Worth the investment? DKIG documentation

[khorgor]

Hi all,

Is it worth spending so much money on getting a wehrpass or soldbuch for a DKIG winner?
Currently I have seen a DKIG wehrpass for $1,000US and a soldbuch for $500 (he also won the honour goblet!)

So the biggest question is this, should I sell my thai grand cordon of the order of the crown to fund at least one of these documents?
Half of my thoughts go towards german documentation that I can actually research and find out about these winners and their time in war (especially the wehrpass) - something I'll never be able to do with the thai award. Plus of course I can always get their awards later on to make up a stand in medal grouping.

and the other half of my thought process is that the thai order will probably never increase in value, while german militaria always seems to increase.

And of course not least, if I get the soldbuch, I will have money left over to get something special for the gf

So I hope to get some thoughts regarding this matter. thanks in advance

[dennisb]

Hi all,

Is it worth spending so much money on getting a wehrpass or soldbuch for a DKIG winner?
Currently I have seen a DKIG wehrpass for $1,000US and a soldbuch for $500 (he also won the honour goblet!)

So the biggest question is this, should I sell my thai grand cordon of the order of the crown to fund at least one of these documents?
Half of my thoughts go towards german documentation that I can actually research and find out about these winners and their time in war (especially the wehrpass) - something I'll never be able to do with the thai award. Plus of course I can always get their awards later on to make up a stand in medal grouping.

and the other half of my thought process is that the thai order will probably never increase in value, while german militaria always seems to increase.

And of course not least, if I get the soldbuch, I will have money left over to get something special for the gf

So I hope to get some thoughts regarding this matter. thanks in advance

Well, are you collecting or not?
To me it seems that you not really want to collect WWII militaria but more see the militaria documents as some sort of stocks and shares.
I collect because I am interested in the history and the history behind the documents not because I can now buy it for $100 and sell it 10 years later for $500.


Edit: Please don't see this opinion as an attack, it is just my opinion.

[Military]

Collect what you really like, or like what you wrote, something that you can research on.
Don't expect the value to go up.

When i bought my first soldbuch from Wien, I bought it as a piece of history from that area and as a momento for keeps.
Whether the value goes up or down would be secondary.

Mil

[hucks216]

To be honest this is really only a decision you can make as it isn't fair for any member to say you should or shouldn't get rid of an item you already own. But what I will say is that I'd say that for $500 the DKiG Soldbuch is a good price although I have a feeling that for that price one of those awards won't actually be entered in the soldbuch - at least period done - and it was awarded posthumously and after his SB was closed. Would I be close to the mark if I say KG 27 'Boelke'? If so then that is a nice item for that price. I have recently seen a nice DKiG soldbuch to an infantry officer priced at 985 Euros while I have seen DkiG Wehrpasse at £400 - prices vary due to units, who the recipient was, signatures within and numerous other entry variables, but ask anyone who collects such items and they will all say that they enjoy bringing the books to life with research - it is a rewarding past-time.

[khorgor]

Hi all

Thanks for your responces

everyone - I must of said this the wrong way - what I mean is that it is alot of money and to get it will most likely involve selling something else.

I have just started researching and am enjoying it immensly.

I know I probably offended few with thinking of it increasing in value. many apologies.

hucks - yes, you are right. thats the one I'm looking at. so that was a posthumous add on then? not that I'm bothered.
but yes you are right - I am here for the research. its just alot of money - thats all. big commitment

[hucks216]

Hi all

Thanks for your responces

everyone - I must of said this the wrong way - what I mean is that it is alot of money and to get it will most likely involve selling something else.

I have just started researching and am enjoying it immensly.

I know I probably offended few with thinking of it increasing in value. many apologies.

hucks - yes, you are right. thats the one I'm looking at. so that was a posthumous add on then? not that I'm bothered.
but yes you are right - I am here for the research. its just alot of money - thats all. big commitment

In terms of DKiG Soldbuch $500 isn't alot (although obviously the expense is all relative to an individuals budget). I know who is selling that item and you have nothing to worry about on that score, and posthumous or not he was awarded the DKiG & Ehrenpokal (from memory I think he was awarded the Ehrenpokal while still alive, it is just the DKiG that is a posthumous award.) In terms of obtaining a DKiG solduch I doubt that you will see one cheaper.

[khorgor]

thanks alot huck

very much appreciated. I will think about it.

may I ask if its possible to find out why the soldiers were given the awards? I have seen quite a passes now with DKIG, but was wondering if its possible to find out what they did to get it.

Thanks once again. I guess now I just need to decide wether the jewel of my thai crown collection will go to afford something like this :-)

[hucks216]

may I ask if its possible to find out why the soldiers were given the awards? I have seen quite a passes now with DKIG, but was wondering if its possible to find out what they did to get it.

As with most things I'm afraid, sometimes it is sometimes it isn't - if you are very lucky his actions may of been such that he is mentioned in a book somewhere (even if it is just a sentence), or someone has done a level of research on the unit and has something in their private files or maybe something is mentioned in the actual personnel file for the recipient stored away in an archive - if it still exists - but sometimes the reasons are lost in the passing of time.