I've been spending a tad too much time going over the information on this site and it's always nice to run into new things you never knew existed. So here is my query: has anyone ever seen an original Luftwaffe Panzer badge? I already know they would be exceptionally rare, but does that mean completely unatainable?
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There are several threads in this Luftwaffe forum about the badge. Use the Search function and type in "Tank Badge" to get the latest
Scott -
Matthew,
A quick and dirty - though suthorized there is nothing to show they ever went into production, though there have been entries into soldbuchs. No photos of them in wear, etc. The ones that do show up are crap and so obviously fake it is hard to stop laughing. Stay away. Just enjoy the historical irony that Luftwaffe men were authorized for such badges!
MarcComment
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Originally posted by Flak88 View Post
Amen. Unless you pry it from the hands of a Luftwaffe panzerman's hands you will never be sure.pseudo-expertComment
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I'm not a collector, just have a casual interest in these badges because of the historical angle, but when did the counterfeiting start?
I know someone with a small collection of Third Reich badges, none purchased after 1970 and none for more than 10/.
Among them is what purports to be a Luftwaffe PAB with 75 clasp of (to a non-expert) nice quality with fine detail and the 75 on a separate gilded plaque riveted on, the clasp and hook look similar to the others in the collection and on "authentic" pictures posted on this forum.
I could get photographs if anyones interested to see another fake badge, but my question is this, why make fake badges of nice quality back when real ones were worth peanuts?, and why distribute them through junkshops and sell them at kids pocketmoney prices? Surely the whole point of counterfeiting is to make something cheaply which can be sold or traded at a worthwhile value?
I think if a real example did come up it would be decried as a fake and binned,
because these badges are regarded as a myth, (and possibly are), and yet some British soldier got Goerings medals, if his family ever try to sell them will they be fakes as well and chucked in the dustbin?
I wonder.Comment
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They started with the fakes on May 9th, 1945.
Post the photos - they are always interesting and it would be good to see what an "early" one looked like.
MarcComment
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I would consider a badge made on 9 May 1945 as genuine...TomComment
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Luftwaffe Tank Badge
Hmmm,
Interesting and I would never count on them being produced (Luft Panzer badge). Why worry about that badge? Here is a badge I am still looking for. I will pay up to $5,000 for such an award. Has anyone seen one?
Regards,
Jody
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Jody,
ChetZinc stinks!Comment
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I have an award document for Panzerkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe in Schwarz to an Oberfeldwebel in Fallschirm-Panzer Regiment 1 HG, dated 2 May 1945. I acquired this, along with other award documents and a tunic belonging to the same person from George Petersen and have no doubt as to its authenticity. Of course, there is no actual badge and I believe none was produced or awarded.
Post-war reproductions of TR badges, including LW PABs, were already being sold in the mid-late 1940s.Comment
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Thanks for that, Homer, it answers my question.
I know any mention of these mythical awards raises a collective giggle, and I would be embarrassed if I thought for a moment that anyone had misunderstood me to have been claiming to know the whereabouts of a genuine badge, I know that the badge is a reproduction but that it dates from the sixties or earlier and to my untrained eye is quite well made, unlike many of the cheap ones which are posted here.
I'm guessing now that it must be an early enough reproduction to have made its way to a junk shop by the late 60s'. By the way, the owner is not claiming it to be real and as it stands him at about Ten Bob, (about $2 by the exchange rates of the time) hes not bothered either.
I'll be over that way in the next few days and get pics to amuse Flak 88.
CheersComment
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TGN,
The point I am trying to make is that as soon as the war ended people needed cash, barter goods, etc. It is well documented that GIs were looking for stuff. Hence we find the post-war Souval, etc. So many were made in the late 40s already.
MarcComment
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Marc,
I know what you meant. I was just pulling your leg a bit
Actually, some of the "original" stuff, like the Marine Spange and Kurland Cuffitle were at least partially made after the end of hostilities, yet I would still consider them original collectible items. If (big if) there were an original Luftwaffe tank badge made with some authority shortly after the end of major combat, say before the end of 1945, that would be good enough for me to accept it as genuine. But that is just me. I am sure others would not.
TomComment
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Luftwaffe PAB
Here's a picture of one I used to have in my collection prior to my joining the Forum.
The comment I would like to make is that this type of badge isn't the type which we saw back in the 60's which had all the hallmarks (literally) of Rudolf Souval.
I always liked this badge and it is similar to the one which DN shows in his book. However, I realised that one day I would need to part with it and as they are definately out-of-fashion I might have a problem, so back it went within the 6-months return policy for a full refund. I don't regret the decision.
StanComment
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