Guys - Forgive me if this has been discussed before but here is what I was thinking... The consensus is that LDO marked EK1s were for private purchase - you will see a guy with an EK1 (wither unmarked or PKZ marked) who later bought an LDO marked cross at a local retailer for back-up purposes. It is reasonable that a guy could have an EK1 that he wore on a regular basis at the front, etc., but wore a new one for a formal portrait or wedding.
Isn't it possible, however, that there were a few isolated instances where LDOs were awarded? Two scenarios....
1. It's late in the war and an awarding authority is in the midst of making multiple awards. The paperwork is processed but the shipment from the OKH/PA or PKZ has not come in (or has run out). The local authority skirts the rules and acquires a box of say, 20, for awarding purposes froma local retailer. Let's say the awarding authority is 9. Sicherungsdivision headquartered in Gotenhafen (Gdynia) in March 1945. They are neck deep in evacuating soldiers and civilians and from the Frisches Haff and see numerous soldiers and sailors distinguishing themselves in the chaos. There are no more OKM/PA or PKZ crosses in inventory but there are retailers in Gotenhafen who still have crosses and a junior officer is sent to retrieve them.
2. The PKZ orders (or directs) a shipment of crosses from a major manufacturer - let's say Deumer, Meybauer or W&L. A shipment goes out but its the wrong type - they get a large shipment of LDO crosses instead. Perhaps it's possible that the LDO crosses are not returned but forwarded anyway, either because the demand for crosses by awarding authorities is so high or the forwarding is a mistake; a tired or hung-over clerk inadvertently forwards them rather than returns them.
Obviously, these scenarios are made up and they can likely be picked apart. However, it's quite likely that alternatives to the rule occurred at times and that there were guys who received an LDO EK1 in late 1944 or early 1945 from their General. Food for thought?
Isn't it possible, however, that there were a few isolated instances where LDOs were awarded? Two scenarios....
1. It's late in the war and an awarding authority is in the midst of making multiple awards. The paperwork is processed but the shipment from the OKH/PA or PKZ has not come in (or has run out). The local authority skirts the rules and acquires a box of say, 20, for awarding purposes froma local retailer. Let's say the awarding authority is 9. Sicherungsdivision headquartered in Gotenhafen (Gdynia) in March 1945. They are neck deep in evacuating soldiers and civilians and from the Frisches Haff and see numerous soldiers and sailors distinguishing themselves in the chaos. There are no more OKM/PA or PKZ crosses in inventory but there are retailers in Gotenhafen who still have crosses and a junior officer is sent to retrieve them.
2. The PKZ orders (or directs) a shipment of crosses from a major manufacturer - let's say Deumer, Meybauer or W&L. A shipment goes out but its the wrong type - they get a large shipment of LDO crosses instead. Perhaps it's possible that the LDO crosses are not returned but forwarded anyway, either because the demand for crosses by awarding authorities is so high or the forwarding is a mistake; a tired or hung-over clerk inadvertently forwards them rather than returns them.
Obviously, these scenarios are made up and they can likely be picked apart. However, it's quite likely that alternatives to the rule occurred at times and that there were guys who received an LDO EK1 in late 1944 or early 1945 from their General. Food for thought?
Comment