Pilots badge with diamonds

[Tony Barto]

Hi Bill;

Thanks for the explanation! I couldn't see where it was a two piece adler either.

[Mark S.]

Whats a "post war wearing copy"?

A copy of a wearing copy?

And what did it come to be that IMIT stood for?

[George Stimson]

another question....

Where would a German wear a badge with a swaz post war?

George

[W. C. Stump]

Originally posted by M. Schroeder
Whats a "post war wearing copy"?

A copy of a wearing copy?

And what did it come to be that IMIT stood for?

The Austrian Jeweler by the name of Rudolf Stubiger produced a authorized copy of the Pilot Observer's badge in Diamonds during the war years. He produced a post war version of the same badge well into the 1960. It was said that Stubiger worked on contract for the Rudolf Souval firm, but I have never been able to prove this for sure. ALL examples, war period and post war period badge were marked "IMIT" (imitation).

Please go to the members forum and check out this thread: CONTINUED INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE LUFTWAFFE PILOT/OBSERVER'S BADGE WITH DIAMONDS. It is a very interesting thread on this badge. also, I will be completing a detail report on this badge soon.

[W. C. Stump]

Re: another question....

Originally posted by George Stimson
Where would a German wear a badge with a swaz post war?

George

General Dessloch, who served in the post war German Air Force, had to meet the new government regulations to keep this badge. that meant removing the swastika, which was done. This badge, reworked by a jeweler to remove the swastika, was given to a former Army officer who was in charge of disbanding the German Luftwaffe in 1945 This officer met General Dessloch and they became friends. The badge was later given to the U. S. Army officer as a token of friendship by Gen. Dessloch. This is a most interesting story and all the documentation came with the badge when it was sold, on Ebay, by the family of the U. S. Army officer. It is a war story worth telling and hopefully someone will do that in the future..

[merdock]

pilots/observer's badge with diamonds

Hi,
Thanks for comments,but the badge is identical to the one in the articale by Christopher Ailsby in MILITARIA magazine No.19
the same size ,construction etc. with no rivet to the rear of the eagle?

[W. C. Stump]

COULD THIS BE THE SAME BADGE?

In my files I gound this scan of a bdge that looks much like to same badge attributed to Christopher Ailsby. Are my eyes failing me?

[W. C. Stump]

PVBERSE OF POST WAR STUBIGER BADGE

Here is an obverse scan of a post war Stubiger badge.

[Gene]

I cannot understand why a German would stamp IMIT, an abbreviation for the English word "imitation", into the back of these badges. Why not stamp "Falsch", "Kopie", "Nachahmung" or an abbreviation of those words? It is, after all, German and those are German words.

[W. C. Stump]

THE BADGES WERE AUSTRIAN MADE

I only know two things: 1. The badges were AUSTRIAN, not German made. 2. I have never found a concrete answer as to why the badges were stamped "IMIT".

[Mark S.]

German or Austrian..it doesnt really matter.

Why are these stamped with an English abbreviation to begin with? Ok, you said you dont know,

but more importantly..



Why is this not a concern to anyone?


Who said it stands for IMITATION to begin with? Does it?

[W. C. Stump]

Originally posted by M. Schroeder
German or Austrian..it doesnt really matter.

Why are these stamped with an English abbreviation to begin with? Ok, you said you dont know,

but more importantly..



Why is this not a concern to anyone?


Who said it stands for IMITATION to begin with? Does it?

Mark it is of concern, but I haven't been able to get a straight answer. As far a being that important to the history of the badge, it isn't because we know the badges that were marked "IMIT", both war time and post war, were produced by the Austrian firm Rodulof Stubiger, Vienna. It is know that a pioneer deal nammed Ken Lane, living in Austrian, sold these in a white case for $250.00 back in the 70's. All were of the one piece eagle type. However, I think that for a creditable report to be written about the "wearing copy", the "IMIT" question has to be answered. In that light it is somewhat important, but not so that an understanding of the history of the badge can't be understood.

[Denis]

Hello
As for the IMIT caption. Of course, there is an English word which might refer to this caption. But would not be a Latin abbreviation ? Germans have already used Latin onto their badges : on the obverse of the Close Combat Clasp, the Fec. means Fecit (i.e. Do (equivalent to Make, Realize) )
Just an assumption.
Denis

[Gordon Williamson]

I can't believe no one has bothered to look up a good German dictionary!
Imitation in German is exactly the same as in English. The Verb is "imitieren" to imitate, so there is no problem with the abbreviation IMIT for Imitation

[Frank Heukemes]

Just read this thread and can only confirm. Imitation is as good an English as a German word since the origin is indeed Latin (like most English and German words ending with "tion").

"Imitation" in the German language is as widely and commonly used as "Kopie" or "Fälschung".

Cheers, Frank H.