I went through a database of about 30 that I kept records of their markings, with no known Gablonz makers. Lots of Pforzheim and Lüdenscheid and a smattering of others, but no Gablonz.
I would speculate that since the Gablonz makers were late to the party, none of them received orders for H. crosses. I don't think the G._ markings refer to Gablonz makers.
I don't think the G._ markings refer to Gablonz makers.
I agree. I believe the "G" on that particular series of Hindenburg Crosses stands for either "Gesellschaft" or "Gemeinschaft." It has nothing to do with the location of the manufacturer.
Also, the majority of Hindenburg Crosses were manufactured in the mid 1930s (1934-1937). They were manufactured before the Annexations of Austria, the Sudetenland, Bohemia, and Moravia ever took place. Even though there were many Germans living in Gablonz, it was part of Bohemia. It was not incorparated into the Reich until 1939. Just as you should not expect to find Hindenburg Crosses made by Austrian firms, so too you should not find them made by Gablonz firms. Even if production continued after the annexations, there was no need to contract additional firms as there were already over 150 manufacturers involved.
Do you have a picture of an "AS" in a triangle marked Hindenburg Cross? I have never seen one so please post a picture if you have one. Are you talking about the same exact logo that appears on Infantry Assault and Panzer Assault Badges, supposedly attributed to Scholze or Schwerdt?
The manufacturers that have the initials "A.S." would be: Alfred Stübbe of Berlin, Adolf Schwerdt of Stuttgart, Adolf Scholze of Grünwald an der Neiße, Adolf Seidel of Gablonz an der Neiße, Alfred Simet of Vienna, and Anton Schenkl of Vienna. I suppose the A. S. could also stand for Assmann & Söhne, but highly unlikely since they used "A & S" or the well-known stylized "A." In my opinion, the only two possibilities for an AS in a triangle logo on a Hindenburg Cross would be Alfred Stübbe or Adolf Schwerdt. If my reasoning is correct, Adolf Scholze and Adolf Seidel should be eliminated as possibities since those firms were located in Bohemia and the Sudetenland. Likewise, Alfred Simet and Anton Schenkl should be eliminated since they were based in Vienna, Austria. Of the two remaining possibilities (Stübbe and Schwerdt), I would say that it is most likely Schwerdt. I think Stübbe's logo was actually a large "T" in the shape of a sword, flanked by the letters "AS." The "T" would represent the actual owner of the company, Herbert Tigge. That leaves just one possibility: Adolf Schwerdt. I don't know if the logic makes sense, but I would put my money on Schwerdt. Now show me the "AS" in a triangle marked Hindenburg Cross.... Please?
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