Fallschirmschutzenabzeichen

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Mike,

Thanks for that picture. It is the very same Assmann badge type though. Sure, WITHOUT a L/64 mark, it COULD have been made earlier than late 1944 or early 1945.

Retired pilot´s badges: I have to say I never trusted L/11 or L/12 marked retired pilot´s badges anyway. And of what use would it be to attach a LDO mark illegally to a badge when you could not sell it through LDO dealers anyway? Not very likely at all.

This here below is a zinc Assmann that would fit into the time period between Tombak mark 1 and 2 and the injection mold cast zinc badges. And it is what I PRESUME might have been available in 1943. Used to be in my collection and is now in Don Doering´s:

[Frank Heukemes]

rv

[Frank Heukemes]

mark

[Darrell]

Frank,

What is the significance of the "2" mark on the wreath? I read once that it was a mold number, but I'm not sure this is correct.

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Darrel,

What is the significance of the "2" mark on the wreath? I read once that it was a mold number, but I'm not sure this is correct.

As far as we know, that is correct. It also corresponds with other Assmann late(st) war injection mold badges, like their GABs and IABs, which also bore mold numbers.

[Frank Heukemes]

Another interesting bit of info for Luftwaffe buffs in that article I posted:

After January 1945, the Verkaufsstelle der Luftwaffe in Berlin did not cease to exist, but only continued to sell Luftwaffe badges to officers and LW-officials, while other ranks and NCOs had to buy them at LDO shops from now on and were not allowed to apply for badges anymore at the Verkaufsstelle der Luftwaffe in Berlin. Thought this was also interesting.

[Darrell]

Dear Darrel,


As far as we know, that is correct. It also corresponds with other Assmann late(st) war injection mold badges, like their GABs and IABs, which also bore mold numbers.

Thanks Frank.

Interesting stuff you posted above. I for one appreciate all the background you dug up on the late war markings.

[jgarcia]

Hi Frank,


I own the badge pictured in Eric's book on page 171 and it's not marked L/64. It only has a "1" above the right rivet.

I agree that the recipient of the badge might not remember when or where he acquired a badge. Although in this case, I'm pretty sure this badge was received by Mr. Nikolas around the time the award document was presented. The reason I'm sure is that Mr. Nikolas was an early member of the Fallshirm-Infanterie and never wore a Luftwaffe Para badge. He had no reason to later purchase a badge of this type.

Eric explains in his book that former members of the Fallshirm-Infanterie were awarded the Luftwaffe version of the paratrooper qualification badge on December 18, 1943. Eric told me that Mr. Nikolas never wore this badge and like many other former members of the Fallshirm-Infanterie used only the Army version.

I wasn't trying to question what you had stated and I was only trying to point out that it's possible this type of badge was made as early as December 1943.

John Garcia

[Eric Queen]

sorry, posted twice for some reason

[Eric Queen]

I apologize for my part in this confusion. The caption next to the badge was not worded correctly. It was meant to convey that this was a typical L/64 (A) "type" mold injection badge (because we thought that L/64 was what most people could relate to/be familiar with), produced by the Assmann firm. In retrospect, I should have perhaps pictured the reverse of the badge, and offered a better explaination. But due to the fact that the book was not about Lw. badges, this was mistakenly overlooked. This is the badge that Nikolas was issued, and it does have only a "1" on the reverse. He made it a point to tell me that he never wore it and I just cannot imagine that it was something that he went out and purchased.

Again, sorry for the confusion caused by the poorly worded caption.

EQ

[SgtB]

I can see nothing wrong with this badge; but I think it's strange that in the first 25 years of collecting FJ, I saw maybe five of these, but in the past 12 months, I've seen at least a dozen, all the same, all die number 2, all in this superb condition. Time was, this was a very rare badge in any condition. Now it seems to be everywhere in perfect condition. I wonder if any of the other old time FJ collectors think this is remarkable. After so many years in the hobby, this sort of odd coincidence makes me start to ask paranoid questions, like, "I wonder if the Assmann firm (which is still making badges for the Bundeswehr today) has some people moonlighting with original dies?"

I'm no badge-man - that's for sure. And I've only had a couple of jump
badges over the years, but I've had an experience that may dovetail
with Chris's concerns.

I had a dear old friend (sadly gone now) that had a large, at least by my
standards, collection of mostly Luft badges. He also had a sizeable blade
collection. Over 20 years ago, he showed me two FJ badges side by side
and asked me to pick the real one. I did, by chance, but the truth is I
had no clue. They were nearly identical except for the hinge and hook.
The only reason I remember what maker they were is the little 2 on the
side. He said if they ever correct them, it will be a perfect copy. Does
anyone else here have the same experience? I've been watching this
forum for awhile now but have never heard mention of it.

Another thing that I find disconcerting is the general acceptance,
lately, of badges with mix-and-match components from various
manufacturers. This flies in the face of everything (irregardless of
how limited and outdated ) that I've learned about the subject.

I realize many here like Frank and Eric and Chris have forgotten
more than I'll ever know about the subject, but I'd really like to
know if my information is bad after all of these years. Anybody?

[Frank Heukemes]

@John & Eric: thanks for clarifying this, I think the way it stands now we have a kind of consensus. At least there is no total contradiction to the evidence anymore.

@Brian: it is very hard (or better: impossible) to relate to that comparison you mention without actually seeing the badges.
I am known as an avid collector of fake badge picture files. I do not have even one fake "injection mold zinc Assmann para type" on file, nor have I seen one while going through "live material" at shows. So as far as my personal experience goes, I cannot say that this type badge is faked.

@Chris: as far as I know, the company of Assmann does not exist anymore and does not produce Bundeswehr badges to this very day. They did produce 1957 badges (which is probably what you meant), but these are not anywhere close to their former injection mold technology badges. Of course we never know if dies have survived, but none of the injection mold Assmann paras I have seen and have on file look suspicious in any way. The one which started this thread might have a reworked finish, but not even that is for sure.

[Mike Kenny]

I had a dear old friend (sadly gone now) that had a large, at least by my
standards, collection of mostly Luft badges. He also had a sizeable blade
collection. Over 20 years ago, he showed me two FJ badges side by side
and asked me to pick the real one. I did, by chance, but the truth is I
had no clue. They were nearly identical except for the hinge and hook.
The only reason I remember what maker they were is the little 2 on the
side. He said if they ever correct them, it will be a perfect copy. Does
anyone else here have the same experience? I've been watching this
forum for awhile now but have never heard mention of it.

Hi Brian,

Could you clarify something here please. Are you saying the injection molded badges with the 2 on the wreath are good or bad?

Regards
Mike K

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Mike,

I think Brian said both (the good one and the reproduction) had the 2 mark. At least that is what I understood.

[SgtB]

Hi Brian,
Could you clarify something here please. Are you saying the injection molded badges with the 2 on the wreath are good or bad?
Regards
Mike K

Actually I'm not 'saying' anything Mike! I'm 'asking' so that I can learn
if what I know is worth knowing!