The One that got away - I'm kicking myself

[Brian L.]

Every so often among the dreck, the spurious and the fantastical that shows up on eBay, a little unassuming treasure appears.
Such was the case last week. I saw this badge, (unknown to the seller), and recognized it immediately. I excitedly put it on my wish list to go back to and bid on later (stupid, stupid, stupid!) and then promptly forgot about it, went to sleep and woke to find it sold for a song.

Below is a Freikorps badge so rare and unseen, that Haarcke only has a blurry picture out of some old book (I think Unsere Reichswehr) and no price.

This is the Sleeve Badge, 1st Pattern of the FREIWILLIGES-FUSILIER REGIMENT 38.

It sold for a paltry 31.90 Euros, probably at minimum, 1/10 of it's value.

I'll be kicking myself over this one for a long time.

If anyone on here got it, good for you. It's the Freikorps bargain of the year.

[Sergeant 08]

Every so often among the dreck, the spurious and the fantastical that shows up on eBay, a little unassuming treasure appears.
Such was the case last week. I saw this badge, (unknown to the seller), and recognized it immediately. I excitedly put it on my wish list to go back to and bid on later (stupid, stupid, stupid!) and then promptly forgot about it, went to sleep and woke to find it sold for a song.

Below is a Freikorps badge so rare and unseen, that Haarcke only has a blurry picture out of some old book (I think Unsere Reichswehr) and no price.

This is the Sleeve Badge, 1st Pattern of the FREIWILLIGES-FUSILIER REGIMENT 38.

It sold for a paltry 31.90 Euros, probably at minimum, 1/10 of it's value.

I'll be kicking myself over this one for a long time.

If anyone on here got it, good for you. It's the Freikorps bargain of the year.

Such things can happen! I remember, some years ago I found a very rare skull badge (no Freikorps) on ebay. I forgot to place a bid and it was sold for only 20 Euro. It was a fantastic cheap price, I was very angry and I thought I will never see it again.

What happened later? Believe it or believe it not, two weeks later a similar badge appeared and I bought it for only 7 Euro!!! Since that time, I have never seen it in an auction again!

Never give up!

[Gilles C.]

I'd say that it one of the extreme few mistakes in Haarcke's book.
The second pattern of the badge (which you show) has the # 251.3 and is priced 300€. The patch and the badge shown on page 54 should have the #251.2 and 251.3
A further slight imperfection would be 621.1: the badge was worn vertically. As written in the book, the layout was done by André Hüsken.

Sarge, which FK insignia was it?

[Sergeant 08]

Sarge, which FK insignia was it?

I wrote it, no Freikorps badge. It was a Leibhusaren badge.

[Brian L.]

I wrote it, no Freikorps badge. It was a Leibhusaren badge.

So, the badge I posted isn't Freikorps at all?

[Sergeant 08]

So, the badge I posted isn't Freikorps at all?

There is a missunderstanding, I answered Gilles last question.

[Brian L.]

There is a missunderstanding, I answered Gilles last question.

Ok Sarge. I understand now.

Gilles. Thanks for pointing out the mistakes in Haarcke's book. I just noticed them.

The other question is his identification of the von Heydebreck Freikorps crown. He identifies the often seen small pin-back crown as the Freikorps badge. I had one of these many years ago, marked 800, with a nice block hinge and needle pin. However, I tend to side with those (such as Verkuilen Ager) who believe these are nothing more than patriotic sweetheart pins and that the actual badge is a large sleeve badge similar to the Marine officer's sleeve badge, as shown in Hartung's book.
Below is a picture of what I believe is the correct von Heydebreck badge.

In any event, there's always something new to learn and fresh evidence to help with the body of knowledge. Forums like this are a great source of information.

[Gilles C.]

Many Freikorps unit had new badges created for them, others just used already existing dages, like the freiwilliges Landesjägerkorps.
As the Heydebreck badge is supposed to have been worn on the cap, it would have been much easier to use a badge with a needle on its back than the larger one you show.
Just a guess, as I have don't know any period picture ot the badge being worn.

[Destruction]

Many Freikorps unit had new badges created for them, others just used already existing dages, like the freiwilliges Landesjägerkorps.
As the Heydebreck badge is supposed to have been worn on the cap, it would have been much easier to use a badge with a needle on its back than the larger one you show.
Just a guess, as I have don't know any period picture ot the badge being worn.

Does anyone has ANY pictures of FK Heydebreck at all? I've seen one on ebay recently stating it's FK Heidebreck, and it was written on the back. However, picture contained no badges or sleeveshields...

[Brian L.]

Many Freikorps unit had new badges created for them, others just used already existing dages, like the freiwilliges Landesjägerkorps.
As the Heydebreck badge is supposed to have been worn on the cap, it would have been much easier to use a badge with a needle on its back than the larger one you show.
Just a guess, as I have don't know any period picture ot the badge being worn.

Do you have a reference that states that the von Heydebreck was to be worn on the cap?
I used to believe that, as well. But, many years ago, I showed the small pinback crown that I had to Verkuilen Ager and he told me that it was his belief that the actual Freikorps badge was worn on the sleeve and was much larger, similar to the marine officers sleeve badge, as shown on page 73 of the Bichlmaier/Hartung Freikorps Katalog.

This seems to be one of those controversies that will continue until someone finds photographic evidence that supports one side or the other.

[Gilles C.]

Haarcke writes that it is was a cap badge, this mention made me think that a smaller pattern would be easier to wear, but the larger one would have prongs which would help as well.

Photographic evidence would help us indeed!

[Brian L.]

Haarcke writes that it is was a cap badge, this mention made me think that a smaller pattern would be easier to wear, but the larger one would have prongs which would help as well.

Photographic evidence would help us indeed!

The question is, where did Haarcke get his information? And, where did Bichlmaier/Hartung get their opposing information?

Since a lot of the archives relating to the Freikorps were destroyed in the war, we may never know, unless a photo turns up.

I'll probably just have one of each in my collection. That way, I'm covered.