Assmann Paratrooper Badge

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Hey guys, I am posting this Assmann paratrooper badge at the request of Frank (of course I also look forward to your comments!).

The badge below belongs to Dr. Robert Mallison, for more info on the group please see this thread.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=30357

Here you go,

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Back. If you need/want different or close up pictures, just ask.

[George Stimson]

Here's a pic from Assmann's catalog.

[Frank Heukemes]

Here is what i think about it.

First the facts, let me know if I am wrong with anything:

-the wreath looks eggshaped, unlike any other maker´s wreath

-eagle is an Assmann for sure

-obverse wreath design is unlike any other Assmann wreath, even different from the very early Assmann pilot´s badges that Francois has.

-catch is repaired.

-rivets seem to be original to the badge, also very uniquely shaped.

Now my thoughts and "story" about this wreath:

-It is the second time ever I have seen this wreath on a badge.

-I was offered a strange badge recently by one of our German members. I hope he doesn´t mind me showing the badge. He is very knowledgeable and wasn´t sure about the badge either. Somehow it looked ok but on the other hand, everything about it was strange. I passed on the badge and he sold it to somebody else.

This badge I am talking about, pictured below, features that very same egg-shaped wreath right down to the leaf design. Oddly enough, this badge has a Meybauer eagle.

The eagle looks ok enough, the claws might be a bit ball shaped, but that could as well be down to the not very good pic and possibly wear or the material (maybe Aluminum?).

The rivets seem to be replaced. The eagle looks as if it could be made from aluminum. It seems the eagle itself was damaged as well.

Now what to make of it all? I already guessed that strange wreath was ok and I regret very much now that I didn´t buy it. Seeing it in Seba´s vet group is great.
It could be that this very early (so I guess) wreath could have been shared between Assmann and Meybauer. Could also be that the Meybauer Beobachter eagle was simply attached to that wreath by somebody at some stage in time.

Anyway, very interesting wreath and I think we should look out for more badges with that wreath. Somebody has one?

Cheers, Frank

[Frank Heukemes]

reverse, same egg-shaped wreath. And notice that it is DIFFERENT from the early Assmann wreath that George shows from the catalogue.

Cheers, Frank

[Luftm40]

Seba, is there a maker mark on your badge?

[Frank Heukemes]

This is the early "regular" Assmann wreath in the Assmann catalogue that George shows. This early Assmann´s pilot badge (absolutely comparable with the para wreath in that case) is owned by Francois Saez. Check out the differences, no egg shape here, different leaves. Follow the reverse cutouts, that´s where the comparison will be most obvious.
If I have been misunderstood, I think Sebas badge is original, I just think the wreath is quite special and I haven´t seen it before except on that ONE badge I show.

Cheers, Frank

[Frank Heukemes]

obverse of Francois´ badge, catalogue style, early wreath of Assmann

[Lorenzo Brown]

"Anyway, very interesting wreath and I think we should look out for more
badges with that wreath. Somebody has one?"

Yes I do , Frank. I've had this badge for several years. I've always thought
it to be an early Assmann and I'd never seen another until the one posted by Seba.
The eagle is definitely Assmann in brass (tombak),
smooth domed rivets and "?" style catch (bent but not repaired.)

The wreath on mine is scratched on the back that from the best I can tell says:
"Ln Komp 7 Stend".
On the other side of the wreath is scratched "Obgefr Wagner".

[Lorenzo Brown]

Reverse

[Frank Heukemes]

Cool, Lorenzo, you lucky b*stard!!!
I think we can assume now for sure that this wreath is VERY EARLY Assmann (earlier than the EARLY wreath in the catalogue and of course earlier than the typical Assmann wreathes we see on 90% of their flight badges.

But what to make of that Meybauer thingie? Take two badges make one?

Cheers, Frank

[Robert P.]

Frank,
Very interesting wreath and nicely detailed for any Assmann. This is the first for me for this style wreath. Here I'm posting an early (not earliest) brass-eagle Assmann para with the very commonly seen wreath for others to compare with. Notice as well the cut-out wing feathers.

Robert

[Robert P.]

the reverse...

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Andy, no there is no maker mark. If you guys want to see a particular part of it let me know, the pictures are big and I cut them to post here but can crop and focus on any part.

[Luftm40]

If the two purported Assmann badges w/ unique wreaths are unmarked...how do we know they are Assmann products? Perhaps Assmann provided eagles to some other unknown maker?