Debate on OSTVOLK Ribbons and Medals. Who's is correct? Angola, Forman, etc., etc.

[Darrell]

I think this is the start of a good thread on Ost medals I tried starting one many moons ago .. but it just died. A very under appreciated medal.

[Howard Kelley]

Started with 2nd kls....ends with 1st kls.

Thats too bad Howard. These cased devils are hard to find now.

I notice that all these cased Osts have one thing in common. It appears the badge sits high toward the top of the case and not completely centered. Interesting, almost everyone I see is like this ....

Hi Darrell,

Good eye! Nice cased 1st kls.

But notice, your case is squared on the corners, and the one I sold....

Has the corners rounded off. Hey almost the same as the Iron Cross 1st Kls.

Wonder if the different type cases can help to date these pieces? Or does it really matter since they are all late war. And very few of us seem to enjoy these awards.

Thanks for sharing your pieces. Been most enjoyable.

Cheers,
Howard

[Darrell]

Hi Darrell,

Good eye! Nice cased 1st kls.

But notice, your case is squared on the corners, and the one I sold....

Has the corners rounded off. Hey almost the same as the Iron Cross 1st Kls.

Wonder if the different type cases can help to date these pieces? Or does it really matter since they are all late war. And very few of us seem to enjoy these awards.

Thanks for sharing your pieces. Been most enjoyable.

Cheers,
Howard

Can you remember if the inside (bottom black part) of your case was hard or soft material?

[Howard Kelley]

Can you remember if the inside (bottom black part) of your case was hard or soft material?

All I remember is the inside was almost like a velvet.

Sorry, I can't be more specific.

Howard

[Darrell]

All I remember is the inside was almost like a velvet.

Sorry, I can't be more specific.

Howard

I would venture to guess that round cornered one you missed was an "earlier" type. Earlier than mine anyway. Mine is hard, like the latter cases of other awards.

[Howard Kelley]

European know their true value!

I would venture to guess that round cornered one you missed was an "earlier" type. Earlier than mine anyway. Mine is hard, like the latter cases of other awards.

Darrell,

It's a strange thing. I sold the cased Ost badge to Helmut Weitze 2 years ago. Then this past year I had just bought a group of 15-20 Ost medals from source. And before I could break down the prices on each medal, who showed up? Yep, Helmut again. He bought the best of the bunch around 8 pieces. But I needed the money, so it was a fair pay off. However there were two 2nd kls. Ost medals in the original packets! One small packet, one larger. He might still have them on his website.

So U.S. collector's don't care about these medals! And European dealers are buying everyone they can find? Doesn't take a rocket scientists to figure that these medals are not very common, and the prices are going to go higher.

(At least higher $$$ in Europe!)

Cheers,
Howard

[Howard Kelley]

Maker Marks

Was "100" the only maker of these pieces to put their mark on the suspension rings and on the pins of the 1st kls. awards?

I seem to remember having a 1st. kls. example that was marked with and L/ # .

The "100" ring marked 2nd kls. medals seem to all have the cicular dished out reverse.

I know there is a flat back varient. Anyone have one to post?

Last of all, a concave reverse, like my Bronze 2nd class listed as Post # 6. Not ring marked.

Would anyone like to add any extra information or photos to help?

Cheers,
Howard

[Darrell]

Was "100" the only maker of these pieces to put their mark on the suspension rings and on the pins of the 1st kls. awards?

I seem to remember having a 1st. kls. example that was marked with and L/ # .

The "100" ring marked 2nd kls. medals seem to all have the cicular dished out reverse.

I know there is a flat back varient. Anyone have one to post?

Last of all, a concave reverse, like my Bronze 2nd class listed as Post # 6. Not ring marked.

Would anyone like to add any extra information or photos to help?

Cheers,
Howard

Howard,

The only one I have ever seen maker marked that was NOT a "100" was the one you refer to. Once again, I cannot remember the members name that posted the pic .. but I believe it was an L/18.

The two types (1st Class) that you see 99% of the time have been posted above. They come with the exact same reverse setups.

[Howard Kelley]

1% found

Hi Darrel,

I think I may have found the one percent.

To quote you, "The two types (1st Class) that you see 99% of the time have been posted above."

Well here's the 1%, that does not exist.

E-mail me if you want some close-up detailed photos.

Could it be one of the missing links? I know that someone just found a photo of a Police NCO wearing a Cloth Infantry assault badge, and cloth 1st kls. EK. So why not a cloth version of the Eastern Peoples Badge?

Enjoy,
Howard

[Howard Kelley]

Hi Darrel,

I think I may have found the one percent.

To quote you, "The two types (1st Class) that you see 99% of the time have been posted above."

Well here's the 1%, that does not exist.

E-mail me if you want some close-up detailed photos.

Could it be one of the missing links? I know that someone just found a photo of a Police NCO wearing a Cloth Infantry assault badge, and cloth 1st kls. EK. So why not a cloth version of the Eastern Peoples Badge?

Enjoy,
Howard

Photo of Reverse.

[Darrell]

Hi Howard. Now THAT is a rare beast. I haven't seen one of these before. Quite convincing as well.

[Ron Weinand]

Ost Medals

Over the years I have found a couple of lots of unissued Ost Ribbon Medals directly from WWII veterans and they had ribbons that go with Angolia's examples. Mine were in packets and had tissue paper. All were marked 100 on the ring. I believe the veterans were all from the 102nd Inf. Division, so that unit must have encountered a supply in a warehouse at some point in their campaign route.
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria

[Frank Heukemes]

Sorry to be sceptic about the cloth award, that does not even look like an ostvolk award to me. Pearl chain for a laurel leaf wreath? Also too many rays of gold thread, the actual award has much less rays.

[Howard Kelley]

Sorry to be sceptic about the cloth award, that does not even look like an ostvolk award to me. Pearl chain for a laurel leaf wreath? Also too many rays of gold thread, the actual award has much less rays.

Hello Frank,

It open to discussion. And debate. Good or bad. It's a way of learning.

If it's not an example in cloth of the 1st kls. Badge, what else could it be?

I'm receptive to any thoughts.

Best,
Howard

[Howard Kelley]

Over the years I have found a couple of lots of unissued Ost Ribbon Medals directly from WWII veterans and they had ribbons that go with Angolia's examples. Mine were in packets and had tissue paper. All were marked 100 on the ring. I believe the veterans were all from the 102nd Inf. Division, so that unit must have encountered a supply in a warehouse at some point in their campaign route.
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria

Ron,

Thank you for your input.

That might explian why some many of these have the incorrect ribbon, or incorrect medal.

Regards,
Howard