Memel Medal

[Philippe DB]

Hi Guys,


Based upon the badges posted above I would agree with Franks assessement.

Besides the lettering I always look at the accorn stalks (noticeable shorter on the fakes) and on the accorns next to the accorn band. On the originals you in fact have 4 accorns, two on every stalk, on the fakes just two.

KR
Philippe

[TerryG]

Memel

I obviously do not know how to manufacture a fake medal or badge but I would assume that you have to start with an original and try to copy it as closely as you can by way of a mould for example. What did the faker base his badge on then?
As a matter of interest I have looked through a few books I have.
Detlev's catalog shows a medal with what I would call "a straight legged m". Robin Lumsden in "Detecting the fakes" page 43, shows one with a "curved legged m" as a fake.
Jack Pia's SS Regalia shows a "curved legged m". Not certain how good a reference that is, though.

[Peter Wiking]

TerryG.

Look at the "G" in ERINNERUNG.
You will find a small detail there.

Peter Wiking

[TerryG]

Memel

TerryG.

Look at the "G" in ERINNERUNG.
You will find a small detail there.

Peter Wiking

Yes, well spotted, that's another difference.

David Littlejohn's "Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the 3rd Reich", Vol 1, published by Bender shows one of these on page 50. This has the "straight legged m" but the "weird looking G"...... So that's a mixture of designs, isn't it?

[Macmedal]

To tell you all the truth I am a liitle concerned by some of the sweeping statements being made here with regards what is fake and what is not.

This reminds me very much of the fall out after the Krim Shield fake alert put out by Detlev. Comments are being made with no supporting evidence.

I unfortunately missed the original fake alert by Detlev but I have been informed that he did highlight a number of factors to spot the fake all of which taken TOGETHER indicate a fake.

No disrespect meant against any individuals but to make staments that ALL fakes can be spotted by the number of acorns or the size of the lettering is dangerous. Different manufacturers made these awards without any doubt so to point out simplistic references i.e. if the m is the same size and the number of acorns is in my opinion a dangerous road to take. It tkaes more than that to spot these fakes and I am afraid that we are suddenly dismissing perfectly good awards as fake by making assumptions.

Go on then flame me !!

Nick

[George Stimson]

Here are my Memels. According to this thread (and I'll accept it ), the one on the right is a fake.





And here's another one, which I take to be good.

[Macmedal]

George

You make my point perfectly. You dismiss the medal on the right on what basis?

Other than the fact that the lettering differs to the other example there is nothing that matches your medal in characteristics to Detlevs fake what so ever.

The outer rim depth is consistent on both sides, the eagle and swastika look nothing like Detlevs fake either.

I think this is folly to dismiss a medal SOLEY on the size of the lettering to the reverse it has to be taken in conjuction with the OTHER features listed by Detlev.

[keifer kahn]

I agree with mac and these sweeping statements.The majority of points raised here dont indicate the difference between fake and real.
The kuban shield thread recently had all these people putting forward points that didnt prove anything.Simply because any detail that people thought indicated fake,could also be found on many originals.

Nobody has mentioned weight and size .The detlev examples showed the original to be undersize(31mm Diam for the fake and 32mm Diam for the original)(17 grams for the fake and 14 for the original).
The medal on detlevs site,to me ,looked cast.The finish and texture were the first things that looked off to me.

George,your medal looks ok to me.

[George Stimson]

Mac,

You are absolutely right. The eagles and swazes are different, as is the swaz on the flag behind the tall guy's head.
I got this medal from Detlev, and since I have e-mailed him about it we should soon see what he has to say.
(And I apoligize for possibly jumping the gun, gentlemen.... )

[George Stimson]

And there are noticable differences between the script on the reverse of mine and that on Terry's.

[Peter Wiking]

I´m sitting here with Formans book 2nd edition. On page 56 there is photos on obverse and reverse (photos by Dr. Klietmann) on the medal with exactly the same setup as George´s medal he think is fake. Based on that it could well be original.

Peter Wiking

[TerryG]

memel

Mine is 32.1 mm diameter.

[George Stimson]

32.1 mm

So is mine.

[Paul Massucci]

Here's a known copy from the EG.Frames site, check out the "1939"

[George Stimson]

1939

I would say that mine is different.