Dutch SS Sports Badge Details

[Bjorn S]

The article says:
'The leader of the Dutch SS, Feldmeyer, has instituted a SS sport badge and SS honour sport badge. The design will be:

SS Sport badge:

Bronze: 20 - 30 years old
Silver: 30 - 42 years old
Gold: 42 years and older

SS honour sport badge:
Made in gold.''

A couple of months ago I met a former member of the Dutch resistance (90 years old) who showed me a booklet with award criteria for the SS sport badge. The booklet was 100% original! It was named to a Dutch Waffen SS man. On the cover it showed the SS sport badge without sword. In the booklet there were the different sport activities one had to perform in order to get the badge, for example running 10 kms in a certain amount of time.
Unfortenately I have no picture of the book

[Runic]

Thanks Bjorn S!

Bjorn S, this is the first time anyone has translated from Dutch for me what is said in that diagram in the "Storm Blad Der Nederlandsche SS", although I have seen it and studied it several times! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Let me tell you guys, I've seen photos and photo postcards of Feldmeyer, the Leader of the Dutch SS, and he always looked to me like a real hero/leader type, thoroughly military and impressive.

And Bjorn - the fact that you saw the actual Dutch SS Sports Badge award booklet with the design on the cover, along with the criteria, is really fascinating to me, and I believe you 100% - because the Major American Dealer I talked with on the phone, who actually sold one of the same booklets years ago, told me the same story - to paraphrase him - "That award actually existed, I know it did, because I sold one years ago for around $2000 or more, and it was the real deal." I won't say his name because it was a private conversation, and I wouldn't betray his trust. I'll just say, that if I mentioned his name, most people on the forum would know exactly who he is.

That said, I am impressed with the support this thread has gotten! This is what Wehrmacht Award Forum can do - bring people together to get to the truth about these badges and items that fascinate us!!!

Now - if anyone has a document like the one that Bjorn S and I are talking about - please post it!!! Also - if anyone has any more insight into this fascinating subject, please post and help us out! It just doesn't make sense that the "Storm Blad Der Nederlandsche SS", announced this badge, and then backed down. Feldmeyer didn't seem like the type of man who would say things he didn't mean!

I STILL believe this thing was produced and awarded to the Dutch Waffen SS, maybe in limited numbers, but it was awarded. One day we will find the proof....

Also, once again - a BIG thank you to RJS72 for posting THE copy of "Storm Blad Der Nederlandsche SS"!!! That has been a real help to this thread!


Runic

[Stan]

I have just noticed that the two badges shown in post #28 are upside down.

I have no idea whether or not these badges did in fact exist pre-1945 but I do think that it is important to keep talking about them to see what further information comes out.

Several years ago my 1st pattern Retired Pilots Badge was called a fake on GMIC by a moderator. I disagreed and there was a heated debate. These badges are now deemed original and are changing hands for €20k.

I too talked with a major West Coast dealer several years ago who believed in the Dutch SS sports badges, although I realise that that proves absolutely nothing. Fifteen years ago all major dealers sold these badges as originals but collectors through forums like ours, have become extremely sceptical and are wanting evidence.

My opinion is that they are post war copies but lets keep talking.

Stan

[Runic]

Thanks for that, Stan, I really appreciate what you said.
Even though I tend to think they may have existed pre-1945 -
we both agree 100% on one thing - let's keep the discussion open.

R

[Jan Holland]

It was no more than an idea.
There is more information available about than to do.
See presentation here a year later.

[Gunner II]

Imho the newspaper shows the standaard DRL badge and not the Dutch SS sportbadge.

[chrisje110]

+1, this doesnt show the SS sportabzeichen

[kray]

Are there any pictures of the Dutch SS sportabzeichen in wear??

[Gunner II]

Untill today none period photo's with this sportbadge have been found. Only ones with the DRL badge.

[Jan Holland]

Just wake up.
This therefore indicates that there is no Dutch SS sport badge were plated expire

[kray]

Just wake up.
This therefore indicates that there is no Dutch SS sport badge were plated expire

Exactly!

[Runic]

Gentleman,

it is with mixed emotions that finally, through the generosity of a very distinguished collector, I have received information that at last satisfies me in my search for whether the Dutch SS Sports Badge was ever produced. Ask and ye shall receive - I wanted the truth, and I got it.

As anyone knows who has read this thread that I have championed for years now, my contention was that the Dutch SS Sports badge was possibly produced in small numbers, or at least produced in a prototype form.

Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case. Ok - at this point - everyone who has told me since the beginning, "I told you it never existed", start cheering - ! I admit, you were right. Ouch.

Here is what I have learned, and I give full credit to my source, the distinguished and celebrated collector, Christopher Ailsby, who has handled more rare badges than most of us could imagine possibly exist. I put him up there with Angolia, Littlejohn, et al, one of the true founders and undisputed experts in the field of Third Reich Militaria collecting - not to mention the fact that he is an expert in the military artifacts of other countries as well. In short, Christopher Ailsby is a man I have followed for years and for whom I have profound respect as an expert in our field.

Jan - you said in your post that the Dutch SS Sports badge was only an Idea. You are right. But it was a Big Idea - the Dutch SS sincerely intended to produce this badge. No fantasy. They meant business, and they intended to produce the badge you see pictured in the Dutch SS newspaper, "Storm Blad Der Nederlandsche SS," shown in this thread.

How can we know they meant business? Because prototype award booklets - EXTREMELY Rare and few in number - 2 that are documented, and both completely blank, not filled out - are know to exist.

[Runic]

Here's the story. Thanks to Christopher Ailsby for the following.
Ostensibly, the Dutch SS Sports badge shown in the "Storm Blad Der Nederlandsche SS", was intended for production by Dutch SS Honcho Feldmeyer. But Himmler changed the organization of the SS in Holland and the other Nordic countries, and the Dutch SS Sports Badge was made redundant.

Himmler wished to standardize the SS awards in these countries, and so the "Germanische Leistungsrune" badge took the place any other proficiency awards - (including the Dutch SS Sports Badge.)

No Dutch SS Sports Badges were produced - but the actual award booklet WAS produced in very limited number, because these would have been used in testing prior to the presentation of the actual Dutch SS Sports Award. Why? Because it WAS actually intended for these awards to be produced - before Himmler's decree countermanded such production.

[Runic]

Here is the cover of the actual Dutch SS Sports badge award badge.
Image Courtesy Christopher Ailsby Collection

[Runic]

Here is the cover of the actual Dutch SS Sports badge award badge.
Image Courtesy Christopher Ailsby Collection