Postwar production of german awards: what is known about this matter?

[Joda]

Hallo guys,

What is the collector's community opinion about the postwar production of german awards for veterans?
I know some EK's were made (Souval), but what about GABs, PABs, IABs etc?

It is true there were prohibitions for manufacturing nazi era awards, and Souval was in Wien so not under these laws, but I wonder this anyway.
I think it's legit to think original dies were sold out of germany..

Also for Luft awards..

Many thanks in advance!

Joda

[Antonio Scapini]

This topic was debated a lot of times during the years, it is not easy to explain and some aspects are still obscure. However there were some makers that made badges after the war even in Germany, not only Souval in Vienna.
Make a search on forum and you will find a lot of info.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Joda,

There is no question that several makers continued production after the war, even in Germany. S&L was certainly one of them, and there is evidence that others were involved too, as well as Souval as you mention. Like Antonio says, this topic comes up frequently and there are many good discussions on this. I would do a search for "S&L Postwar Production" or "Souval Postwar Production" and get comfortable for a few hours

Tom

[Leroy]

There is no question that several makers continued production after the war, even in Germany.
Tom

"continued or resumed....." might be a better choice of language. Large stocks of leftovers in various stages of completion (from 'ready to go' to unassembled components) enabled supply for the souvenir market for quite some time. The idea of actual resumption of production, implying new die-striking, assembly and finishing in the factories themselves, has been hotly debated. In all these years, I have seen nothing, from any source, that convinces me that actual new factory production by German makers (specifically S&L) resumed before the 1950's.

[Joda]

Many thanks to all!

[Thomas Durante]

Large stocks of leftovers in various stages of completion (from 'ready to go' to unassembled components) enabled supply for the souvenir market for quite some time.

Gentry, we have no idea how long the stock lasted. Especially when it comes to S&L, who was a major player postwar. So I would have an issue with your "quite some time" post as that is your opinion rather than fact at this point in time.

Leftover stocks are still being found today from some makers, so there is no doubt that leftovers were to be had immediately after the war. But these companies weren't as active as S&L after the war (IMO).

Tom

[Leroy]

Tom - You are exactly right: It is my opinion, based however on the dates of catalogs /price lists we have seen from German dealers, the 'REVUE' article of 1953 (which is very clearly speaking of developments which have occurred in the time period not terribly much preceding the publication of the article), the actual contents of the "souvenir boards" brought back by Allied occupation troops (clearly the prime customers) in the years immediately following the war, the leftover stocks clearly remaining well into the 50's (not of everything, of course, but look just by example at the use of original EK frames still marked with "L' numbers for Deumer '57 model EK's), the interview reported by Andreas Klein with Herr Assmann only a few years ago, the dissection by member 'Legion Condor' of postwar S&L SK's and information garnered by him from that company, the recollections of early collectors I have known over the years and examination of pieces held by them, etc., etc..

Of course this is not definitive, and is, again, my opinion, but for years and years here I have begged for concrete information to show otherwise and no one has been able to provide it. Where was the demand for this material in the years immediately following the war, other than with Allied soldiers? Former German soldiers (when many were struggling to find employment)? We can only look at what was actually returned from those early years.

What have you seen that makes you feel differently and provides real proof to the contrary? Not trying to argue with you or anyone else, just want some facts.

Best,
Gentry