late xmas gift to myself 70 hindenburg cross medals

[gregM]

Nice instant collection.

[LeeJ]

Nice lot If I remember, there is a thread here somewhere with all the makers for you to compare.

[Robert P.]

Why buy 70 Hindies?

Because we're collectors! I think it would be really interesting to see how many makers made these medals.

On the side I've been collecting Seefahrt Ist Not tinnies; I have (57) of them, one shy of having the full collection. I also collect 1935 Tag der Arbeit tinnies; I have (125) of these, two shy of having a full collection. Both of these are very common tinnies, every dealer has some on their site for sale. I enjoy the hunt for new additions/new makers.

Congratulations on a nice collection of crosses,

Robert

[McCulloh]

Nice! where did you get them? I always wonder about the guys who went through the war and got nothing. Still, about 2o percent of those who were owed medals never bothered to apply for them.
But one thing I did learn this year was that DRK female nurses got them too, which I have always wondered about.

[Gary B]

Why buy 70 Hindies?

The same reaosn collectors here have 100 PABs or 100 IABs or 100 EK2s. They all look the same but collectors like to collect the variations and Maker marks.

Gary B

[billmunny]

agreed..

These may not be collector "gold" but Hindy's were the first TR medal issued, WWI vets wore them proudly & it's cool that someone treasures these often neglected medals

[peterm]

What does the different colors represent?

Nothing. Only different makers!

Kind regards, Peter

[petopoint]

Bravo

Well after checking out the link to your War Chest I can attest that Joe has a helluva lot more WWI related Militaria then Hindy's. Now comes (most welcome) that little problem of where to put them all?

[Brian L.]

I disagree. This medal put case closed to all those other veterans medals that made every private look like a general. It was also the officially sanctioned commemorative for the Great War.

I agree 100% and concede this point.

Although, all those pretty vet awards from the Weimar period were nicely made and designed, if somewhat overblown for what they actually were. I see them as a panacea for the bruised egos of a proud, militaristic nation pulverized to dust by WWI.

But, IMO (and speaking as a designer) the Hindy was the first of several poorly designed and badly made orders and badges perpetrated during the TR, which isn't to say there weren't some nice badges in the TR. The Naval badges were generally nicely designed. But, there were a lot of ugly ones too (Luftschütz medal and Civil Service cross, come to mind), when you compare them to Imperial era awards. Even the 1939 EK was somewhat clumsy, when compared to gracefulness of the 1914.

Hitler, as a talentless, failed artist, yet with an overbearing belief is his artistic vision, unfortunately took it upon himself to oversee the general artistic direction of much of the flotsam and jetsam of the TR, with decidely ugly and sometimes grotesque results.

It's not without some justification that the concept of 'Kitsch' originated in Germany.

As a design professor, I tend to blither on and get into dialectic debates like this. So, just ignore me.

I'm sorry if I offended any collector sensibilities. Afterall, it's still history, even if not particularly pretty.

[Robert P.]

These 'poorly designed and madly made orders and badges of the TR' accomplished one vital ingredient which cannot be overlooked; like in all wars these awards provided personal accomplishment in an 'army' that was destined to overtake the entire world at that time. They gave the soldier distinction. The 'Hindy' was a start, and I believe from it's onset it instilled vision once again in the fighting man's heart and soul, something that was lost in WWI.

Just my thoughts...

Robert

[Brian L.]

These 'poorly designed and madly made orders and badges of the TR' accomplished one vital ingredient which cannot be overlooked; like in all wars these awards provided personal accomplishment in an 'army' that was destined to overtake the entire world at that time. They gave the soldier distinction. The 'Hindy' was a start, and I believe from it's onset it instilled vision once again in the fighting man's heart and soul, something that was lost in WWI.

Just my thoughts...

Robert

The Hindy was a very clever political tool to unite the vets behind the TR and to add to the resurgent myth of Germanic surperiority. I will actually argue with myself a bit here and say that its simplistic, stark and somewhat sombre design was a sign of the times (world depression and all).

I suppose my reaction to it is one of an old-time collector who remembers when you couldn't give them away, if you tried. Now, they're actually (albeit VERY slowly) going up in value and there are actually type collectors - surprising to an old duffer like me. Then again, I remember being able to buy TWMs for $50 only 17 or 18 years ago. Now look at the insane prices they're getting.

[peterm]

I But, there were a lot of ugly ones too (Luftschütz medal and Civil Service cross, come to mind), when you compare them to Imperial era awards. Even the 1939 EK was somewhat clumsy, when compared to gracefulness of the 1914.

And that's the reason why the whole world collects them...

Hitler, as a talentless, failed artist, yet with an overbearing belief is his artistic vision, unfortunately took it upon himself to oversee the general artistic direction of much of the flotsam and jetsam of the TR, with decidely ugly

I'm sure too, Hitler was not the greatest and most talented artist in his time, but HIS work is well known all over the world - can we say the same concerning YOUR work (as a designer...)?

Kind regards, Peter

[Robert P.]

This reminds me of a documentary I watched some time ago. Hitler recruited/used his best designers, architects and engineers to erect highways, super-structures, arenas, etc. during his reign as the national leader of Germany. It was a very interesting film. He (Hitler) was a man of vision, that cannot be disputed.

Robert

[Jeroen P]

I think it's a pity that they didn't use the old design of the 1870-1871 commemoration medal. But then again, this was a specific PRUSSIAN award, wasn't it, unlike the Hindenburg medal that was awarded to all German soldiers (who served in the war, of course).

[Brian L.]

I'm sure too, Hitler was not the greatest and most talented artist in his time, but HIS work is well known all over the world - can we say the same concerning YOUR work (as a designer...)?

Kind regards, Peter

I seemed to have hit a few sensitive nerves here. I didn't realize that there were so many Hindy or Hitler lovers out there.

Are you one of those Hitler appologists?

Actually, Hitler's artwork isn't that well-known throughout the world, only some of his other 'work', if you know what I mean. He was a terrrible artist and his artwork only has limited cache because of his notoriety and rarely sells for that much, really. I also take exception to anyone calling him a visionary. His co-design with Speer for Welthauptstadt Germania was nothing short of grotesque. He was a great actor and orator and happened to be in the right place at the right time, aided and abetted by several other well-paced, cynical opportunists. At any other time, he would have died in obscurity as the insignificant little twerp, he really was (EKI, nothwithstanding).

As for me, I've fortunately never aspired to Hitler's fame.

My work is in a few collections and museums. But, sure I'm a nobody.

I do, however have some very well-known websites I've designed on which, however I remain anonymous to the world at large.

Who wants fame? Just show me the money!