IAB Spain

[Raftur]

Hi

Searching in Internet I find this thing. The web says that is a IAB made in Spain for Blue Division. I'm not interesting in it, but I want to show it for know your opinions if it's real or a fantasy fake.

[Graeme]

Hi

It is an ugly thing for sure.

IMO a fantasy piece

best regards
Graeme

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Raftur,

A fantasy piece for me as well. Unless you can find some photographic evidence of one of these in wear or directly from the hands of some BD vets, I think this will stay as a fantasy item.

Tom

[Giel VW]

I don't think I'm wrong here but these have popped up at several spanish related vet groupings. It's like the ugly one piece constructed spanish ek2, if you don't believe in them, stay away from them. I for sure find them interesting and if they are priced as copies I would snatch them up instantly.

[schwelch]

Hi guys,

I hold the same opinion as Giel and as an IAB collector I would love to find one like these.

Best regards
Sven

[Raftur]

Well, thanks for this information. As I said I haven't interest in it. We know the bad quality of Spanish medals textures and details during franquism. A country shattered by war and poverty. I prefer the adwards of Republic during the civil war.

I'm spanish and I know what I say because some friend gave me the medal "25 años de paz" with original plastic envelope and I have never seen nothing like this. Some parts are plastic sttikers

I post it because I wanted to know the opinion about this strange piece.

[fischer]

Hi Guys

I also agree with Giel and Sven.

Having contacted a few collectors who specialize in the Spanish awards, the consensus is these are replacement IAB's for lost or broken badges for the Blue Division vets.

The design is definitely unique when comparing the wreath pattern, head sculpt, feather, acorn and leaf vein details to originals. If this one is a fake, I wonder where the inspiration for this design came from?

Most likely we will never know for certain one way or the other but I too, find these interesting.

Best Regards, fischer

[AndyC]

I just thinking if this one is a fake why havent we seen more of those then?

Andy

[Karl S]

Please have a look in the 1957 forum, there is a recent thread showing spanish replacement medals and badges.

[Thomas Durante]

I just thinking if this one is a fake why havent we seen more of those then?

Not a good arguement IMO.

By that rationale, would this be original too?

Tom

[AndyC]

Not a good arguement IMO.

By that rationale, would this be original too?

Tom

Ok I´ll get your Point Thomas

Andy

[schwelch]

Hi Tom,

don't you think that the badge you've posted is original?
In my opinion it's a Luftwaffe award for the best womanizer. The cat with the little symbol like a heart on her back stands maybe for the french women :-)

BR
Sven

[Thomas Durante]

Hi guys,

Here is the thread to the 1957er disscussion Karl mentions:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=712999

Reading this thread, it seems these IABs are postwar pieces for returning vets, dating from the 1950s to the 1980s (much like the German 1957er badges). Since the swastika was not banned in Spain, it was OK to continue to use the swastika, unlike the German 57er badges. That would explain why these are sometimes found in vets hands, but not wartime-made pieces.

Tom

[schwelch]

Hi guys,

Here is the thread to the 1957er disscussion Karl mentions:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=712999

Reading this thread, it seems these IABs are postwar pieces for returning vets, dating from the 1950s to the 1980s (much like the German 1957er badges). Since the swastika was not banned in Spain, it was OK to continue to use the swastika, unlike the German 57er badges. That would explain why these are sometimes found in vets hands, but not wartime-made pieces.

Tom

Hi Tom,

that's exactly what I think about them as well. Although they are not wartime, I think they are special and a "must have" in an IAB collection.
If I find one in this condition for a good price, I would buy it immediately. This one is unfortunately too expensive :-(

BR
Sven