Late GAB

[Aitor Iriarte]

Hello,
I need to 'replace' a GAB for an incomplete award set. The GAB was issued to the man late in the war, 2.2.45.

Should the GAB belong to any special category (i.e. Massive, semi-hollow-hollow...)

Thanks,

Aitor

[mrg]

Hi Aitor, would advise that you try in the Heer forum that where all the GAB guys hide out. I would say massive, although hollow or solid would do but this would depend on type of finish and reverse set up.

[Aitor Iriarte]

Thanks, mrg!
Could some moderator move this thread to the Heer section, please?

Aitor

[mrg]

Hi Aitor, no problem , I ment to say semi hollow not hollow as the hollow ones were the earlier ones. Massive would be your best bet.

[Frank Heukemes]

This question is not easily answered. The only sure mistake you could make is to replace it with a hollow GAB made from Tombak, as these are early for sure. I personally think that the rule "all hollow badges are earlier than massive ones" does not make sense. There are obviously late war hollow zinc GABs.
With regards to finish, opinions that finishes like the "chrome-like" one, which is a shiny zinc plating has been proven to exist on examples made as late as 1944 (if not later). A wartime LDO price list I included in my GAB book especially lists "glanzverzinkte" and "versilbert polierte" GABs for sale in later 1944. "Glanzverzinkt" translates as "shiny ZINC plated" and "versilbert, poliert" translates as "silver plated, polished." The later also had a reputation for being an early finish. All not true as that LDO price list dated 1944 proved.

[Aitor Iriarte]

Many thanks, Frank and mrg!
Would a bad photo of the original badge help in any way?

Also, what is writen on the Wehrpass line just before the date?

Aitor

[Philippe DB]

Hi aitor,

Well the missing left cut-out narrows it down to only a few possibilities

1. Förster and Bart L/21
2. W. Hobacher
3. ÜÜ


They wrote "1 Stüfe", first grade of the GAB, taken in to account the date this probably was very uncommon. Most other guys would have had a track record by then that earned them a numbered GAB. Just kidding

KR
Philippe

[Aitor Iriarte]

Many thanks, Philippe!
Wow, I couldn't suppose that the tiny pic would be of such help!
Could you, please, be more specific about the cutout or post an actual example?
Are all GABs by those makers marked?
Hard to find?

Thanks again!

Aitor

[Frank Heukemes]

Unless this photograph is so much angled that we do only see one cutout under the swastika (small chance the second one might be there).

The L/21 is almost impossible to get. Try to get one with the mark ******220;******220; in a circle.

It is 1. Stufe, not St******252;fe, btw., the line over the u is soemthing they sometimes did back then to differenciate the u from the n.

[Philippe DB]

Hi Aitor,

I agree with Frank go for a üü marked example. Probably the easiest one to find and since it is by far the most common of the 3 it very likely would have been the badge your guy actualy was awarded.

KR
Philippe

[Aitor Iriarte]

Many thanks, Frank and Philippe!
After a rapid overlook, I haven't seen any of them for sale... Well, I'm not in a hurry and that's exactly what makes interesting this hobby!

Aitor