After gathering TR stuff for 30 years, I discovered WAF about 1 ½ years ago. The only awards in my collection were 2 iron crosses and a 1st class KVK (along with a fake para badge) at that point. I always liked the awards, but was not brave enough to actually collect. The standard books I had just didn’t seem enough to identify all the fakes. So for the first half year after finding WAF I spent every spare minute on the forum, and purchased the books I never knew existed. I also sold most of the accumulated TR stuff I had. Using the proceeds, and many, many extra hours of overtime I made a new start at my collection. I am very grateful to all the selfless members of the forum who freely share their wisdom, and provide such a great database for research. I hope that the time will come when I too will know enough to make some meaningful contributions.
Each piece in my collection was carefully chosen, and I do like them all a great deal, starting with the KVK 2nd Class.
I am fairly certain that all the pieces are good ones, but thought that it would be a good idea to show them for comments while the collection is still very small. I know that the photographs are not the greatest, but I will be more than glad to take more detailed shots if anything is questionable.
As a side note, researching the various awards, and especially the history of the iron cross has renewed my interest in Prussian history. My father was born in Prussia, and lived there until the last days of the war. He was “drafted” at that time at the age of 14. He never talked much about his experiences until recently, when I made an effort to find out more. Last year I decided to organize a trip to Eastern Prussia with my father and my three children (all three in their 20s). We visited my fathers home village, and all the locations of significance during the war years. We were lucky enough to find a Russian guide who was extremely knowledgeable in Prussian and Russian history. Between the guide and my fathers memories, my children and I received unforgettable lessons in German, Russian and our family’s history. Sadly my father passed away a few short weeks after the trip. However, I get a deep sense of satisfaction out of the fact that all three of my children consider that trip the most important family event in their life, giving them insights into their grandparents life as well as the hardships and devastation caused to all sides involved in war .
I am sorry to ramble, but I do feel the trip would have never happened if I had not stumbled onto this forum. Thank you all.
Wolfgang
Each piece in my collection was carefully chosen, and I do like them all a great deal, starting with the KVK 2nd Class.
I am fairly certain that all the pieces are good ones, but thought that it would be a good idea to show them for comments while the collection is still very small. I know that the photographs are not the greatest, but I will be more than glad to take more detailed shots if anything is questionable.
As a side note, researching the various awards, and especially the history of the iron cross has renewed my interest in Prussian history. My father was born in Prussia, and lived there until the last days of the war. He was “drafted” at that time at the age of 14. He never talked much about his experiences until recently, when I made an effort to find out more. Last year I decided to organize a trip to Eastern Prussia with my father and my three children (all three in their 20s). We visited my fathers home village, and all the locations of significance during the war years. We were lucky enough to find a Russian guide who was extremely knowledgeable in Prussian and Russian history. Between the guide and my fathers memories, my children and I received unforgettable lessons in German, Russian and our family’s history. Sadly my father passed away a few short weeks after the trip. However, I get a deep sense of satisfaction out of the fact that all three of my children consider that trip the most important family event in their life, giving them insights into their grandparents life as well as the hardships and devastation caused to all sides involved in war .
I am sorry to ramble, but I do feel the trip would have never happened if I had not stumbled onto this forum. Thank you all.
Wolfgang
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