Truly "rare".....

[Bob Hritz]

I would consider the three honour roll clasps as rare, when you take into account the numbers awarded, the late date of institution and the method of attachment.

Even though not so many were awarded, the amount of decorations made was very high. They are available and not ecpensive because of the huge surplus of awards made but not presented.

Bob Hritz

[Jon Fish]

Even though not so many were awarded, the amount of decorations made was very high. They are available and not ecpensive because of the huge surplus of awards made but not presented.

Bob Hritz

Exactly !

[Dave Tourle]

Point taken Bob. Is this the case with most awards/decorations from the period ? Do you know of any awards manufactured solely on demand for individual bestowal ?

Interesting thread !

Cheers Guys.

[Bob Hritz]

Point taken Bob. Is this the case with most awards/decorations from the period ? Do you know of any awards manufactured solely on demand for individual bestowal ?

Interesting thread !

Cheers Guys.

The German Order was in very small production. For other truely rare awards, the earliest are really a better gauge. Look at the Coburg badge and the Blood Orders. I doubt that there were stores of these waiting to be awarded. We know the German Cross with Diamonds was limited to 20 made and the Oak Leaves, Swords, and diamonds and Brilliants (both versions) were very few, with perhasp a few waiting to be awarded. The Star to the Grand Cross, Juncker Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, the Spanish Cross with Brilliants, the Social Welfare Cross with Daimonds are all exceptionally rare awards. The Condor Legion Tank badge is another rare award.

I would not consider the later production Oak Leaves and Oak Leaves and Swords to the Knight's Cross in the rare catagory. Apparantly, there were many Godet 900 21 pieces found after the war. I have owned several cased sets of each and never kept them because I value awarded orders over unissued examples. They are often available if you have the current price.

I recall seeing several vet finds of multiple Luftwaffe, Heer, and Naval Honor Roll Clasps that must have been taken from makers' stock or from somewhere waiting to be shipped to awardees.

I am not talking about small amounts of a common award, by some makers, such as the very hard to find Iron Crosses, wound badges, or assault badges. I am speaking of decorations that had very small production numbers for limited amounts of awardees.

Although, not national awards, I would include the Pilot Observer with Diamonds and with Brilliants (both versions) and the 1st Pattern pinback Blood order to be in the rare catagory.

Bob Hritz

[Dave Tourle]

Thanks Bob, I am now digging out my old reference works to re-read and appreciate with fresh insight ! A lot of books on the subject will describe and illustrate 'rare' awards but lack that 'personal' input that comes from a dedicated collectors experiences.
Many Thanks

Dave Tourle

[JohnD]

An awarded July 44' Wound Badge?

[Bob Hritz]

An awarded July 44' Wound Badge?

Thank you for the oversight correction. ANY period made 20 July 1944 Wound Badge would be in the range of RARE.

There are many others. Any Juncker Grand Cross, some of the Gau badges, and the Kriegsmarine Diamonds awards, to name a few.


Bob Hritz

[Ludwig]

Kampfabzeichen der Kleinkampfmittelverbände 4. Stufe is really rare!

[Dougie]

An awarded July 44' Wound Badge?

aaah, was just going to say that one

A very interesting thread folks! Keep 'em comming!!

[adren]

For Rare,

I would say Golden Grand Cross of German Eagle Order, there is one in Mannerheim Museum in Finland.

Grade with Diamonds was rumored to be awarded only once to Mussolini and may be in some Italian Central Bank Vault.

Another rare one in Mannerheim Museum is Grand Cross of German Red Cross with Oakleaves:

Best Regards,

Adren

[JohnD]

Have any of the purportedly issued 11 German Orders seen the light of day or can we assume they are still with the descendants or hidden away in anonymous collections?

[ErichS]

Have any of the purportedly issued 11 German Orders seen the light of day or can we assume they are still with the descendants or hidden away in anonymous collections?

No, there are more than a few out there in collections including an entire set owned by Wolfe Hardin. My guess is that these examples were never issued.

[Ron Weinand]

Go

I know of two Deumer cardboard boards that were sold just after the war that contained the German Order Pin Back Version, so I know there were leftover pieces available just after the war and sold to veterans.