I would like to know what your gateway Third Reich era award was that got you hooked into collecting. I listed the most common ones that beginners start with realizing I couldn't list them all. However if your first was a Knight Cross please feel free to post a comment. My first was the classic unmarked EKII and I still have it framed and haging on the wall.
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85EKI or EKII52.94%45War Merit Cross with or without Swords (any class)16.47%14East Front Medal3.53%3Military Service Service Award (4, 12, 18 or 25yr)0.00%0Civil Service Award (25, 40 or 50yr)0.00%0Police Service Award (8, 18 or 25yr)0.00%0West Wall Medal1.18%1Mother's Cross (bronze, silver or gold)2.35%2Combat Badges ( IAB, PAB, GAB, CCC, WB, etc)11.76%10Other Third Reich Medal or Badge11.76%10The poll is expired.
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A beat-up S&L PAB that was given to me by a vet when I was a kid.
Best,
Greg -
Unmarked EK II
My first was an unmarked EK II. Put it up on WAF for identification, it was deemed to be a no 11.
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a fake IAB...
legit? a nice OST medal, ribbon bar and buttonere I found at a flea market, 40 bucks for the lotComment
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A fake will take the wind out of your sails quickly enough but sounds like you had a nice bounce back.Originally posted by Brig View Post
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Naturaly EK2! As kids we never distinguished them by classes,...all were black cross around the neck. Naturaly closest one to look alike was EK2,...and cheapest one.
The "biggest mistake" for one to do, Is to buy a badge which costs more than 400, 500 eur,...after that you are almost certainly doomed for life
speaking out of my experience
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Nothing like the voice of experience. However, sometimes the best lessons in life cost around 500€Originally posted by germanmedals View PostThe "biggest mistake" for one to do, Is to buy a badge which costs more than 400, 500 eur,...after that you are almost certainly doomed for life speaking out of my experience
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Hi John,
Looks like you have a fine W&L there. Good way to start.
I got into collecting when a friend of my Dad gave me one of his bring backs, a Beretta Model 38 sub gun. That was late 1950s. No big deal to have one back then. I also got a nice S84/98 bayo.
Regards,
StuComment
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Hi Stu,
It's been awhile. Thanks for ID'ing the maker on this cross, I have had it since 1991 and never thought of posting it for identificaion. I guess I should have added an Equipment and Uniforms to the poll
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My first was an unmarked K&Q EK II that came with a F&R silver PAB after my father passed away. It was given to me by my mother.
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My First!!
A very nice early (tombak) War Merit cross with swords mm 82 and two other zinc War Merit Cross..
i get it last year (well, i still amateur collector)..
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My interest did also start also start as a kid.
I did find two ammo pouches for the K98 in the attic of our house.
It seems that one from my fathers family was in the Danish resistance, or so I was told.
But this did start of my interest for 2nd WW.
/FlemmingComment
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I started with dagger WH from my grandfather. Then my first own medal was, unexpectedly - EK II
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An unmarked EK2. -GerComment
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A mint condition black wound badge that I got when I was 10 years old in 1973. My parents were antiquers, and dragged my brother and I around to auctions and country antique sales. I spotted the wound badge at one of the sales, and my parents probably bought it to shut me up....although I don't think it cost more that 50 cents or so. I still have it in my collection, and have been hooked ever sinceComment
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