index...=1176&lang=eng

[speedytop]

Hi,

in the first years the badge had been for one year of service, later for three years.

In the fifties:
"Deutsche Labor Service Dienstauszeichnung" without saying anything about the service time period, it was normally for one year. But it could be different in Army, Navy and Air Force.

1971 for example:
"Deutsche Labor Service Ein-Jahres-Dienstauszeichnung" for one year.
The matching five digit badge to the document is without the two holes.

1982 for example:
"Deutsche Labor Service Drei-Jahres-Dienstauszeichnung" for three years.

Uwe

[Gordon Craig]

Uwe,

A question. I am not sure what;
1971 for example:
"Deutsche Labor Service Ein-Jahres-Dienstauszeichnung" for one year.
The matching five digit badge to the document is without the two holes.
It is the reference to a "matching five digit badge" when the insignia is for one year and has no holes.

Regards,

Gordon

[speedytop]

Gordon,

I have pictures of the document from October 1971 and from both sides of the badge.
The No. 27724 you can find on the document and on the badge.
I don't know why, but the badge is without the two holes for a hanger, and there is no maker mark.

The three badges in my collection do have the holes for the hangers, two of them are with hangers.
On one document for the "Deutsche Labor Service Fünf-Jahres-Dienstauszeichnung" from 1986 in my collection you can see the badge with a silver hanger.

Uwe

[Gordon Craig]

Uwe,

Thanks for the very useful information.

Regards,

Gordon

[uscob]

Cuff Links

[Gordon Craig]

Nico,

In interesting private purchase piece. Another one to add to my list.

Regards,

Gordon

[uscob]

Nico,

In interesting private purchase piece. Another one to add to my list.

Regards,

Gordon

That's what I thought.
I might also have to complete Set with the Tie Tac and the GdBn. marked Jewelers Case.

[Proud Kraut]

These were the LS patches, I once had in my collection:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/al...3932653731.jpg

Lars

[uscob]

These were the LS patches, I once had in my collection:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/al...3932653731.jpg

Lars

Very nice.
I'm still looking for Row 3, Patch 8.

[Gordon Craig]

Lars,

A nice grouping of patches. Thanks for posting them.

Regards,

Gordon