Marschall der DDR super size shoulder boards

[achern]

I just came across this thing on ebay and was wondering if any of you know what it might be. I've never seen anything like it.



The item is listed here:

http://cgi.ebay.de/1-Paar-Parade-Sch...item1c11ae30c1

He also has a set of regular Marschall der DDR boards for sale that look like the usual repros on ebay:



Listed here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...EOIBSA:GB:1123

Apparently, this seller also has a homepage at http://www.lagermaulwurf.de/ where his wares are available.

Any thoughts on this, or previous experience with the seller?

[Mike G.]

Fantasy

[ehrentitle]

The top one is fantasy, didn't exist, even as samples/muster. The bottom one is a copy of the final design of the Marschall shoulder boards that were designed but never issued.

Back in 2002, Klaus H. Feder did an article in Militaria (in German) titled, Marschall der DDR - ein Dienstgrad, den keiner erreichte. Which shows several variations of the sample Marschall shoulder boards. According to Klaus Wather's Uniformeffekten der bewaffneten Organe der DDR Band II, 12 pairs of these shoulder boards were made.

Here is an English Wikipedia article I updated a few years back that provides more background on this rank:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshal...ratic_Republic

[eastgermansks]

Now that what I call a shoulder board.

[iannima]

More than a fantasy I would call it a nightmare ...
I have no direct experience with this seller, but another forum member has... and it is quite clear that there are too many fakes and put-together things, including these:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...E:B:EF:DE:1123
We all know that that cuff title NEVER existed. So I would stay well away from this chap's fantasies/nightmares

[uscob]

Not fake but the wrong Country. Made by the Possamentenwerke at Annaberg for Lybia.
You can tell the seller.
Nico

[uscob]

HaHaaaa, saw the name in the listing.
I know this guy from Brandenburg Gate 18 Yrs ago. He's an Idiot.
You can tell him what you want, he's believing in what he thinks what's right.

[Drugo]

Once I was desperately looking for a Volksmarine tellermütze in size 60 (btw, I AM STILL ), and he seemed to be the only one that got it in this size.

Well, since I had to pay the shipping costs I thought I'd buy something more in order to bring them down a bit.

I took a traininganzug in size SG48 and the most classic officer gray shirt.

It took me 4 emails in German (thanks to Matteo's translations) to persuade the seller that the shipping costs could not be the simple addition of the single ones, it was way too much!

Finally I received what I payed for:

1) The tellermütze was a 2005 made in Ukraine cap.
2) The traininganzug was in size UG52 and had the yellow patch removed (I got the patch later on for free from Bernhard Troeger).
3) The shirt was brand new, alas short-sleeved.

I obtained a refund at least for the tellermütze.

My worst experience on eBay EVER.

By the way: nice shoulderboards.

[achern]

Thanks for your input, everyone.

I've never come across this seller until he listed a whole lot of general's shoulder boards (from generalmajor to armeegeneral) on the bay last night.

A lot of it was snapped up within minutes through buy it now.

http://cgi.ebay.de/1-P-Schulterstuec...item1c11aa3d28

http://cgi.ebay.de/1-P-Schulterstuec...item1c11aa25b2

http://cgi.ebay.de/1-P-Schulterstuec...item1c11ab8f91

[uscob]

I won't buy from this guy unless I had the items in my hand for aproval.
At BBG Gate he tried to sell me some nice EM Soviet Hat's faked out of Generals Field Caps were he glued coloured Felt on them. He wanted & Marks for them and I had to tell him in the Original condition they're worth much more.
I bought them for 2 Marks for the Buttons, Strap and Badge and destroyed the Caps.
I had the same with an EG Air Force General for 50 Marks. Added Felt but the old handmade Bulls Eye Badge was worth the Price. I left the Cap w/o the Badges etc. and he tried to sell the Cap for Years with EM Insignia.

[uscob]

Met him yestarday at Sturm's spring show in Tangermünde.
"I don't care, somebody will buy them."

[achern]

It's harder and harder to separate the wheat from chaff on eBay now, and I think it's only going to get worse.

[ehrentitle]

Ralph and I saw an unusual pair of Marschall der DDR shoulder boards today. They were Russian style with blue underlay, marshall's star, large DDR emblem and gold tassels around the outside. I think the original post in this thread may have had similar boards, but unfortunately the photos are gone.

[ehrentitle]

Here in another thread on the same topic, but unfortunately all of the photos are gone there as well:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=231282