EK1 Crudest hand-made one I have seen

[MattS]

Now before I get a bunch of "its fake" replies, hear me out. This was in a grouping I bought from a local WW2 vet who served in Le Harve, France. He brought back a bunch of stuff, some of which I had to sell to recoup my cost. I did keep the K98 and accessories I posted on the firearms forum and this Iron Cross. I asked the vet about it and he said they had an industrious German POW who melted down lead bullets and made these crude crosses to trade for cigarettes. I also got an ashtray made from the base of an 88 shell. I guess if you have the time and talent, anything is possible. It is rough, but I think a neat item. Opinions welcome, thanks!

[MattS]

Plain back side

[Robert P.]

I think it's very, very interesting. I know that many hand-made EK's exist, and this looks like a nice genuine collectible.

[Hans Kondor]

Very unique item, thanks for posting!

[MattS]

Thanks for the comments!

[AUSGANG]

Nice cross!

Here is a similar hand made cross, also from a souvenir... I just posted this on another thread, here is the link if you are interested:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...63#post3799463

[Snni]

Wow, great cross with a great story!

[streptile]

...an industrious German POW ... melted down lead bullets and made these crude crosses to trade for cigarettes. I also got an ashtray made from the base of an 88 shell.

Cool piece. It looks like an ashtray itself, no?

[MattS]

It is actually made to actual size of an EK1, the 88 ashtray is the real deal though! Here's the 2 side-by-side:

[AFF96]

IMO great additions to a EK collection!

[pbuchh7715]

Greetings, I know these arent crosses but examples of German POW ingenuity all the same. These were part of a Camp Hearne POW camp grouping I sold in April 2008.

It was common-place (at least according to the buyer who was researching Camp Hearne fo Texas A&M) for POW's to take existing awards, make molds and cast copies for trade with guards. Here are some examples. Also note the flat Luft eagle. It was made from a mess tin or cup and still had tropical camo paint on the reverse.

I believe the eagle in the middle was original but de-nazified.

Best,

Pete

[AUSGANG]

This is very interesting information that I have never heard before. I have run across many EKs that were evidently old but also obviously not "genuine", I wondered who would make them and why I just figured it was some kid in machine shop or an art class. I will have to look at the obvious "repro-constructions" differently now...