Were EKs Private Purchase?

[SwordFish]

I've often wondered, were EKs purchased and issued by the government of Germany, or were recipients awarded the "right" to purchase and wear the award?

And how does this apply to other awards of the reich?

As an edged weapons collector, I know that generally, as a rule of thumb, eligible wearers would purchase thier blades.. with the exception of wafamt govt. pieces for NCOsetc, ordinance sabers, loaner peices, and blah blah blah etc., etc.

Just curious.

Thanks in advance for the info,
Tom

[Hank C.]

I know a person could purchase them, I believe that was one of the reasons for the urkunden - showing that the person had "earned" the right to purchase the EK, or whatever other badge/medal.

Correct me if I'm wrong please.

best
Hank

[SwordFish]

Hank,
Was private purchase the norm then?

[Mike Kenny]

Award pieces were generally given at the time they were awarded, sometimes in large ceremonies, somtimes in less official surrounds. There are plenty of period photos showing tables of awards ready to be given out. Winners then had the option of purchasing additional examples, using their documentation as proof they were entitled to them.

Regards
Mike

[SwordFish]

Thank you Mike for the info.

That is the conclusion I just came to after doing some research and cracking open Reddicks book "Medals and Decorations of the Third Reich", originally by Col. Heinrich Doehle, SS Colonel.

Thanks again,
Tom

[Jono]

Yep, would often buy private pieces so that one would be at home and safe while they wore the other. Also for replacements if lost/broken etc. I think there were some that were forbidden to be purchased but not sure

[Steve Campbell]

Any EK, including all screwbacks, that is marked with an LDO number, ie L/59, L/13, L/57 etc would have been a private purchase piece. There are many of these examples out there, so the practice was obviously widespread. The same goes for 1914 EKs. The majority of the variants you fnd in Imperial EK1s in terms of attachment systems like screwbacks, sidehooks etc, along with construction variants like one piece all brass versions etc are private purchace pieces, the majority of them made after the war had ended.

I believe it became illegal early on in WW2 to privately sell Knight's Crosses, so I'm not sure what recipients did for extra copies if needed.

[Hank C.]

Any EK, including all screwbacks, that is marked with an LDO number, ie L/59, L/13, L/57 etc would have been a private purchase piece.

I personally believe that is debatable, as has been done here a few times.

I believe it became illegal early on in WW2 to privately sell Knight's Crosses, so I'm not sure what recipients did for extra copies if needed.

They ordered them online from SnyderTreasures, of course!

best
Hank

[Steve Campbell]

I personally believe that is debatable, as has been done here a few times.

They ordered them online from SnyderTreasures, of course!

best
Hank

That was my understanding in terms of screwbacks and LDO marked crosses. I guess LDO pieces could have made it into official award stocks.

[Tiger 1]

The same goes for 1914 EKs. The majority of the variants you fnd in Imperial EK1s in terms of attachment systems like screwbacks, sidehooks etc, along with construction variants like one piece all brass versions etc are private purchace pieces, the majority of them made AFTER the war had ended.

Hi Steve,

I took the liberty of italicizing the word 'after' in your quote as it is the crux of my question.

My question is.... On what do you base your conclusion that the majority of EKI variants were made AFTER the war?

I have been collecting and studying the EK series for a while and have never come across anything to support such a conclusion. I'm very curious. Thanks.

All the best,

Tony

[Dietrich Maerz]

I believe it became illegal early on in WW2 to privately sell Knight's Crosses, so I'm not sure what recipients did for extra copies if needed.

The private sales of Ritterkreuze was prohibited starting around October 1941. Shop owners had to send their stock to the PKZ (they were reimbursed) but could also keep one example for display purpose.

Any owner of a Ritterkreuz could get a free replacement in case of loss or damage form the PKZ or could buy as many as he wanted to, but only from the PKZ.

Dietrich

[Steve Campbell]

Hi Steve,

I took the liberty of italicizing the word 'after' in your quote as it is the crux of my question.

My question is.... On what do you base your conclusion that the majority of EKI variants were made AFTER the war?

I have been collecting and studying the EK series for a while and have never come across anything to support such a conclusion. I'm very curious. Thanks.

All the best,

Tony

Well I figured the war lasted for 4 years, yet we have many examples of pieces said to be from the 20's and 30's. That's 20 years there vs the 4 years of the actual conflict. I just assumed that most of the variants you see were private purchase items and with only a small window during the war, yet a much larger one after the war, the majority of the variants would have been post war. Again, I'm no expert but this staement doesn't seem that out to lunch.