Blue divisions medals opinions please

[Vadim bz]

Hello all!

Got these two blue division medals i intend to sell, but i need pro opinions on whether i have originals in my hand.

Any reply is welcome.

best,

V.B.

[img=http://img42.imagevenue.com/loc707/th_06871_blue1_122_707lo.JPG]
[img=http://img45.imagevenue.com/loc871/th_06876_blue_cross_reverse_122_871lo.JPG]
[img=http://img168.imagevenue.com/loc907/th_06881_blue_cross_122_907lo.JPG]
[img=http://img189.imagevenue.com/loc447/th_06896_blue_revrse_122_447lo.JPG]

[Anthony N]

Hi Vadim!
I am very interested in the Blue division & it is hard to come by much information on these medals.
The Blue Division medal was made by Deschler in Germany & also there is a Spanish made medal which was made for many years after the war. The one you have shown is definitely not a Deschler but i thik it is a genuine Spanish Government made award.
The Blue Division cross is even more complicated. There is a rare German made one & three Spanish govenment made variants & once again was made for many years after the war. I am pretty sure yours is the Spanish Government issue second type. The third type was a beautiful & very rare 3 part construction which people assume was made for officers.
I hope this helps.
Ant.

[Vadim bz]

Ant, thanks for the kind reply. Judging it, i see these 2 pieces are spanish made, correct?

best,

V.B.

[Anthony N]

Yes Vadim, they are Spanish made examples.
Ant.

[Gregorio Torres]

I had never heard anything about a made in german Blue Division medal of spanish goberment issue (called by you Blue Division Cross). Do you have any extra info, or better, any picture of this kind of piece??

On the other hand I can assure you that there aren´t an official or genuine Spanish Government issue for the Blue Division German Medal. They were made again after the war by several makers just for the increasing orders of veterans. It was the same for Iron crosses, Eastmedals, Kriegsverdients Kreuz..., but the Government nothing did about it. They only permit to the veterans wear these medals and badges on spanish army and air force uniforms, but never ordered or controled the production of this items.

[Anthony N]

Thanks for that information Gregorio
I have left my camera in the office but will post pics as soon as i can.
You can find information on the German made Blue Division medal in the book "A Collector's guide to German World War 2 medals and political awards The Satellite states" by Chris Ailsby.
I have also read recently that many of these awards were not actually made post war by the Spanish government but more likely by veterans associations. Now we need to kno which medals
Ant

[Gregorio Torres]

Unfortunately I haven´t this book, but I have several others writen by this writer and mistakes (at least on the spanish units) are very important. So you have to be cautious. I´m not saying that they are bad books, please, I only want to say that they have some mistakes. If you have not quotes about the provenience of this ¡nformation, be carefull.
I´m keeping the contact with the main associations of spanish veterans for decades and they never told me anything about it, and researching their files about medals and decorations I can found nothing about this.
The medals made by this associations are not these of the officials models, but another conmemorative badges and medals.
The main medals and badges makers in Spain during Franco´s era can produce this medals when the market needed them. When the medal was an official spanish decoration they had the information about size, design, and so on, in the Government Official Bulletin. When the medal was an german one, so they have to copy an original.
Some models not very often asked, as EK 1class and high classes of Eagle order, are commonly made by jewelers by recipient´s order.