purchasseing EK's in ww2

[Dan Plomish]

Quick question hope its not to stupid, If a soldier wanted to purchase a backup EK1 or ek2 ect... ect..., would he have to produce his award certificate to the jeweler? Or where would he go about doing so?

And would the answer of this go for any award?


Thanks

Dan Plomish

[Hank C.]

Private purchases were possible. Not sure if the award doc was required to purchase, or just to ensure it was awarded if "challenged" by an officer or NCO.

hope that helps
Hank

[Gerd Becker]

There was a document required. As far as i know, either the Award certificate or a special document, which allowed the owner to purchase Medals.

all the best,
Gerd

[EKman]

I know that having the award document was imperative to proving that you had earned the awards you were wearing, but I dont know if you had to produce the document to buy subsequent copies of your awards, but my gut says NO. I dont know how the German sales system was set up, but I know that I can walk into my local BX and buy any award currently issued (except the Medal of Honor), but if I start wearing Purple Heart, Bronze Star, or Silver Star ribbons on my uniform, I had better be able to prove that they were awarded to me.

[Don D.]

Soldiers had to show thier Soldbuch entry to the retailer. That was all the proof required.
Don

[Denis]

Hello
I quote from memory (I am at the office ) so forgive me in advance for possible mistakes. Anyway, I believe that the sale of Knights Cross by retailer was forbidden in the 1941 years.
If a knights cross holder would have lost his RK, he should contact the authorities.
Regards
Denis

[Ludwig]

-

I guess that you wore the awards "on your own risk" so to say. If the MP didn´t find the awards in your Soldbuch, you were in big trouble.

[Dan Plomish]

wow thanks guys1

Thanks so much for all your replys, that was great to get all that information.

I can always count on you guys

[landsknechte]

Private purchases were possible. Not sure if the award doc was required to purchase, or just to ensure it was awarded if "challenged" by an officer or NCO.

hope that helps
Hank

Alternately, were civilian private purchases possible? Apart from the odd next-of-kin that wanted mementos, there would have had to been some collectors - especially in the early days before the economy started to go downhill.

--Chris